This is the last weekend Stroll In will be open as they will be closing next week. Over the years Stroll In have provided kitchenware, hardware, toys, party things – all at a very reasonable price – things people needed. It was a shop only found in Abingdon.

I am more used to seeing the very hungry caterpiller at Mostly Books

but I see it has also made an appearance at Masons with some other materials for children’s quilt covers and curtains.

Masons is unique to Abingdon. They have 3 shops supplying Abingdon and the surrounding areas with material for sewing, knitting, needlecraft as well as craft material for jewellery making, card making and scrap booking. There is also a seamstress to fix zips, and you can buy a kilt pin there if you need one for Burns Night.

The Gift Centre moved to its new location a  few weeks ago. The main advantage of the new shop is that it has a wide staircase and lots more space upstairs. There is a lot of work to get it all ready and the framing workshop still needs kitting out.

But in another week people will be able to go up the stairs to the gallery where pictures are being hung as we speak.

Any idea what artist did these four pictures. He achieved cult status on Radio Oxford, went on to television stardom, and now has proved himself an accomplished artist in acrylics and oils.