The ice-cream van was parked near the new millennium needle sculpture.

The public conveniences were open in the Abbey Meadows, as was the golf kiosk. I even heard somebody expressing disappointment that the open air pool was not open yet.

It was the sort of day when visiting Abingdon was, almost, like being at the sea-side. People were gazing at the weir..

or watching boats cruising through Abingdon Lock.

This colourful barge, called Lucky, slowly approaches the Lock.

Harry, my dog, goes to sniff around whenever he comes to a bench with somebody on it. He has learnt that people eat sandwiches and often drop tit-bits.

This boat has got up speed passing Nags Head island before going under the Bridge, heading downstream towards Culham.

In the window of Frugal Food I see that various events are advertised today. Roy Bailey and John Kirkpatrick are playing at the Unicorn Theatre (Old Abbey Buildings) tonight. There is an Easter Fair for Radley Lakes at Radley Village Hall. And between those events is a poster asking ‘Is there more to life than this?’ advertising the Alpha Course.

Andrews the Estate Agents have replaced most of the houses in their window with the easter egg pictures, coloured in by children from St Nicks school.

There is a huge banner advertising the Alpha course outside Ock Street Baptist Church. I couldn’t get it all in without stepping back and getting run over.

I went to a good church service at Ock Street Baptist church yesterday, where we all gathered at the front (about 150 people) to sing the last two songs, and it felt like being part of a huge choir.

Today, some of the people from that church were giving out easter eggs in little bags. Included in the bag was an invitation to the Alpha course saying ‘Dinner and discussion about the Christian Faith. Friday evenings at 7pm starting 13th April. Abingdon Baptist Church. mailto:minister@abingdonbaptist.org.uk.

It was a lovely day in town. The easter cakes in the window of Baker’s Oven enticed passers by…

Holland and Barratt were giving away 3 for the price of 2 on everything.

and not far away a swans nest has appeared.

The County Council has resurfaced Lambrick Way near the Marina.

The County have added these little chess pieces in the road approaching the Guildhall. Just beyond, some of the blocks in the road supplied for the recent Abbey area redesign are chipping. Tests are being done to see if they are a sub-standard batch. The district council are in discussions with suppliers and contractors to get them replaced.

There is a new Polish Delicatessen about to open in Stert Street. Importing Polish food has become big business of late. The signs in the window are in both Polish and English.

Work continues on the Market Place, and it looks like the workers have done a smooth job with the surrounding York Stone slabs.

Chancellors won’t be there much longer. Their new premises on the High Street was having the carpet tiles fitted today.

A sky blue casement window at the Nags Head overlooks one of the smaller arches of Abingdon Bridge.

Forsythia is in bloom and behind it can be seen the Upper Reaches Hotel.

At the top of Bridge Street, a face peeps through a sea-side peep-hole, grinning madly, with colour all around.