Author Archives: Backstreeter

Paws & Play @ Willows: Fun, Games & Community Spirit

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Thankyou to Sarah for letting me know more about the fun, games and crafts at 18 Bury Street.

Willows has a new name — Paws & Play @ Willows

If you visit say hello to Harry, the black and white pup, who supervises the gaming and craft domain upstairs, that also spills downstairs,

and to to Lewie (the co-owner’s dog) – another reason to paws.

There are board games every day, with a bigger event every third weekend of the month.

Evening events, including murder mysteries, pendulum art, and BBQs.

Most events are non-profit, raising money for four local charities: Against Cancer, Nasio, OAS, and Cats Protection.

There are crafts, which included a look-a-like Bob Ross paint day.

They will help organise this summer’s Splash of Pink Day in the Market Square (Saturday 12th July) — and will be giving it a a new name after a public vote starting this Tuesday and ending on 28th April 2025. The short list is at Renaming Splash of Pink:
* Beyond the ribbon
* Paint Abingdon pink
* Get your pink on
* Abingdon Against Breast Cancer

First Ducklings and Moorhen Chicks of the Year

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My first sighting of a duckling this year was just a single one, accompanied by two parent ducks. It’s unclear what happened to the rest of the brood. When I returned two days later, there were two parent ducks in the same location — but the duckling had disappeared.

Nearby, a pair of moorhens had built a nest not far from the cycle track. It did not look the safest location.

Returning two days later, I spotted the two moorhens again — this time with five or six chicks, tucked away among the relative safety of the reeds. They weren’t easy to see, blending into their surroundings.

P.S. I am busy on a project for a few days so probably won’t get to do the blog for a few days. But if anybody sends me a report with pictures then I could use that.

Easter Shop Windows in Abingdon

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Several Abingdon shop windows have bright Easter displays.

Helen and Douglas House is crammed with plush toys — rabbits, chicks, and ducks peeking out from every shelf — alongside “Happy Easter” signs and a few carrots and eggs.

Breckon & Breckon features entries to an Easter colouring competition. This is just a small sample of all the carefully coloured springtime scene with bunnies, eggs, and butterflies.

In the window of the Book Store, Peter Rabbit and his mother hold some eggs. There is also a nest with some speckled eggs.

The most featured decoration in Abingdon’s Easter shop windows in 2025 appears to be rabbits.

Good Friday in Abingdon

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In Abingdon today, congregations from the town’s different churches began Good Friday in their own buildings before coming together for a united walk of witness. The procession moved solemnly down Bury Street, led by a man carrying a cross.

The Market Place was already busy with a Farmers’ Market.

So instead of gathering in the Market Place, the crowd assembled in nearby Roysse Court, where the Salvation Army band played hymns.

There were prayers, hymns, and reflections shared by speakers from various churches.

The Salvation Army speaker emphasized that the cross represents a message of love and forgiveness, uniting the churches in their shared faith.