Local families from Abingdon and surroundings got together for a tea party recently to swap stories. They all belong to HOST. a national charity which enables international students at UK universities to spend a weekend in a British home. This allows the student to get a glimpse of British life and culture (and food!) and the family to learn a little about life in another country. Students from China, Costa Rica, USA and Japan have spent a weekend in Abingdon recently.

Hosts have different reasons for volunteering – their own children may have received hospitality when studying abroad and they want to reciprocate; or they may want to introduce their young children to other people with different ways of life; or they may have a special interest in a particular country. Students apply for a HOST visit throughout the year, but December and Christmas visits are particularly wanted. If you would like to offer a student a weekend away from campus and a warm welcome into a British home contact Margaret@margarethancox.freeserve.co.uk or look on the website www.hostuk.org

The TFLRA newsletter is to continue after all, following the announcement earlier this year of it’s folding due to not enough help.  Some new people have joined the Committee and the new newsletter is due to be published soon to all Tithe Farm and Ladygrove residents.

And trying something new – there will also be a TFLRA Blog (keeping up with modern times).

The Community Shop in Bury Street has been quiet over the summer holidays, but with September upon us community groups have started using it again – starting with The Abingdon Health & Wellbeing Centre, Audlett Drive.

On display they have some of the arts and crafts made in their craft classes. To keep the people they support fit and healthy they also  have quizzes, yoga, and seated exercise. And to keep people looking good they have a hairdressing service, manicures, podiatry, relaxation, and hand massages.

You are invited in to have a cuppa, and learn more about their work. It may be you know somebody who might want to use their services, or you could volunteer to lead something like Computer Classes.

Abingdon Peace Group took part in Wool Against Weapons yesterday , linking Aldermaston and Burghfield nuclear weapons facilities with 7 miles of pink knitting.

Over 10,000 pieces of knitting were brought, from as far afield as Skipton in Yorkshire, Bristol, and the Potteries,

and even some came from Bonn in Germany.