The three of us, who lift share from Oxford to Birmingham, agreed to return home early – given the snow fall, and the predictions of worse to come. We have been caught out before. When I got home…

The snow did not quite reach Queen Victoria’s skirts.

Trendell’s Folly was still recognisable.

The path through the Abbey Gardens to the lake was passable with very little care.

Road markings round West Saint Helen Street were re-done a couple of days before the opening of the Co-op.

Just round the corner from the Co-op itself…

the front of The Co-operative funeralcare has also been given a brighter look – turning from black to white.

The farmer has been ploughing the field alongside Masefield Crescent. A strip remains but that may still go under the plough.

Large clods of earth stand out along the rise towards Masefield play park.

The field at the back of Overmead has also been ploughed, but the soil here, although only a few hundred metres from the first pictures, seems far more friable.

The first time I’ve seen stand up comedy in Abingdon. You can go most weeks in Oxford but here it is a rarity.

Andy Kind, from Stoke, and Tony Vino from Preston made a 300 mile round trip to be at Preston Road Community Centre. (The event was hosted by the Vineyard Church who normally put on a cabaret for the local community in January.)

The comedians did build up a good rapport with the front two tables where the Older and Bolder Fitness group were sitting, especially a lady called Eileen. “So when are you going to show us one of your back flips then Eileen?”

Tony did try to find out a bit about Abingdon from the audience. He said ‘Since you are so near Oxford, is it posh living here in Abingdon?’.

Somebody said ‘No‘.

Somebody else added “Its going down hill. All the shops are closing.”

“Thats the recession” said Tony.

“But it happened in Abingdon first.”