Near the fancy birdhide at Thrupp Lake there is a board for people to write down wildlife they have seen. I did not see the ducklings somebody had spotted on 6th April.
I saw most of the usual birds: swans, geese, ducks,
and a solitary grebe. Grebe disappear underwater and reappear – often some way from where they went under. This particular grebe went under and seemed to be gone for ages.
When the grebe reappeared he had a whopper and did not let it go.
Along Thames Street all the trees that were growing out of the embankment have been cut back so there is now a much clearer view of the houses and the river.
The same can be said of the intersection of Bath Street and Stratton Way. The sensory garden with its scented rosemary and jasmine bushes have been cleared. Now you can see right through.
There was a French Market with a wide variety of continental produce on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Too late for that now but not for two other events in the next week …
World Bun Throwing Championships Saturday 14th April: The first World Bun Throwing Championships are taking place at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club, Culham Road (by Abingdon Bridge) on Saturday 14 April between 2pm and 4pm. Registration will take place from 12 noon. Entry to the event costs £1 per bun per throw and you can enter for £1 as many times as you like. For the adult competition, the two people throwing their bun the longest distance will be invited to join the Council to throw buns from the roof of the Museum at the Jubilee bun-throwing ceremony on Sunday 3rd June.
There will also be a children’s Bun Throwing competition, again £1 per bun, per throw. There will be a special prize for the winner, although unfortunately it will not be possible to throw buns at the Jubilee ceremony.
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Arts Festival Photography Exhibition this week
Date: Tuesday 10 April 2012
Start Time: 12:00
The Abingdon Arts Festival has come to an end but as the Arts Festival photography competition entries and winners did not get much of an airing they will be on display during the Guildhall opening hours. The Guildhall is open on Tuesday 10th April probably at 12.00. Please do not come to town specially for a viewing without checking with us during the period 10th to 14th April.
The Finishing Touch always does the most amazing displays but really I need to invest in a camera that can cut out all the reflection.
The Gift Centre is another shop you can guarantee will have a good display. Often it will be framed art, but they are never averse to cuddly animals and a few eggs.
Sweet Chocolate had two filled pinatas in the window in the form of Easter Bunnies. No idea what is inside these Easter gift packs.
Masons were displaying their drapes and cake making kits with Easter Chicks.
And The Honey Pot were pleased with their newly laid pavements – better than the mix of concrete and slabs they had before.
Thanks to the craftsmen who have been relaying and replacing paving stones over the last eleven weeks in an undramatic way, trying not to disrupt anyone too much. There were no great innovations. It is more level, cracked pavements have gone, and concrete and ashphalt patches have been replaced by paving slabs in East and West St Helen’s Streets.
Bath Street deserves to be next.