There is an international pandemic. Most businesses have closed down, and people are locked down at home. We are valuing our essential services more than ever. There are notices on some wheelie bins thanking the waste collection and recycling services.

This week after the Easter bank holidays the recycle collection (green wheelie bins) will be one day late..

Our green bin (recycled waste) was fuller than usual and I would think that could be the case with many households. Household Waste Recycling Centres are closed until further notice so that adds to the pressure.

Our local district council, VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council), have offered some guidance because of coronavirus. Like all services there have been some staff shortages due to illness and self-isolation and to manage this staff have been redeployed and agency drivers brought in to help.

As a result, there is the chance crews might not complete all of their daily rounds. VWHDC says ‘If the bins in your street are not emptied, please leave them out for up to three days (including weekends) and we’ll try to catch up. If still not emptied, bring them back in and we will empty them on the next planned collection day.’

VWHDC have suspended some non-essential services. This could change further as the lockdown has been extended for three more weeks.

Central government guidance is that ‘Residents with symptoms of Covid-19 should double bag any discarded tissues and other waste and leave for 72 hours before placing them in their main black rubbish bin.’

Like many areas, the ‘Workhouse Estate’ (Abbott Road, Thesiger Road and a bit of Oxford Road) has started a thriving What’s App Group with lots of sharing of ideas and practical help. They are also keen to show the key workers how much their efforts are appreciated – apart from the Thursday clapping they have a banner at the top of the road and this message for the bin men at the other end.

Thank you to someone from the Workhouse Estate for the first and last pictures.

Tony sent this picture taken from the footbridge to the Wildmoor allotments during their exercise walk today. Nobody appeared to be hurt. Traffic tailed back as far as the eye could see.

I was at work doing a double shift so did not see much of Abingdon. At work procedures keep tightening up more and more to protect the people we support. Today was the first time we wore PPE most of the time. At 8pm I went on the doorstep with one of the people we support, and took off the facemask apron and gloves, to clap the NHS. As well as a lot of people on their doorsteps clapping, there were saucepans being bashed and some fireworks. I haven’t yet been at home to take pictures from West St Helen Street of the Thursday at 8pm tribute.

I cycle past apple trees in blossom, sheep and lambs, and cows and calves on the way to work.

A notice at Abingdon Lock reminds people to stay at home.

I went for an exercise walk in the early evening, and there were very few people out.

Pigeons normally find leftovers dropped by people leaving cafes and takeaways, but there are lean pickings on Abingdon High Street.

I see a man out cleaning our street most mornings during the lockdown. By webcam I have just seen somebody cleaning a street in Tokyo.

People at home can still look out on the world through webcams. https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/united-kingdom.html allows a way to visit a variety of places in the UK and around the world.

Both Oxford …

and New York show that we are in this together.

P.S. Revd Jen Brown’s thought for today on 15th April is thankfulness to the people keeping the country going.