There was a big effort today to get everything ready in time. The Christmas Tree and Giant Candles were put up in the Market Place.

The last of the larger decorations were also hooked up above the High Street.

The Abingdon Christmas Extravaganza, organised by Abingdon Chamber of Commerce, will be on December 2nd. That weekend also sees the Abingdon Beer Festival at the Abbey Buildings on December 1st and 2nd.

This weekend, on Saturday 25th November, Trinity Church has a Christmas Fair, and St Helen’s Church has a Christmas Market.

Cards for Good Causes – the multi-charity Christmas card shop – opened in Abingdon today (Tuesday, October 23), and are celebrating their 30th year.

Comedy writer, and editor, Paul Mayhew-Archer opened the shop at St Nicolas Church in Abingdon. Paul was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and has been working with Parkinson’s UK, whose cards, and those of many other organisations are on sale. Buying the cards helps generate funds for good causes, and raises awareness of their vital work.

The shops will also sell some special cards depicting local scenes by artist Colin Tuffrey, such as: ‘Abingdon from the River’. There will also be a range of Christmas goods including wrapping paper, gift tags, candles, stocking fillers, and traditional Advent calendars.

Look out for the red triangular Santa signs outside for when the shop is open.

The shop is part of a nationwide network of more than 300 pop-up CFGC shops, all staffed by a team of local volunteers.

On Thursday 5th January the Christmas Tree on the Market Place and most of the Christmas lights in Abingdon town centre were lit up for the last time of the festive season.

By Friday evening the Christmas Tree was getting a short back and sides.

The branches were the first into the shredder on Saturday morning, followed by all the smaller trees bought in by Abingdon residents: some dragged, some carried, others ferried in by car.

The trunk of the large Christmas tree was chopped into sections and given to a local barge owner for his stove. The chippings from the branches and smaller trees will be used on places such as the Ock Valley walk. The fragrance of the oils in those pine needles ought to be bottled. It makes such a wonderful smell during the shredding.

P.S. Vale of White Horse District ‏say “if you’re a garden waste customer, leave your real Christmas tree out beside your brown bin this week – we’ll collect and compost it.”

At the annual Boxing Day gathering of MGs, on Abingdon Market Place, some of the cars had their tops down.

It is a social event for the MG Car Club, and a chance to take the cars out for a spin.

Sailing boats from Abingdon Sailing Club also went out for a spin on the River Thames at Abingdon.

After a mild Christmas Day, Boxing Day was sunny, and lots of people left the house to get some fresh air in Abingdon.