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.

About a month ago I was given a flyer and asked to mention it on the blog. Time has flown by and  the day has arrived for the Women’s World Day of Prayer. Each year women from a different country put together the service and this year it is by Suriname. But having checked I now see that due to worsening weather the event has been POSTPONED. The hope is to rearrange in the near future.

I was very glad to get back to Abingdon after a long drive home from Bedford this evening.

The roads and pavements are likely to be slippery again tomorrow. A number of schools are closed.

George sent me this picture of a tree blown down across Thesiger Road, Abingdon, about 10.30 am today, 24th January. There has been a lot of wind and rain over the last few days.

The River Ock is higher than usual but has not reached the new flood wall that was built in 2017.