Category Archives: weather

Snow in Abingdon

Snow in Abingdon
We woke sometime after 9am to see that the Velux window was covered in snow.  We breakfasted fairly quickly, but not as quickly as a lot of young families. By the time we got out there were lots of other people out and about at St Helen’s Wharf.
Snow in Abingdon
The snow had been falling until about 10 am and was still in the branches of trees.
Snow in Abingdon
There were quite a few people walking the Ock Valley Walk.
Snow in Abingdon
It was like Narnia (a winter wonderland). Beautiful.
Snow in Abingdon
Then round to Albert Park where the snow was less virginal. There were nearly as many snowmen as people.
Snow in Abingdon
I have tried to blur the faces so not nobody is too recognisable in these days of GDPR but it is a shame not to show a little bit of the fun.
Snow in Abingdon
Here are three snowmen with a snow dog. It looked more like a dog than the snowmen looked like people.
Snow in Abingdon
It was a chance to bring out those sledges even without the slopes.
Snow in Abingdon
Prince Albert who was featured in yesterday’s post would have recognized what was happening.
Snow in Abingdon
Walking home by Abingdon School we saw one snow man in the grounds.

Home again now, and the snow is already beginning to melt.

Rainbow at sunrise over Private Land

Rainbow at Sunrise
I was returning from work on my bike (having gone a day early by mistake). The sun was rising over the Thames beyond Oday Hill and the sky was overcast and orange.
Rainbow at Sunrise
Rain was beginning to fall, and over the old dog walking field a rainbow formed. Since the start of the year, notices have appeared to say this field is Private Land. Before that there were notices to warn that it was being closed for dog walking.
Rainbow at Sunrise
Soon a full rainbow had grown.
Rainbow at Sunrise
My phone could not get all of it in at once and so here are two pictures – combined. The houses of Masefield Crescent are at the end of the rainbow.

Light snow, Christmas tree recycling, Covid-19 support, and vaccines for over 80s

Snow and Christmas Tree Recycling
Looking out the back window this morning there was light snow on walls, and roofs.
Snow and Christmas Tree Recycling
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council have sad that ‘Due to the current restrictions in place and the guidelines regarding social distancing we will not be carrying out the Christmas tree recycling event on the Market Place this year.

I have seen a few discarded trees. Some looking tatty. Others still look lush and green.

The Vale of White Horse District Council
says ‘While our garden waste service – which normally collects real Christmas trees from customers for recycling – is currently suspended, all residents can still drop off real Christmas trees.’ They list some locations but I have not checked whether this is still going ahead given the lockdown. Somebody might know.

The District Council also has a list of support they can give businesses and residents during the lockdown.

The South and Vale Community Hub team will put people in contact with with community groups and volunteers that can provide support. The council also have some practical support available for eligible people facing financial hardship or homelessness. Financial support for business affected by the restrictions continues to become available from the government and is administered locally by the district councils.
Snow and Christmas Tree Recycling
Meanwhile the roll out of the vaccines is progressing. I will be taking my mum, who is in her eighties – the second top priority group, to get her first jab tomorrow. She has just been notified. People are being warned that it is free and anybody trying to charge you is likely to be a scam.

Reports from the White Horse District Council but no Christmas Quackers

Anyone whose green wheelie bin day should have been emptied on Friday 25th will have to wait until Tuesday 29th because Friday 25th is Christmas Day. I found that out on the White Horse DC website.
Weather for Ducks
The web site also has a news release from 22nd December, titled Cabinet decision on Old Abbey House accepted by watchdog. The decision on the future of Old Abbey House was made on 4th December and will not be announced until the new year. The Council’s Scrutiny Committee found on 15th December the process to be fair, and no information was unduly kept from the public and they asked for complete transparency in communicating the decision where possible.

The council also have New Covid-19 grants available now for pubs.

We are asked to Protect friends and family this Christmas and help stop the spread of Covid-19 and so there will be no great Christmas getaway this year.
Weather for Ducks
A lot of people have already finished work for Christmas, but key workers in the health service and care homes work throughout.
Weather for Ducks
The mid winter so far has been bleak because of the national news but not frosty. There were snowdrops outside Old Abbey House today.
Weather for Ducks
There was a lot of rain today, and somebody said to me that it was lovely weather for ducks. Curious as to whether it really was so lovely I went to ask a couple. I did not get a reply – not a single quack. I have no Christmas quackers to report this year.