There was Carol singing in the Farmers’ Market today (Friday) – with help from the Abbey Brass. The carols were organised by the Abingdon Christian Aid group and a collection was taken for the work of Christian Aid, very much focused on the urgent Afghanistan crisis appeal.

On Saturday from 11 am – 12 noon more carol singing is planned by the Church in Abingdon in the Market Place. They asked people taking part to pre-register because of the need for a Covid risk assessment.

There will also be actual and virtual carol services at some of the churches if you visit their web pages. They are all listed together on the blog’s links page.

The Christmas Lights in the town centre were all on this evening for the first time. They have been half-on for the last week.

Normally there is pressure to get everything ready for the big celebrity switch-on. This year there was no S Club 2, Spice Girl, or a celebrity from the Vicar of Dibley.

This evening there was no crowd, no fireworks and no celebrity, but it did all come together. Three cheers …

Today the tree on the Market Place was decorated and the festive candles were put up.

Across the Market Place, work is underway to create a Starbucks where M&Co once were.

On Stert Street, Missing Bean were moving in rails of clothes and have put up a notice that says ‘Take – two : New & preloved boutique.’

Some of the town lights came on this evening and the rest will soon follow.

P.S. A sign in the window says that “take-two” is a pop-up shop open every Thursday from 5 to 8pm. Thanks to Martin for pointing that out.

Today would have been the Christmas Extravaganza but that is not happening this year.

Instead there was the St Helen’s Christmas Fair in the church

The Hand Bell ringers provided music. They are not doing as many gigs round care homes and fetes as usual this year, but they did St Michael’s Christmas Fair last week and were at St Helen’s this week.

Outside we had snow for a few minutes. Relations up north had a proper snow fall.

The Mother Christmases ran the raffle.

There was a place for refreshments and stalls in the riverside aisle, and books and jigsaws in the centre neare the alter. The Christmas Tree is already up and lit.