The Abingdon Blog

The Abingdon Blog is a photo record of events and places in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, started on January 1st 2006.

Saturday, 26 December 2009

A Belated Susan Hill Post

Susan Hill was in Abingdon a few weeks ago. I did ask for a picture from Mark of Mostly Books and have had it a while waiting for a quiet day. That day has arrived...

Thanks to my wife I got a signed copy of this Susan Hill book for Christmas: Howards End on The Landing - very readable.

Friday, 25 December 2009

Of Christingles And Cribs


It is always good to see Hugh and Elizabeth's back window crib in East St Helen Street.

This is the window of The Salvation Army showing their crib with real straw.

At 4:30 PM on Christmas Eve at St Helen's Church there was a Christingle Service. This is just about a quarter of the Christingles on offer. They are oranges with candles and other things stuck into them and have a religious significance.

The Crib at St Helen's is only about half finished. During the Christingle Service Mary and Joseph and The Baby Jesus are carried into position, but they will have to wait a few more days for the Wisemen to arrive at Epiphany.

A little earlier, at 4 PM, as shops began to close, the St Nicolas Church bells were rung out to call people to their Crib Service. At Trinity there was a Torchlit service at the same time. Many churches have something similar - very popular with young families.

Thursday, 24 December 2009

Pool Re-opens

I read the front page story in the Abingdon Herald, about how the swimming pool had re-opened, now they have managed to fix it after a month long closure, and decided to go down for a morning dip...

But when I got there there were no signs of life at all... not a life guard in sight!

The Ice Cream Kiosk wasn't even open.

Wrong Pool!

When I checked the Herald article, it was about the indoor pool at the White Horse Leisure Centre!!!

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Yellow Bus / Advent Calendar


The Yellow Town bus can be seen here going under our window in the early morning. It took over from the A1,2,3 and the 44 routes nearly four years, and since it is a subsidised service the County Council are now consulting over its future. So if you have any comments about frequency, start and finish times, stops or anything else contact john.wood@oxfordshire.gov.uk or telephone 01865 815 802. Same applies to the 4B to Cumnor.

The waiting is nearly over... Today the Abingdon Advent Calendar 2009 has a window on Abingdon Bridge so only one more window still to open tomorrow...

24. Prince Albert

Advent Calendars don't do 25.

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Snow Shower and Lights


Another good display down Saxton Road this year.

This is another view from near the top end of Saxton Road.

These deer are on the Tithe Farm Estate - on the other side of the Drayton Road from Saxton Road.

Monday, 21 December 2009

Radley Wetland Centre


One year on from the announcement that Thrupp Lake is saved, the Northmoor Trust, who have been put in charge, have begun to consult on the future of the lake and the adjoining house called Sandles. The black tyre round the edge has all gone and been replaced by a woodern fence.

At one end, the end nearest to Abingdon, tree planting has begun.

Earlier this month there were consultation sessions at the White Horse Leisure Centre, and there is still an online questionaire can be filled in. The Northmoor Trust are asking whether people are looking for improved access and viewing areas and whether Sandles should become ' an educational resource with outdoor learning space? ' The Trust will also be concerned to protect this as a wildlife habitat.

Sunday, 20 December 2009

Thankyou Father Chrsitmas


Can I thank Father Christmas for taking a couple of hours from his busy schedule to visit Abingdon yet again. He was telling me that his father before him was also a Father Christmas and as he got older and older and less able to perform the many duties, he the son gradually took over, and now does it all.

He is seen here with Jame White, the independent chair of the Abingdon Partnership. The Abingdon Partnership was launched last month with two sessions at the Guildhall attended by local business people and representatives of Community Groups. The Partnership is looking to get more joined-up thinking into tackling Abingdon' problems. So we wish him well for the New Year.

The Town Crier also came round with his bell to announce The Mayor's Carol Service at 4:30 in St Helen's Church today (Sunday 20th).