This blog is coming full circle. At the start of the year a post showed this light taken down. Here it is about to go up again.
Walk around Abingdon, and you’ll see not everybody goes through this rigmarole. There are houses that keep their Christmas Lights up all year, all ready for the day when they can be turned on again.
The Red Cross shop in West St Helen Street has been in Abingdon for over 15 years, and I cannot remember it looking as good or as well stocked as recent months. And the Brazilian manageress is really friendly.
But compare it to other charity shops in town and look at the cards and there is one big difference. The Red Cross shop has not got any Christmas Cards.
A little way away the Oxfordshire Headquarters of the Red Cross can be found in Colwell Drive next to Mac Donalds in Abingdon. There are a fleet of ambulances round the back, and inside are offices and storage for all sorts of wheelchairs and walking frames and things to to be used for loans. The Red Cross does not only look after people in war torn countries but does a lot near at home. This building will be staying…
…but the shop has not been making enough money and will be closing on about December 9th. This window picture was taken a few weeks back. The word ‘Unconditional…’ and a cuddly toy behind saying ‘I Love You.’
It is not the only shop to be closing as this is a strategic decision coming from the National HQ (our regional HQ is not to blame). Possibly a wise financial decision looked at from seventy miles up there, but not from down here.
It was a frosty morning, and cold enough for ice to have formed on puddles. A slight mist hung over the water, as can be seen looking towards the bridge.
The autumn colours seem really good this year, particularly in the early morning sunshine.
And looking towards Abingdon Bridge, the new lights can be seen showing through their covers. Once they are uncovered, and the system (with computerised queue counting) is fully operational we shall see how well it works. For people coming from Dorchester and Culham it will mean queueing outside town rather than into town.
A couple of pictures from the Market Place this lunchtime. The first one shows the Abingdon MP (Member of Parliament) Dr Evan Harries with one of his fellow campaigners trying to save the Community Hospital. Evan Harries was also in Abingdon for the Remembrance Day parade last weekend but spends most of his weekdays in London at the Houses of Parliament.
The second picture is of the Waterways Trust. They work and campaign and educate to look after our Waterways and make them a good habitat for wildlife. They told me of various projects they have been involved in but the one I could most relate to was the reintroduction of otters to the Thames near Lechlade. They had lots of furry toy otters on the stall.