Guide Dogs for the Blind were collecting.

Riverside Pre-School had a stall. They are a nursery off Preston Road – in the Thameside School grounds – which was recently in danger of closing because of not enough volunteers. They still need people to help, but are safe for now. My son went to the Riverside playgroup – as it once was – at the St John’s Ambulance Station when it was run by Mrs Barratt – I think – circa 1990.

Also the Monday Market Fruit and Vedge man was there. There will be Fairs the next two Mondays so he has shifted to Saturday during that time.

Hester commented two days ago that there are signs of change in the Woolworth’s door – the one round the corner.

It is not so much the Street Fair poster – the best adverts for that are the yellow traffic signs on every approach into the town warning that the Street Fair is on from Monday 5th October to Tuesday 6th –

No, the good news is this notice concerning a new Store Opening in Abingdon, presumably taking up some, but not all, of the vacant Woolworths Store. Cargo left Abingdon early last year to be replaced by Londis. But Cargo Home Shop are on their way back. I believe that Scottish Widows bought up the vacant Woolworths premises from the receivers earlier in the year to add to the rest of the Abbey Shopping Centre.

Small Print: Scottish Widows seem to be doing a good job. I only hope they are looking after their smaller – long standing tennants who have faithfully served the town through the bad times and ought to be there to profit from the good times just around the corner.

Prince Albert, with pigeon on head, Hot Air Balloon drifting across…

Telephone pole, CCTV camera, Saxton Road rooftops…. The Sun Has Gone Down…

But not for long.

BAD NEWS…

Val is closing down Frugal Food. I don’t know why. The notice says “Stock up while you can!!“

On a selfish note… I don’t know where I’ll be able to get that fresh tasting Bombay Mix and those Samosas and pies and other things that she sells but you cannot find anywhere else. She has been the one who has promoted Fair Trade, and healthy ecologically friendly food, long before the rest of us caught on… or at least tried to catch on but didn’t always.