Thanks to John for emailing this wonderful picture – ‘an illusion of lips from red bushes reflecting in water of the River Thames’.

Nearer to town I too had a walk in the November sunshine by the River Thames at lunchtime today.

For the first time in ages I pushed open the metal gate to the Old Gaol grounds. There is a key pad by the gate but it is left open to visitors during reasonable weekday hours.

The sunlight was dazzling in the direction of St Helen’s Church.

Looking back to the Nags Head Inn the reflections were as clear as a mirror. The Old Gaol is a prime location for anybody wanting to run a restaurant in Abingdon, by the River – with stunning views.

On visiting Abingon Lock today we saw the Esme Dowling shield. Richard Hawkin, and Frank Jordan have been awarded the prestigious Lock Keeper of the Year award for Abingon Lock. There was a big presentation a couple of weeks ago.

At Abingon Lock a lot of boats were passing through the lock gates on the hottest day since the start of the school summer holidays.

The Esme Dowling Award for Lock Keeper of the Year is voted for by members of APCO Hotelboats. The award is for outstanding customer care and performance and is open to all lock keepers on the UKs inland waterways.

The swan, and two cygnets, caught by the swan uppers about three weeks ago have not been scared away from the Marina by the experience. They were back again this evening.

A little way behind was the other parent swan, keeping a distance.

When they were gone there was just the view of a sunset over the Marina.

Some of us may be back at work but others are still enjoying their holidays – passing under Abingdon Bridge or through Abingdon Lock.

I was struck by how many spiders there are on the framework of Abingdon Lock and Weir. Spiders’ webs join one another, sometimes in the most precarious of places.

A rolling stone may gather no moss, but this year many plants have taken root above the water rolling over the weir.

The mill stream is more overgrown than ever with trees and branches fallen down and water vegetation growing up.