Christmas Extravaganza 2012

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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.
Extravaganza
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.
Extravaganza
Then through the day there was much happening in the Market Place
Extravaganza
Roysse Court became a farm yard for the day.
Extravaganza
In the Guildhall there was a Craft Fair. The man in the foreground makes bicycles and sculptures from wire – Garry Curran Wire Sculpture.
Extravaganza
In St Nic’s Church there were stalls and performances throughout the day – at 2 am was the Abingdon Community Orchestra.
Extravaganza
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.
Extravaganza
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.)

Our Street in the Middle of our Town

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Our Street
We live on West St Helen Street in the centre of Abingdon. At one end, our street is dominated by St Helen’s Church and the River Thames. At the other end, there are shops, businesses and the Salvation Army Citadel. Most of the residences in the middle are three storey and many, even some of the modern ones like ours, have traditional Abingdon gables.
Our Street
We pay £100 a year for a parking permit and can usually find a parking space not too far from our house. Resident traffic wardens police the scheme and are there to help with much else – the town centre would not be the same without them. They probably know more about what is going on in central Abingdon than anybody. Here one of them is seen chatting to the lady who runs The Honey Pot florist.
Our Street
It is December 1st and she has just done a new Christmas window display featuring a floral swan. We are proud of our swans here in Abingdon.

Old Gaol – First Residents move in

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Old Gaol - First Residents
I hear that the first people moved into the Old Gaol a week or so ago. You can see that there are now rising bollards to control access to the underground carpark
Old Gaol - First Residents
The Old Gaol website says “Providing superb contemporary accommodation alongside a café and restaurant quarter – the first of its kind in Abingdon – the Old Gaol will remain very much in the hearts and lives of Abingdon’s residents as well as those lucky enough to live in the new development itself.”

We hope they enjoy living in Abingdon and don’t only get to visit the shopping centres listed on the Old Gaol website, namely
Bicester Village and Swindon Designer Outlet.

Soldiers homecoming … Diamond Champions … Host UK

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Heroes welcomed Home
I’m sorry that I got no pictures of the Soldiers homecoming parade yesterday. I have my excuses, but more importantly the BBC got a picture. As did the printed Abingdon Herald.

There is more than one way of being a hero….
Heroes at Home
Nan Draper, who I know from Trinity, (in red) will be meeting Prince Charles tomorrow (Thursday) for a celebration of Diamond Champions. On retiring from nursing in 1989 she got involved in lots of community and voluntary activities. What I remember best, was her running all the catering at Trinity from 1990-2010. I read in the Trinity Triangle (our church mag) she also got involved in so much else. Hence the award. You can also see her on the WRVS website with lots of other Diamond Champions.
Heroes at Home
Margaret, a volunteer host, sent me an email and a picture of herself with Jing Jing in 2010. She has a plea “‘Are you spending Christmas at home this year? Could you share it with a Chinese (or other) student at a UK university? HOST has been linking international students with volunteer hosts for Christmas for many years, and is urgently looking for more invitations due to an unprecedented number of students hoping to spend a few days with friendly people, rather than on a deserted university campus. Please see www.hostuk.org and ask to be put in touch with the local organiser. THANK YOU!'”