The day started with frost but had turned to sunshine for the Monday Market. The market is back in full swing after the festive season. The tree has gone as have the decorations. Two Italian flags were flying. The Grimsby Fish van was there.
The butcher was calling out ‘Sirloin Steak, Pork Chops’. The fruit and veg man called back ‘Bananas.’
A lovely morning for a walk over the bridge and beside the River Thames.
The removable bollards around Abingdon Market Place are having new ground sockets fitted. The bollards can be removed to allow events like the fair and markets.
The work is needed as a result of regular damage and missing bollards that has happened over years.
The Abingdon Lions asked Father Christmas to be in their grotto on the Market Place in Abingdon today. He was giving little presents to children. He will be back on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day morning to fill stockings.
Somebody had made a Christmas decoration from wool on the post office box. There were also lots of stalls selling things that would make good presents for Christmas.
There were also decorations made of leaves to make houses and doors look Christmassy without using lights or blow up snowmen.
After Christmas there will be a pantomime about ‘Dick Whittington’ who had a cat. She is the best cat in all Abingdon at catching mice. You will have to go and watch to see what happens when they go to London. The Abingdon Drama Club are selling tickets.
Dave Butterworth, and colleagues from Healthy Abingdon, organised the Abingdon Healthfest on Abingdon Market Place. There were thirteen stalls with different community groups. The event was sponsored by Penlon, the Abingdon company that makes lots of important equipment for the health sector.
One of Abingdon’s Guild of Town Criers was there to announce the events. He also did a cry from on top of the County Hall roof.
The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Cheryl Briggs, spoke to a lot of the stalls.
A fire engine from the Abingdon Fire Station was on display. The fire service were promoting Bikeability (cycle training).
Last weekend I showed Mr. Busby and his Beekeeping business. This week he was there on the Abingdon Free Wheelers cycle stand. They have a calendar of weekly rides for all abilities.
Abingdon Athletics Club has coaching sessions on track and road running. Look at Abingdon Athletic Club to find out more.
Dementia Friendly Abingdon aim to make the town more supportive of people affected by dementia, and their carers.
Other groups included:
* Active Communities
* Abingdon Parkrun
* Community Dental Service
* Leisure / Tennis Centre
* Shed Oxford
* Talking Space Plus were giving out stress balls. If a stress ball is not enough, they also have videos and material to help and can arrange free talking therapies.