Last night the there was a wedding fair at the Guildhall. Local businesses taking part included Frend & Co the jeweller, Added Ingredients, and Pure Marie (est 1936). Thanks to them for the picture. They said the wedding fair was very well organised and they enjoyed taking part.

The Guildhall is promoting itself as a wedding venue, and by the spring, when the architect has put together the first set of drawings we will see how it could offer a cinema. Marie used to be located next to the Regal cinema in Abingdon.

Martin Smith led the boundary walk in 2006 (when I first started doing this blog) and was still there leading the walk in 2013. On both occasions he was accompanied by a town crier who rang the bell and announced to anybody in earshot that we were walking the 1556 bounds of Abingdon. In 2006 we all went into a private garden to see a boundary stone and were given mince pies – something I’ve not experienced since.

This year we could not follow the normal route along the Ock Valley Walk, which is still underwater, and so went down Caldecott Road instead. At one point we saw where the canal bridge would have been.

We also made a small diversion at Box Hill Walk to view where Fitzharris House once stood, and saw the Motte.

The other change from 2006 was that we could now cross the new bridge over what was the Abbey Mill Stream.

The Christmas Extravaganza, organised by the Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce, was a little different this year. Usually it is on Thursday or Tuesday and is an evening affair. This year it was moved to Saturday and went on all day with the finale of fireworks at 6pm.

For some people the Extravaganza began early at 6 am (the core helpers), but for most of us it began at around 11 am with the Parade.

Then through the day there was much happening in the Market Place

Roysse Court became a farm yard for the day.

In the Guildhall there was a Craft Fair. The man in the foreground makes bicycles and sculptures from wire – Garry Curran Wire Sculpture.

In St Nic’s Church there were stalls and performances throughout the day – at 2 am was the Abingdon Community Orchestra.

The day culminated in the turning on of the Christmas Lights at 5:45. For once they were not turned on by a celebrity but by the winner of the best dressed angel competition.

It was still early and mild enough for lots of families to enjoy the excellent fireworks. Often because of coldness or lateness families have left before the fireworks.

(There will be more about the Extravaganza tomorrow when I have a few pictures of Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy and some of the people they met and places they visited in Abingdon and how Iggle Piggle seemed scared of dogs.)

On Saturday there was a Cake and Tombola stall to raise funds for the Abingdon Passion Play.

Auditions for musicians and singers take place on Saturday 1st December at 2pm at St Michael’s Church, and actors and dancers get their chance on Sunday 2nd December at 2PM, The official website has more information.

The big performance will be on Palm Sunday 24th March at 2pm in the Abbey Grounds. It could be huge.