Snowdrops look to be thriving in this winter without snow.
The mass of daffodils that appear over the other side of the River Thames are grouping again. They have not experienced much frost yet – just lots of water.
Floods made nest building and raising young difficult for the swans last spring. But they are having an easier winter of it.
Our Seasons are never predictable.
The Saturday before Christmas has come, and gone, and it was a rainy day.
Large puddles formed in a number of places on the town’s roads.
Unlike previous Saturdays, I did not see any fairs or markets. So it was a pleasure to look in at Eileen on bath Street, where Pervin, International Harpist, was playing Festive music for the customers. I gather she plays every year at Eileen in Sumertown, then Eileen in Abingdon, as a seasonal special.
There was also champagne and chocolates.
Going to bed the wind was not very strong; neither was it on waking. But during the night there must have been a storm.
St Helen’s Wharf is currently blocked by a tree, and traffic is being diverted until it can be cleared.
There is also a large willow split and fallen near Meadowside, beside the River Ock, and a lot of smaller branches, and a small tree beside.
A couple of years ago I went to talk to the Abingdon artisan who recyles all sorts of cast offs to make windmills. It gives him and passers-by at Withington Court great pleasure.
This evening it was good to see as many windmills as ever.
Here is a short video to show how wind can be harnessed for fun.
(Often at the start of the month I join with bloggers worldwide to do something on a joint theme which is for May 1st creative artisans.)