The usual gathering of pigeons could not be seen on the Wilsham Road railings.

On the other side of the River Thames, Orion’s Star was in close proximity to St Helen’s Church.

The Old Gaol was reflected in solitary confinement

as the sun set somewhere beyond the Market Place.

This has been a bumper year for pumpkins. They are being sold in large amounts at Waitrose, Tesco, and at Peachcroft Farm.

Even Fabulous Flowers have had a display of pumpkins.

These pumpkins are in a wheelbarrow on Francis Little Drive.

There is an Abingdon Facebook group dedicated to doing a Pumpkin Hunt. Trick or Treating will need to be a little different this year, and they have a list of roads where people say they have put out a pumpkin display.

These pumpkins are in Hermitage Road.

The most famous pumpkin was turned into a coach for Cinderella, and turned back into a pumpkin when she failed to get home in time.

Once upon a time there was a fairy who lived on a boat that motored up and down the River Thames. It was a lovely sunny morning and the fairy was reading her book near a town called Abingdon-on-Thames. Her faithful companion had eyes and ears for all that was happening.

The town had lots of flower baskets along the river banks.

All seemed very quiet until people in brightly coloured clothes started to come across the bridge from the town to the meadow.

Soon there was a very big gathering of people. None of them had any plackards. So they were not protesting about the visit of Donald Trump to the country that had been on the radio. Instead a lady came along with a megaphone, and people cheered her announcements. At one point she asked if it was anybodies birthday.

Then they all set off together towards the lock in one big race. Some had dogs with them, others were pushing buggies.

Then all became quiet again. The fairy continued to read, and her companion watched and listened. The river reflected back the blue sky.

Thanks to John for the pictures. On discovering a video game called the Upper Reaches my imagination got carried away. The Upper Reaches has been boarded up now for well over two years now …

The Upper Reaches has three levels to explore with around 50 boarded up rooms,

There are many high fences to keep you out, overgrown gardens, and a water mill entered through a watery cavern.

Horrible monsters, from giant weeds to killer rats, lurk in the overgrown carpark.

Discover the secrets of  the nearby monastery,  and the Old Gaol where Broad Face glowers menacingly where he was hung.

What of all those donations that pilgrims made to the Abbot over the years? Are they still buried beneath the Abbey Gardens? There could be a sizable horde. Discover the healing potion unknown to modern science made by the last apothecary – or something even more intriguing in the boarded up rooms of The Upper Reaches.