The window of Helen and Douglas House Carity Shop is looking the part, and this morning I went to what will probably be the best carol service all year. It was the Abingdon and district primary school carol service at St Helens. All the Abingdon primary schools were there, as well as primary schools from Berinsfield, Milton, Drayton, Steventon etc. Nobody can sing carols better that 600 children.
I’ve just returned from the precinct. As you can see from the picture it is more wet than snowy, but it still could pass as an Advent Calendar.

But this is what it looks like during the day. The second ashes test match against Australia has just begun, down under, and here is the Abingdon Vale cricket pitch.

This man was fishing with his chair and wellington boots ankle deep in water.

The County Hall stilts are an architectural feature, but the normal reason for building on stilts is more practical – to keep out of reach of flooding.
Here near the Ock these sheltered flats for the elderly are built on stilts, and it looks from this morning’s flood that the stilts are a wise precaution.
Nearby is another place with houses upon stilts – just before the Ock enters the Thames. The Ock can quite easily flood near houses in town.

The Thames normally only overflows on the opposite bank on fields…
..but that is not to say the Thames will not creep up places such as this public slipway.

The owners have wisely slid down a thick plastic shutter to protect their property.

Here is Abingdon’s out-of-season outdoor pool. Those are not the normal season’s greetings.
The kiosk near the pool has also been daubed with green and blue faces. They don’t look like Santa Clause and his elves!!!

In bold it says ‘FEAR!’. It is not exactly peace and good will to all men!!!

The Crown and Thistle has always been up there among Abingdon’s more distinguished public houses. It is a traditional 17th century coaching Inn on Bridge Street (Clippity Clop Clippity Clop).

The banner reminds people to book their festive meals before it is too late.
In the 1900s The “Old Fighting Cock” public house was next door but the Crown and Thistle has long since extended south over that ground. The man on the ladder is doing the wiring for the Christmas lights.
The courtyard normally has the medieaval stocks out in summer in front of the Stocks bar. You can pose while friends throw chips at you. (See how many you can catch in your mouth!).

There are often national flags draped about outside. France and the UK are among the favourites.

The name Crown and Thistle does come from the time when England (Crown) and Scotland (Thistle) were united as one Kingdom under James 1st.
The premises also has 19 bedrooms, and a restuarant, and a fine cobbled courtyard.

There is supposed to be a Phantom Horseman. But don’t let that keep you awake at night. Any decent old pub has to have a ghost to help bring in the tourists. Anyway I won’t go on about it: that would be like blogging a dead horse.