There is a lot going on this weekend in Abingdon. Mind in Abingdon are taking part in arts weeks. They will be open for the public this Saturday (13th May) from 10 am to 4pm. That is as well as all the other artweek venues.

The exhibition is called Life Journeys. My wife has already been, and liked the painting above.

The Abingdon Jazz Festival is also on Friday and Saturday. Book Tickets from www.abingdonjazzfestival.org.uk.

The Abingdon Air and Country Show is on this Sunday with a three hour flying display as well as all the other ground displays.

In the Community Shop this week and Saturday the Abingon Bowling Club are encouraging people to try their hand at bowling.

Get any of your bowls within the yellow square at the far end, and you did better than me.

Abingdon Bowling Club also have taster sessions on Friday 19 May from 5pm and Saturday 20 May from 10am.

Thanks to Peter and Anne for reminding us that today is Europe Day

The first picture is from Europe Day 2009 outside Old Abbey House. The next 2 pictures are from 2006 when visitors from all the twin towns came to Abingdon. Peter Says …

Today is Europe Day ! Europe Day is a celebration of peace and unity in Europe and is celebrated on May 9th each year as this day remembers the historical Schuman Declaration of May 9th 1950 which was the start of European unity. ( Europe Day is sometimes called Schuman day.)

ADTTS, The Abingdon twin towns society, celebrates Europe Day each year on May 9th. We think that with Brexit being continually in the news it is even more important than ever to celebrate Europe Day so tonight we will be meeting in the upstairs room of the Kings Head & Bell Pub for a meal on a European theme. The menu will incorporate dishes from our twin towns in France, Germany , Belgium & Italy and we will be toasting our friends in our twin towns and friends in all the European countries.

On the Market Place this morning Abingdon Rugby Club had a stall. It may be the end of the season but they are continuing with activities out of season. Anybody can join in with Touch Rugby every Wednesday at 7pm at the club down Lambrick Way. Book at O2Touch.co.uk. The club is also looking for new young players to join the club (from 5 years and up).

There was also a gathering of Conservatives on the Market Place. Nationally, in local elections, they had done very well. In Oxfordshire, and Abingdon, they had done less well. In Abingdon the pendulum has swung back to the Lib-Dems who won all three County Council wards.

I also thought I heard Morris Dancers performing but it turned out to be a lone accordion player. Mr Hemmings Day of Dance is usually about this time of year on the Saturday nearest the birthday of former Abingdon Morris dancing legend Tom Hemmings.

This evening there were a lot of people going to the Amey Theatre at Abingdon School. It turned out to be the Middle Year Performances for St Nicolas Primary School of Wind in the Willows.

The Amey Theatre also screens productions live from the RSC in Stratford. The next one will be Antony and Cleopatra on Wednesday 24 May 2017 at 19:00.

There is a lot going on at, and near, the theatre. They have Abingdon’s Got Talent in a few days time. But the school website says ‘Please note this performance is for Abingdon School boys, St Helen’s girls and staff only.‘

It is not like the days when anybody could join in with Abingdon’s Got Talent on the Market Place – shown here in 2009.