Today I had my first coffee and croissant on Abingdon Market Place since the start of the lockdown. When I sat down, the outside seats at R&R, Costa, and Throwing Buns were in sun; and the seats at Java were in shade.

I noticed the usual queue outside the National Westminster Bank – a very popular bank. Pablos Lounge have reopened this week.

I started a survey of face masks to see what was the most popular colour: 3 blue, 1 pink, 1 black and counting … then noticed a man with a Black Sabbath T Shirt taking a selfie in front Abingdon County Hall Museum.

The doors of the museum appeared to be open but, looking later, I discovered that was only the outer doors. In the interim, the museum are publishing some lovely pictures of exhibits on Abingdon Museum on Instagram.

I flicked through a book, purchased at the British Heart Foundation, and edited by John Betjeman and John Piper, called ‘Murray’s Berkshire Architectural Guide‘

At one point it says, ‘Despite the fact that the huge industrial city of Oxford is only six miles away, Abingdon remains resolutely Berkshire. Not even the presence of the MG motor works and a large, noisy aerodrome kills the essentially market and country quality of this meadow-set, river-bordered, old brick town.’

The Thames Valley Farmers’ Market visited Abingdon Market Place today on the third Friday of the month.

The sun was shining and traders were having a good day.

Mr Busby, of Busby’s Bees, restocked his Abingdon Honey stand for me to take this picture. Busby Bee apiaries are on working allotments, and in a secluded woodland garden.

Buying at farmers’ markets helps support local farmers and producers. There are no middlemen involved. It also helps cut down food miles and waste. People generally bring reusable bags, and the traders transport their products in reusable crates.

A Monday Market has been held in Abingdon since at least 1556, when Abingdon Borough came into existence, and probably much longer.

Earlier this Monday Morning there was a queue all round the fruit and veg stall – with people filling baskets. It is very popular.

Perry the butcher keeps up a constant chatter, with his microphone, and everybody can hear as he piles meat on the scales and gives the customer bargains for buying in bulk.

The fish man comes from Grimsby and has been coming for years now. Grimsby voted Conservative last week – for the first time in 74 years. They will be expecting that leaving the EU will help their fisheries.

The diagonal paths of the Market Place work well. Stalls are on the cobbled quadrants, and people can easily walk between.

On the plant stall, Holly wreaths and Mistletoe and cut Pine trees are selling well, as are Poinsettia and Cyclamen. Some of the colour may have gone out of the world in winter but at Christmas we decorate our houses with evergreens.

Isla Jane Bakery, from Bicester, bring their baking not just to Abingdon, but to many other markets round about.

On Monday the town generally benefits from having the Monday Market. It is the day many, who are not working, choose to come to Abingdon

Trinity Church had a Christmas Fair this morning. This is the raffle.

St Helen’s Church had a Christmas Market this morning. This is the jewellery stall and art under the St Helen’s window.

There was also a Local Excellence Market on Abingdon Market Place. Janes Kitchen was selling meat and vegetarian pies, pasties, and cakes and puddings. I was told it will be her last time at the Local Excellence Market.

Chillies2u had chillies and chilli sauces.

The Abingdon Gin company have set up a craft distillery in Bath Street, Abingdon.

They sell mostly through their website but were giving samples and selling at the Local Excellence Market. Abingdon Gin can also be tried at The Tipsy Mercer and Brewery Tap in Abingdon.