Monthly Archives: July 2021

Abbey Fish Ponds – July 2021

Leave a reply


This morning, I climbed a mound with a view across wild flowers and grasses, fenland, and houses at the Abbey Fish Ponds. The sky was cloudy with small patches of blue. Later on in the day the clouds broke up and the sunshine got much brighter.

Where the grasses and meadow flowers grow are brown meadow butterflies. They flutter about. One comes one way, and meets another. They loop round each other, and then carry on.

Sometimes they land long enough for a picture.

There must be millions of flowers and insects at the Abbey Fish Ponds in July.

Birds are well hidden. They can be heard in the bushes but are difficult to see, apart from blackbirds

and wood pigeons.

Some Abbey Fish Ponds remain as ponds all through the summer.

Others get overgrown with tall reeds and sedges.

Work on old Drayton slip road

8 Replies


Reopening the old Drayton slip road onto the A34 has sometimes been talked about as a way of reducing traffic coming into Abingdon on the Drayton Road – where traffic queues are a long running issue.

The slip road was being used by travelers for a spell at the start of the year. Since then interlocking concrete blocks have been put across the entrance and adjoining fences.

Two week ago the blocks were removed and construction traffic entered the slip way. The slipway is not being opened up, as I at first hoped, or being blocked up for good. At the A34 end the slipway has been used as an unofficial layby on the A34, and the work is to make it an official layby. The existing gates will be replaced with heavy duty gates and the interlocking concrete blocks put back.

When England v Italy could still go either way

1 Reply


Thankyou to Elizabeth Drury for this picture showing a view down East St Helen Street earlier today. The flag wearer was 9 years old when England won the World Cup in 1966, and thinks England have a chance. He is still dreaming.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council have pushed the flags out of nearly all their windows.

John Jones, a former Mayor and freeman had a very close relationship with Abingdon’s twin town Lucca in Italy. Looking down John Jones Close, in Abingdon today, there is no Italian support.

The one remaining betting office in the town centre,  a couple of estate agents, and a few shops have football displays.  EFES barbers have England flags.

Sue Ryder say ‘Good Luck England’.

The Bookstore also has some England flags. Among the books is ‘Injury Time’ by sportswriter Duncan Hamilton. ‘He hits the back of the net with his enthralling fiction debut.’

There was a picture on the blog of a crochet-topped post box a couple of weeks ago. It may not have been really about football then. That was my mistake. It is now.

You Never Walk Alone in St Ethelwold’s garden

5 Replies


The garden of St Ethelwolds House, in Abingdon, is open all year round for people to enjoy the quiet and the flowers.
A lot of the flowers, including the lupins, are at their best in June and July.

Volunteer gardeners keep it looking good, and there is a notice saying they need more keen gardeners. Vegetables grow in one corner, and there are large compost heaps in another.

In the corners are two rooms for the use of people wanting a quiet solitary retreat. Beyond them boats are moored where the River Thames drifts slowly.

There are also events in the garden. Starting next week there will be an art exhibition.

This term the ‘Singing for Pleasure’ group can only sing outdoors and are using St Ethelwold’s garden. Since the garden is near the River Thames the songs today had a nautical theme, which included a couple of songs from South Pacific. One of those chosen was ‘Never Walk Alone’.

I recorded an extract with thanks to the Abingdon Music Centre. They had a smaller ‘Singing for Pleasure’ group this week and will welcome new members. Thanks also go to the copyright owners who will get any money from YouTube if adverts placed on this video make any money.