I was suprised to see a large cow at the Christian Aid stall on Abingdon Market Place yesterday. The message is that Christian Aid can provide cows to vulnerable women in Ethiopia – just £150 is enough to buy a cow and a more promising future.

The cow had been made with 2 A frames, and chicken wire, overlaid with papier mache.

The cow was also to be seen in Abingdon Baptist Church this evening for the Church in Abingdon Christian Aid service. It was made in the garage of a member of the Baptist Church, and will now be retiring to Wales to join a zoo of papier mache animals.

As this is Christian Aid week houses in some areas may have received a Christian Aid envelope. There are fewer collectors compared to 25 years ago when most houses in Abingdon got such an envelope. But of the £13,000 raised in Abingdon for Christian Aid last year, £9,000 still came from house collections.

At the White Horse Leisure Centre this weekend there are people taking part in a sponsored Swimathon to raise money for Marie Curie cancer care, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.

Most of the participants are talented young swimmers, either swimming in teams, or doing an individual distance. There are also adults of varying abilities,

I went along, and swam my target distance, despite swallowing half the pool. Thanks to people who sponsored me!

Thanks to Derek for the Oxfam pictures …

The district manager of Oxfam started off in Banbury and cycled round all the Oxfam shops in his patch for Red Nose Day. He can be recognised by the cyclist outfit.

The staff of Oxfam in Abingdon all entered into spirit of the day which involves making people laugh then asking them for their money.

Since starting about 25 years ago Red Nose Day has raised over a billion pounds for charity.

Elsewhere in town Stevo, The Accousic Jukebox, was playing requests from Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Tom Waites and others songsmiths not usually known for their comic touch.