
Today, on the Abingdon Market Place, Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society (ADTTS ) had a stall with a lot of information about one of our twins – the beautiful city of Lucca – in Tuscany, Central Italy.

There was also ‘Italia in Piazza’ – an Italian Food Market, with pasta, bread, cheese, hams, olives etc.

There was an opera singer singing Arias (thanks to Steve for this picture. Steve was on the Friends of Radley Lakes stall who were also there with a Tombola and sale).

Elsewhere in Abingdon there are already many Italian influences, especially food outlets. The Ask Italian Food restaurant is situated in a building that could fit into an Italian Piazza – surrounded by Olive Trees.
Cats in the Belfry

When Marmite was little more than a kitten he disappeared from his house in West St Helen Street. The family went in search but none of the neighbours had seen the black and white cat.
A couple of days went by and the bell ringers at St Helen’s Church were practicing when their youngest member went up to the bell tower to check scrabbling noises they had all heard.
Up there he saw a poor frightened cat, and told the others not to ring the bells. He clambered across near the bells and managed to get hold of the cat, took it down and released it outside.

Marmite re-appeared back home and the family were surprised and delighted wondering where he had been. He was very hungry.
Thanks to Isaac for this true life story from the Belfry, and to Jon for a picture of Marmite as a kitten.
Nags Head – 2 years on

Two years ago the Nags Head re-opened. It had been a failing pub and was closed for quite some time. During the first winter the pub was refurbished very tastefully and the first year was a success.

During the second winter decking was added to improve the island, and the second year has gone well.
More improvements are underway to landscape the near end of the island.

The pub now has it’s own beer, and as well being in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for the second year running, has retained the title of Town & Country Pub of the Year.
To celebrate there will be a Beer Festival this weekend from 24th to the 26th October with 28 beers and 10 ciders.
Tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo blows into Abingdon

Hurricane Gonzalo caused widespread damage when it hit Bermuda last week.
By the time the tail end of the storm hit Abingdon around midday today there was still enough puff to give the Town Flag a good flap.

On street corners – like the one pictured on Bath Street – leaves were spun round in little whirlwinds.

And out on the riverside walks near Abingdon it would have been sensible to wear a hard hat. I saw branches and twigs coming down.
It was still breezy this evening, and temperatures had dropped.