The Abingdon Mummers perform every year on or about the winter solstice. This evening they were doing a tour of Abingdon pubs and clubs. I caught up with them at the Old Anchor and followed them to the Con. Club.
The play they perform is short, with lots of jokes, sword fighting, and healing of people killed in sword fights. It ends with a rousing “We wish you a merry Christmas” after which collecting boxes are taken round for this year’s charity: The Alzheimers Club
I was told “Mumming is what Morris dancers do during the winter…”

The covers are off the lights near Abingdon Bridge. AbITs is fully up and working. It has been done at the start of the school holidays, so this is not a proper test. We won’t really know until 2007.

So far, things have not worked well at peak times. Hold-ups soon lead to major queues. It may be scaring people away from town, and so undoing any planned for good effects – improving the ‘shopping experience’ and bringing people into Abingdon.

It was foggy round the people
foggy round the Steeple
foggy by the river
the cold damp made me shiver
On such a day
I lost my way …

Going round Abingdon, I’ve seen a lot of brilliant light displays, but my pictures never look as stunning. I could see the blue brilliance of this house a long way off.
This house and garden were amazing. All the trees were swirled with coloured lights making it look like going into a grotto. Lights along the driveway in the foreground then lead you towards the deer and house.
This display in white was also stunning. Again because of hedges and other obstacles I couldn’t fit it all in one shot.

No obstacles here though. This one was totally in your face.