Views round Nags Head Island, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

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Views from Nags Head Island
Thanks to Spike for this wonderful sunny view from a kayak taken a day or two ago. You can just see Nags Head Island on the left.

Getting this picture gave me the excuse to use a few more pictures of Abingdon-on-Thames taken over the weekend. They are views round Nags Head Island.
Views from Nags Head Island
Abingdon Boat Centre / Kingcraft Chandlery and Quayside Services.
Views from Nags Head Island
The further end of the island with the striking Red Dragon boat, and the even more striking spire of St Helen’s Church.
Views from Nags Head Island
Looking over the River Thames towards the cricket field, with some frosty trees in the foreground.
Views from Nags Head Island
The Old Gaol – old buildings.
Views from Nags Head Island
Old Gaol – new buildings.
Views from Nags Head Island
And a swan coming to see if I have any food.
Views from Nags Head Island
I must not forget that there is also a pub – called the Nags Head – for sale – over the bridge, on the other half of the island.

Black Bags and Gargoyles

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Wikipedia on Abingdon
A lovely sunny Market Day in Abingdon. I did think the black bag sign would disappear from Abingdon Market when the wheelie bins took over, but the black bag sign remains. Perhaps it has a greater significance than just saying that there are black bags for sale.

On the subject of interesting local traditions, I read in the Wikipedia of Abingdon that “some people from families that have lived in the town for generations follow the superstition that in walking under the Abbey Gateway one should hold one’s breath to stop the gargoyles that decorate the gateway from stealing it.“

Town better prepared for snow with new salt bins and spreader

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prepared for the snow
I did hear tell that there are going to be lots of new salt bins around town. So far I have just noticed the one, but I am sure there are others scattered about on difficult slopes and corners.
prepared for the snow
The town council also now owns a salt spreader. It was out this morning sprinkling salt on the pavements of Margaret Brown Gardens. The device also doubles as a grass seeder and so will be very useful all year round.

Why The Abingdon Press?

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I remember sitting in Trinity Church a few years ago, during Heritage Day, when some American visitors came in to look around. They told me that we should make more of the Abingdon Press connection.

The Abingdon Bible Commentary
I do own a book by the Abingdon Press… This first edition Abingdon Bible Commentary was published in 1929 by The Abingdon Press. It was withdrawn from the University of London library in 2005, and then came into my possession.

I have not been able to find out why The United Methodist Publishing House used the name Abingdon Press for their book publishing arm when it was set up in the early 1900s.
the abingdon preaching annual 2012
The Abingdon Press head office is in Nashville, Tennessee, and for a hundred years or more they have been doing a good job stopping preachers from running out of reading material.