There was a Local Excellence Market on the Market Place in Abingdon today. The morning began with blue skies streaked with cloud.  One stallholder said they expected rain by about 3 pm and hoped it was not earlier.

A new addition this time was a stall offering dog massage. The stallholder explained that, just like people, dogs can carry tension in their shoulders. Massage helps to ease stiffness, improve circulation, and even speed recovery from injuries — and most dogs seem to enjoy the experience.

The Oxfordshire Independent Authors Group were also represented, with four writers sharing a table and showcasing books by a dozen local authors. In the picture are:
* Another Mother’s Child by Mary McClarey
* Sangre de Toro by Rachael Adam
* Murder at the Manor by Colin Wade
* Stick or Twist by Edward Christie

At a corner of Martin Wackenier’s photography stall, Chris was knitting and displaying toys. Her corner adds colour. She has taken up macramé as well, and brought along some of her first handmade plant hangers.

Alongside these were the familiar regulars — arts and crafts, honey, samosas and various breads and cakes and cooked burgers, the fruit and veg stall, the chilli stall, and many more — together creating a busy and attractive event in town.

Meanwhile, over in the Guildhall, a craft and gift market was taking place. The organisers often arrange their market to coincide with busier market days, with helpers on hand to point visitors across.

The Oddball Scooter Rally — now celebrating its 10th anniversary — is on this weekend at Abingdon Rugby Club. Every so often, the phut phut of a vintage motor scooter can be heard in West St Helen Street. Earlier, outside the Co-op, I overheard one rider say, “Not bad for 1958,” as he stood beside his machine.

It was a lovely, sunny afternoon. The petunias have filled out and cover the beds with colour.

The hanging baskets are at their peak — not yet straggly.

A regular street musician was playing in his mellow way. A few days ago, he was playing as four children danced in a line beside him — getting applause from their parents and the people at nearby tables. Today, he got quite a few coins from passers-by.

The Abingdon Town Band was performing on Abingdon Market Place, conducted by Steve Rich, bringing joy to people drinking coffee at the tables of Pablos Lounge, Costa, Starbucks, Ma Cherie, R&R, Java, and Throwing Buns.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the band’s reformation in 1965, a milestone they’ll celebrate with a special Anniversary Concert on June 28th. What’s striking is their journey from rehearsing in an old air raid shelter to performing for HRH the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle. They are still on the way back to full strength after the Covid layoff and have been seen more in the last year or so.

We stopped to listen, and were serenaded with: Slaidburn, Bach’s “Minuet in D,” and a Lady Gaga hit.