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.

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.

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 The black tyre round the edge has all gone and been replaced by a woodern fence.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.

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).