Some early work has begun on the Almshouses. The Herald said late last year £1M needed spending on them to put them back in order.

Work has also begun on renovating the grapes. A couple of years ago, this pub was a lively place where bands played on Sunday nights, but it changed hands and didn’t look to be doing so well. So I guess it is looking for another fresh start.

A new MG exhibition called ‘MG at Speed’ has just opened in Abingdon Museum. A few MGs stopped by for the opening. One had even got stopped for speeding believe it or not.

In the museum, there are scalextric MG racing cars to play with… More tricky than it at first appears. I was forever retrieving the car and fettling the connecting wires. Wireless must be better!!!

There is a new free Wi-Fi in the centre of town. Its central router is in the Museum.

This is today’s post being created in the museum coffee bar using CTS Wi-Fi Spot. All Free! They have a late opening for the national Night of the Museums.

One thing was missing this year from the Spring Festival: A Maypole.

However there was dancing from The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers

and the Abingdon Scottish Dancers.

Punch and Judy (a little bit too scarey for some),

a little Big Band ( 4 members from the Oxford University Big Band.)

and a climbing wall. The Spring Festival marks the launch of Abingdon in Bloom, and so there are also plant stalls.

Pat Hobby, a well known retired primary school teacher and the new deputy Mayor, is taking part in a dance called Maid of Mill.

But no Maypole.

The “Spring into Abingdon” shopping promotion kicks off tomorrow and runs from 17 to 31 May. The yellow posters have begun to appear at participating shops.

This poster is mounted in Fabulous Flowers.

This one: Enjoy Every Step… Spring into Abingdon… at Clarkes.

And another poster in the doorway of the winner of ‘The New Bookshop of the Year – 2008.’

“Nicki Thornton (left) and Mark Thornton (right) of the New Bookshop of the Year, Mostly Books in Abingdon, with sponsor Meryl Halls of the Booksellers Association. “

Picture BAGGED from the Booksellers Association Gallery. More details on that at the Mostly Books Blog. I knew them before they were famous.