Monthly Archives: January 2012

Black Bags and Gargoyles

Wikipedia on Abingdon
A lovely sunny Market Day in Abingdon. I did think the black bag sign would disappear from Abingdon Market when the wheelie bins took over, but the black bag sign remains. Perhaps it has a greater significance than just saying that there are black bags for sale.

On the subject of interesting local traditions, I read in the Wikipedia of Abingdon that “some people from families that have lived in the town for generations follow the superstition that in walking under the Abbey Gateway one should hold one’s breath to stop the gargoyles that decorate the gateway from stealing it.

Town better prepared for snow with new salt bins and spreader

prepared for the snow
I did hear tell that there are going to be lots of new salt bins around town. So far I have just noticed the one, but I am sure there are others scattered about on difficult slopes and corners.
prepared for the snow
The town council also now owns a salt spreader. It was out this morning sprinkling salt on the pavements of Margaret Brown Gardens. The device also doubles as a grass seeder and so will be very useful all year round.

Why The Abingdon Press?

I remember sitting in Trinity Church a few years ago, during Heritage Day, when some American visitors came in to look around. They told me that we should make more of the Abingdon Press connection.

The Abingdon Bible Commentary
I do own a book by the Abingdon Press… This first edition Abingdon Bible Commentary was published in 1929 by The Abingdon Press. It was withdrawn from the University of London library in 2005, and then came into my possession.

I have not been able to find out why The United Methodist Publishing House used the name Abingdon Press for their book publishing arm when it was set up in the early 1900s.
the abingdon preaching annual 2012
The Abingdon Press head office is in Nashville, Tennessee, and for a hundred years or more they have been doing a good job stopping preachers from running out of reading material.

What Abingdon has been twittering today

From the last day on twitter we have …
Bright Frosty Start
From @FabFlowersEveryone seems to be buying bulb planters today for a little bit of Spring indoors”
Bright Frosty Start
From a customer at @TheOldAnchor . “At The Old Anchor, pint of mulled cider and a roaring fire. Doesn’t get much better than that. Shame we have to walk home!“.
Bright Frosty  tweet
Boat owners do a lot of tweeting.  There is quite a network.  From @nbthegreenman “All the water points are frozen. Should’ve paid attention to the weather forecast and filled up yesterday.”
Bright Frosty Start
From me @back_streeterHarry Lost and Found (again)“.

I was too busy taking pictures – it was so picturesque – to notice that Harry followed another group of people and dogs.
Bright Frosty Start
Finally from @mostlybooksmark replying to @AbingdonCofCSo do we know *which* shops Johnny Depp visited when he was in #Abingdon this week?