Monday Market with sunshine (snow and rain reminders)

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Martin has the Abingdon 2023 calendar on sale on his Monday Market Stall, beginning with a picture of a snowy January.

August has started dry with blue skies and warm sunshine. There was no butcher, but the fish van was there.

By the end of the day, all the Sunflowers, from the flower and plant stall, were sold.

A crochet pattern showing a sandy beach is on the Market Place post office box.

The High Street is bright and light; many wear summer shorts and dresses.

At Trinity Church, the scouts returned after camping in North Yorkshire, where they had rain. Tents were laid out to dry.

Drama Club Walk, St Nics book and cake sale, and Oddballs Rally

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The Abingdon Drama Club annual walk into Oxford left Abingdon at 11 am. The walk is organised by Kevin Thompson, author of Willy and Wally the windscreen wipers. Kevin has been a stage manager for years. The walkers included directors, actors, lighting, and sound. They usually have a drink at Sandford Lock on the way.

One of the first things they saw on the way was the other swan family, the Mill Stream swans.

At St Nicolas Church, a book sale with coffee and cakes raised money for church funds. Books were good value at 50p each and 3 for £1.

At Abingdon  Rugby Ground, the Oddballs Scooter Rally is on all weekend and many people are camping. On the Market Place, one scooter was parked. Others drove by, but not in the huge numbers sometimes seen during Oddball’s rallies.

Reading runs from Oxford to Abingdon

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Salter’s Steamers run a boat between Oxford and Abingdon for pre-booked groups of 30 or more.

The boat came through Abingdon Lock at about 4:30 pm.

Postcards, lupin seeds, and The River Thames Guidebook are on sale at the lock. All proceeds to RNLI.

Reading carried over thirty passengers, and many waved at the children waiting to cross the lock.

The Abingdon-on-Thames swan family are still together after the swan-upping two weeks ago.

There was a training session at the Open Air Pool with lifeguards helping a volunteer who pretended to faint. After checking her breathing and her airway was clear, they left her in the recovery position.

Masons repairing Conduit House

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In a previous report on Albert Park, I showed how scaffolding had been put around the Conduit House monument and suggested the roof needed repairing. Ben has sent in pictures showing some hoarding. The company are stone masons. This leads me to believe the stones are being repaired and restored.

They will use lime mortar rather than modern Portland cement mortar, as the stones can breathe and last longer with lime mortar.