Today brought a fair amount of rain. A local canoeist estimated a rise of a “couple of centimetres” on her gauge at the steps by St Helen’s Wharf. The Abingdon Rainfall Gauge measured 15.3 mm. By the look of it, the local ducks didn’t mind. For the reservoirs and the River Thames alike, it was not a flood, but every drop helps as we still have a hosepipe ban.

It also had the effect of bringing down more of the leaves at St Helens Wharf and plastering them onto the road and seats and boats.

When I return along St Helen’s Wharf on a day like this — when the sun breaks through after the rain — I’m reminded how lucky we are to live here in Abingdon.