Outside the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon miniature snowmen have been left to their fate. The first one to melt appears to have been dosed with red food dye.
By the next day the three in the centre had got frizzled by the sun.
There was a message near the snowmen which read ’20-23 June @ Unicorn Theatre’ .
As Agatha Christie said in one of her books, ‘And then there were none .’
At Abingdon and Witney College on Saturday the 42nd AbRail Abingdon Model Railway Show took place. Over recent years this exhibition has been at the leisure centre.
This year they were at a new venue at the college with the exhibition spread between the reception area, canteen, and a row of classrooms.
The great thing about the exhibition is the dedication and enthusiasm of the railway modellers who create such wonderful models. This line is Göttingen Süd in Germany.
Thomas the Tank Engine and friends were at the fictional Sodor Island, a layout created by Abingdon and District Model railway Club.
There were about 10 stalls and 17 layouts at the show. Another layout by the Abingdon and District Model railway Club was Belgrave Road, Leicester. This grand station never attracted as many trains as needed and closed to passengers in 1962. But before that people from Leicester would have taken to train from here to Skegness for the summer holidays.
The snow continued to fall through the night and by morning there was a covering in Abingdon. There has been more snow this winter than most recent years, and I think this is the third covering. This is the view to the back of Long Alley Almshouse…
Looking up East St Helen Street, the blue and gold flag put up on Commonwealth Day, 12th March, is still there. The Commonwealth Flag is one of the allowed flags from the protocol followed by the Town Council.
On the Market Place, looking towards the County Hall, pigeons flew down in the hope of food.
Daffodils near the Abbey Meadows were looking sad and droopy.
Looking along the River Thames, the banks both sides were white and the river a silver sheen.
At Fat Face there was a contrast between the snow outside and children on the beach, advertising a new range. The year is already picking up speed. Spring starts in three days time.
Mark Bradfield of BBOWT (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust) led a walk this morning as part of the Atom Science and Technology Festival. Passing through the lock he showed us a leaflet with paw prints so that we may now be able to tell a badger from a dog, and a mink from an otter. Mark was also interested to find that two of the earliest Lock keepers on the heritage board were Bradfields – possibly his ancestors.
He told us a lot of things on the way including what BBOWT is doing to control invasive animals like mink that are a real danger to Water Voles.
At the weir near swift ditch he identified some otter spraint (droppings), probably left as a territory marker. Otters are starting to make a comeback, and often eat the American Signal Crayfish (an invasive creature).
Mark also told us how important backwaters are for protecting fish from getting swept away. Backwaters and reed beds also help prevent flooding as not all the water goes down one fast channel.
He praised the reed beds over the other side of the river where a heron was stalking fish.
There was light snow falling throughout the day, and it was chilly. So after the ninety minute walk it was good to get back in the warmth. I visited the Community Shop (Free Space) where lots of children were enjoying making crystals as part of the Science Festival. The Market Place activities were not possible today because of the wind, but there are still lots of indoor talks and activities for the next week. See http://www.atomfestival.org.uk/
Please correct anything I got wrong in quoting Mark.