
Yesterday there were men putting lights and giant baubles on the Christmas Tree on Abingdon Market Place.

The Bookstore has put out the reindeer decorations. Even though they are not open because of the November lockdown, they do have a Click and Collect Service.

Added Ingredients have the annual display of Pandoro (Italian) Christmas Cakes in the window, and are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10-3.

Chic It Up have also put out their Christmas display and people can Collect items.
Ditch and Giant Lego

M reports that a deep ditch and bank have appeared at the gap in the tree line just west of Chanterelle Way play area, blocking access to the field path to Mill Road.
He says it does not look like utility works as it does not connect with anything. People are still getting through but it is very slippery in the wet conditions.

Also giant Lego bricks have appeared along Mill Road blocking vehicle access into the fields.
I would add that there was an unauthorised encampment in September on the field next to Mill Road. It could be that the land owners are trying to stop further encampments. The land owners, and local people, may well know better.
Wootton Road tree cutting and archaeological surveys

A couple of weeks ago there was a report on this blog about some contractors opening up access to the new development of 200 dwellings alongside the Wootton Road. Their orange digger can be seen in the background of this picture. In the foreground, in the Circus Field, a yellow digger is making ditches – probably for archaeology reports.

Meanwhile a lot of the trees, that have been a feature of the Wootton Road entrance into Abingdon, are being cut down.
Looking at the access design plans (https://data.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P20/V2254/DIS#exactline) it can be seen that about half the trees were planned to be removed.
The existing entrance to the field has already been built up and will be used until a new entrance is built at the place where most of the trees have been removed.
Rain, sunshine, and intermittent showers

This Sunday morning started off wet and windy.

Then the sun came through. Lots of people were enjoying the sunshine, seen here as a dazzling white from Margaret Brown Gardens

and blue sky and water looking back from Wilsham Road.

There was a notice on a capsized boat that said the owner was aware. They did not need telling again. So not everybody was enjoying today.

A line of pigeons on the Wilsham Road railings came down as a flock. They kept jostling and trying to find the best position. Some flew off again in search of something better.
Later on, the sky clouded over, and there were intermittent showers.