There is a Young Victoria display in Smiths the Chemist, promoting perfume. The film opens in Oxford tomorrow.

I would imagine that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, on their honeymoon, may well have sent an equerry to pick up some soaps and perfumes from the Smiths of their day…

And perhaps needlework material from the Masons of their day.

Thanks to John for this post…

1. Richard Matthews has been coming to Abingdon for 36 years and is on the scene every Monday, Friday and Saturday just beyond Coxeters.

2. Richard Stevenson from Charlton park Nurseries is seen every Monday Market.

At this time of year we see his remarkable range of seed potatoes (deals in up to 180 varieties), as well as peas, beans and shallots, etc.

John adds “It’s a good time to take up an allotment and grow your own in future !”

Somerfield have the decorators at work. Meanwhile, in Woolworths opposite, Zippo Circus posters have appeared on the doors.

Zippo circus posters have appeared all over Abingdon.

The circus will be in Oxford at the end of the month. Before that it will visit Stevenage and then Billesley near Birmingham – which explains why I have seen the same Zippo posters in the odd empty shop in Solihull. Their Woolworths is also still empty.

Saint David is the patron Saint of Wales and there were a few people this morning out wearing daffodils at church. They also did the bible readings in a welsh accent, which is always a joy, and then we all joined in with two good old welsh hymns.

It was good to see some old-style canoes on the Abbey Mill Stream today. At first, I thought they had lost something in the mud, but now I am no longer sure. Perhaps they had sprung a leek!!!