I’ve come across the Abingdon Bell Ringers three times already this festive season. The first occasion was at the St Michael’s Christmas Fair, where the bells provided background music.

Next, I saw them at Abingdon Phab, where they not only performed but also led Phab members in singing a selection of traditional carols and allowed members to have a go. The bell ringers also set a Christmas quiz for Phab members.

Most recently, they played at Trinity Church’s Winter Warmer, as church members gathered for a shared meal and raised over £200 for Christmas charities.

The group needs at least six ringers to give a full performance, and they seem to have a pool of players to call on. A few familiar faces appeared at all three events, while others joined for one or two, keeping each performance slightly different. Handbell ringing has a long association with Christmas. It is a visual performance too as audiences can watch the movement of the bells.

Back in Abingdon after a couple of days away, I took an evening walk around the town centre to see this year’s festive lights.

Ma Cherie was lit inside and out, and people were enjoying the warm atmosphere.

From the Waitrose car park, Bridge House is surrounded with lights, including a walk-in bauble at the Riverly Club entrance and other installations round the side.

As to the town council lights, I was reminded that you can create the illusion of an angel from the artificial illuminated tree on Roysse Court with the garland of lights across Bridge Street.

Just line them up and fine-tune your position to create the illusion.

The bollards along St Helen’s Wharf have once again been topped with crochet tops. Snowmen, robins, and Christmas puddings now alternate along the railings, adding festive interest to this picturesque stretch of the Thames.

Some of the decorations are familiar: last year saw 75 robins and puddings, and the year before 75 puddings – many of which have made a return, joined by the new snowmen.

The display is appreciated by people walking the wharf. Even the river seems to have gained a festive visitor. Among the familiar mallards, a new duck has been seen in recent months: a Red-crested Pochard. It behaves much like the others, paddling over hopefully when people stop and gaze. These exotic birds were originally part of ornamental bird collections, and have escaped and gone native.

Most people who opened the first door on their Advent calendar today will have found a picture or a piece of chocolate. But at St Helen’s Church there’s a different kind of calendar.

Each day, a new figure is added to the Jesse Tree, tracing the family line from Adam all the way to Jesus.

Today, Monday 1st December, it began with Adam and Eve — complete with serpent and apple. As the first people in the biblical story, they mark the beginning of humanity and the start of the journey that the Jesse Tree will follow through Advent.