There was a delivery of flowers to the alms houses. The flowers came in a long cardboard box so there was no guessing what was inside.

But I would guess they were something more unusual than the crocuses

more exotic than daffodils that bloom in profusion today on Mothers Day.

Spring is in the air and such a change from last week’s snow and ice.

By this afternoon most of the snow had melted from the roads and pavements in Abingdon .

There was a last chance for some pictures of snow before it all thawed this morning. I walked along the road by Rye Farm Carpark, and passed the temporary encampment.

The fields on one side have a few sheep and on the other side have regular patterns left by farm vehicles, accentuated by snow.

The path towards Swift Ditch is a farm path that is far more picturesque with tracks showing through snow.

Down at the weir, that cascades to join swift ditch (the old navigation channel), frozen spume was clinging to branches.

A kingfisher flew down the opposite bank and perched on a tree branch, too fast and too distant to find with my camera.

People living by the river probably see kingfishers regularly but to me it is a rare privilege.

Then I returned back along the River Thames path to Abingdon Lock where Richard, the lock keeper, was out working.

Later in the day I saw Frank (Lock Assistant) who said the Oxfordshire Home Guard have an event at the lock on April 8th. They will also be meeting the public in Abingdon Community Shop (Free Space) from 20th-24th March.

The snow stayed through the night and today as temperatures remained below freezing. The fine snow gets blown with the wind and so there are pavements that are clear with a drift elsewhere. I was told that the road from Cumnor to Abingdon was impassable this morning because of snow blown from the fields onto the road.

There was more fine snow today. Being near old buildings such as the Long Alley Almshouses in Abingdon is a reminder of all the previous ages when there were no warm houses as an escape from the cold.

Throughout the day pathways have been made in the snow by cars

and by people. The weather forecast has it growing warmer by tomorrow.