Author Archives: Backstreeter

Fun in The Parks and on the Market Place

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Fun in The Parks
The annual fun in the parks is taking place today in the Abbey Gardens, and on the main stage to start the day was the Abingdon Community Orchestra.
Fun in The Parks
Organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council the event incorporates lots of colourful people.
Fun in The Parks
The Red Cross are there as always to provide trained first aiders.
Fun in The Parks
There was a recent news story about the biggest bouncy castle in the world. It cannot be much bigger than some of the inflatables at the Abbey Meadows today. There were also lots of community groups with stalls in the Car Park.
Fun in The Parks
There are also a bike track, a climbing wall, and army recruitment personnel and vehicles on the Market Place to ensure the town centre is also involved.
Fun in The Parks
Later today there will also be the Music in the Park. They have run out of wrist bands for that.

High Street Hole moves

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High Street Hole moves
The large hole that unearthed an old coal cellar under the High Street pavement has been filled in. The pavement has been made as good as new – possibly better.
High Street Hole moves
Alongside another hole has been dug, not quite as deep as the first. Traffic passes in single file at this point, and buses cannot use the High Street bus stops for the third or fourth week in a row.

Stories of African Peacemakers

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African Peacemakers
At St Nicolas Church this week there is an exhibition of African Peacemakers. It comprises large photographic portraits, and a quote, and biography of the person.

The photographer says “My suggestion is that for you to look at the faces for a considerable amount of time. I believe if you do so for long enough you should see parts of yourself looking back at you.”

One of the peace makers is quoted as saying
‘My mother was very disappointed in me
seeing me doing this reintegration.
She said “What are you doing?
These are the people who tortured you.
These are the people who raped your sister.
These are the people who burnt your house.
And you know them.
What are you doing?
You are a disgrace.”

I found myself not knowing what to do
whether to continue with my conviction to build peace
or to do what my mother said.

Thank God I did what my conviction asked me to do.’

The exhibition is put on by the Quakers.

Shadows and Highlights

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Shadows and Highlights
The theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community for June is “Shadows And Highlights” and I have picked a picture from a walk beside the Mill Stream, in the Abbey Meadows, on a sunny Sunday morning in May, showing the dappled sunlight under the new leaves.

I had idly watched, and photographed, some moorhen chicks just before taking this picture. Afterwards I found that the River Thames was closed because police divers were searching the river near the Marina. While I had been enjoying the spring sunshine, other people were in the middle of a personal tragedy.

More pictures of Shadows and Highlights from around the world are HERE to see.