St Nicolas Church are hosting Cards for Good Causes after a five-year gap. They offer a wide range of Christmas cards, wrapping paper, Advent calendars and other Christmas gifts. By purchasing these items, people are supporting the not for profit organisation Cards for Good Causes and over 40 local and national charities, including Amnesty International, Cancer Research UK, Mind, and The Alzheimer’s Society.

For many, Christmas cards have been a way to stay connected with friends and relatives, especially those not seen regularly. However, with the increasing use of digital communication, this may be changing. The cost of postage does not help. Second-class stamps are now 85p, and first-class stamps are £1.65.

Brown bin subscribers have been ending the festivities by putting out their real Christmas trees. Some of the trees look majestic and could have been kept on until the end of January. However, after fulfilling their festive duties, the trees will be collected, composted and sold to local farmers.

Outside, temperatures dipped, and in the late afternoon, fine snowflakes flew about. One Christmas Tree still shone at Annie’s Tearoom, next to the palm trees.

Thanks to Daniel for this picture of the Memory Tree.

In south Abingdon, near the marina, a tree is decorated with Christmas decorations and messages to loved ones. Many of the messages are from people who have missed loved ones who have died.

These messages have been on the tree all Christmas; today’s wind and rain knocked a few down.

Further along the river bank, a cuddly panda sat alone in the rain. The panda and the memory tree both seemed sad. Even sadder was a hearse that stopped for a few moments by the River Thames, with the word, DAUGHTER, in flowers by the coffin.