The quarterly Craft Market was on the Market Place in Abingdon yesterday. Blue Sky Eco Cafe  are a  small group of volunteers who run a once-a-month community café at Long Furlong Community Centre. They serve vegetarian and vegan recipes using unusual pulses, beans, grains and interesting spices.

The Friends of Radley Lakes had a stall. It is over ten years since they saved Thrupp Lake from being filled with ash from Didcot Power Station. They now support the Earth Trust who manage the site.

There were lots of Craft Stalls including, for the first time, Mike Baston Wire Art. I believe he will also be appearing at the Willow Shake Shop.

The Abingdon Chamber of Commerce run the Market. They have just produced a new map of the shops and businesses in the town centre + Ock Street. It is based on the 2010 shopping map.

The first print run is just 5000 as such maps can quickly get out of date.

I missed the Local Excellence Market ten days ago. Thankyou to Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce for this report and look ahead …

We had 33 stalls for what was probably the hottest excellence market we’ve ever had. We were joined by a number of regular traders, as well as some new faces. Due to the heat our regular chocolatier and candle maker didn’t join us, but we welcomed Heidi Parker who designs and makes lampshades to order and is based in Abingdon.

Hunnybunnys were here with their buggy wraps, ready for winter.

The Hampshire Gluten Free company were back with a wide range of Gluten Free Products.

Local artist Christine, who is one of our longest standing traders was one of many trying to stay cool throughout the day!

Next is our summer craft market on 27th July, all organised by the Abingdon on Thames Chamber of Commerce.

We are also looking for local bands, groups, singers, or performers of any kind to join us on stage and / or in the Christmas Extravaganza Parade. Anyone interested can get in touch by emailing events@abingdonchamber.co.uk

A sunny Saturday and Abingdon was busy. The town crier had three things to announce in town.

He cried about the Local Excellence Market which he described as excellent.

He cried about the Abingdon Passion Play

He cried about My Fair Lady which the Abingdon Operatic Society are performing from the 9th – 13th April. Visit https://www.abingdonoperatic.co.uk/ to find out more and book tickets. Their productions are always well worth a visit.

I borrowed flowers from Styan Family Produce to give to Eliza Doolittle for the previous picture as Eliza is a Cockney flower girl at the start of the show before taking elocution lessons.

My wife has featured the Local Excellence Market on her blog because I bought her a shampoo bar as part of the no plastic during Lent challenge. Today’s blog post also includes the homemade toothpaste which tastes horrible. See https://unfantasticplastic.home.blog/