White Horse Exotics opened this morning.
They have many small and exotic animals in the back together with the vivariums, food, lighting, heatpads and other paraphnalia that goes with keeping small reptiles and insects.
There are also toy reptiles in the window display.
The shop is opposite Oxfam, on Stert Street, which also has an exotic window display.
Also of interest to lovers of the exotic east is the opening of The Oriental Food Markt on West St Helen Street.
Also, and I am not sure how exotic this will be, at the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon there is an Open Afternoon this Sunday, July 19th from 2.30 – 5 . 30 pm. Entry free! There will be demonstrations, fundraising, teas, and you can find out about the groups and clubs that use the Centre. You can also visit a local garden. ( £ 5 including tea and garden ). I will try to let you know on tomorrow’s blog.
Abingdon is so bad for shopping
It’s mighty fine if you want to buy a lizard though! Or in fact a high-end bike, frozen yogurt, noodles, a hand made French pastry, lovely flowers, or a decent book.
– or get a guitar, bits for your computer, printer etc, children’s clothes and shoes, hardware/ironmongery, jewellery, decorative stuff for your house, upmarket ladies’ clothes and lingerie, casual menswear sewing, knitting and craft supplies, handbags, soft furnishings, unusual brands of sweets, cheap household goods, not-so-high end bikes, meat, sportswear, car parts, kitchen cupboards, wedding dress, pharmacy products, perfumes and cosmetics – apologies to any I have missed.
PS this excludes all chains and the Bury Street shops but includes some a few hundred yards from the town centre.
As Hester says there is a lot more on offer in Abingdon that you might think and we just need to find a way to let people know.
A long time ago I suggested to the Chamber that we should produce a trifold leaflet to deliver to every home every month showing 20 or so things that can be bought in Abingdon.
So many people who live here have no idea what they can buy here as they rarely venture into town. Shops in town don’t engage well with the public at home as they don’t tend to advertise in Round and About or Pick or Abingdon Living as much as service providers do.
Cost was raised as an issue but the Chamber sits on a large buffer year on year in case of apocalypse which it could be spending on telling the town what the tradesmen and women of the town sell. Ho hum.
Absolutely Hester…although, I must find out more about this ” casual menswear sewing”!
Times are hard, Daniel – you guys need to start making your own clothes!
Not to mention flowers, plants, seed potatoes, and all the other things the Monday market and farmers markets sell, and don’t knock the charity shops, they have lots of good quality and interesting stuff at bargain prices.
But you can’t buy CD’s, kettle. TV , furniture, children’s clothes (over 5’s) microwave, garden furniture, clothes for teenagers, no Indy butcher or greengrocer ( discot has 2) washing machine, fridge, ready made curtains, bedding, lamp shades, carpet, quality shoes, etc etc
Hedges Butchers in Queen Street is an independent business.
I do agree with everything else. Today I went to Didcot instead of Abingdon and bought things in Robert Dyas, Sainsburys and children’s clothes in Next. Abingdon could do with a half decent children’s clothes shop. I know they sell clothing in The Nursery and it is all lovely but it’s just slightly higher end and only up to a certain age.
I’ve been doing my bit for Abingdon and have contacted the head office of Cafe Rouge in the hope that they will consider coming to Abingdon. I haven’t had a response yet.
Cafe Rogue is only microwaved/cooked off on the premises. It’s nothing special (but agreed, it may suit Abingdon). Thumbs up for trying.
CaptainK – yes of course you are right about the things we can’t get at present, but the point of reminding people of what we CAN buy is that if we support those shops and they thrive, that is what will encourage other shops to open up. If we perpetuate the belief that Abingdon is a dump, of course they won’t come and it will be self-fulfilling.
By the way, does anyone know any town other than major cities where you can still buy CDs (other than the few current best sellers you get in supermarkets?
Daniel, you live in a historic market town, with a beautiful riverside and many very attractive and interesting buildings. It has enough in the way of shops to meet people’s daily basic needs and some niche shops as well. Some people drive from many miles away to shop at Masons, for instance. Why would you want to turn Abingdon into a Didcot?
Aren’t you being like people who move into the countryside and then complain that they are awoken by the cocks crowing ?
Woah, woah, woah, Angela….just a cott’n pick’n minute! Why is this aimed at me?
I am exceptionally happy to enter into dialogue with anyone, on anything….I like the sound of my own voice so much, no one else need even listen… In this instance however, I fear you are somewhat wide of the mark if you think I view Abingdon in a light other than affection, hope, and historic marketness, I’m afraid you are wrong…or my message, if there was one, is unclear.
It is indeed all the things you say – and I am aware that some of the wonderful independents such as masons are a draw from far and wide.
Why do you think that I want to turn Abingdon into another Didcot? You clearly haven’t been paying attention to my rants and ramblings…don’t tell me people don’t pay any attention 🙁
I moved here from South London…and so, to me, it really is like living in the countryside….and, although I do often like to ruffle feathers (I’m sure I don’t though), i have no issue with the cockrels strutting their stuff and puffing their chests out, usually with self importance as I see them walking round town.
It isn’t THAT that bothers me…but there is often a whiff of the countryside in Abingdon and it often eminates from The Veil….and it ain’t roses! That is what I object to.
Sorry Daniel. It was a continuation of a rant from another topic and a reaction to everyone who moans about Abingdon, I don’t know why I chose to target you in particular.
i think you need to be a bit more balanced Daniel if you want to be taken seriously (i now await the harnague from Steve).
The reality is that none of the institutions or ‘powers that be’ that you criticise are uniformly good or bad.
You’re dealing with normal people, working within a system which is flawed but probably not that much worse than most of the alternatives.
Sure there are lots of bad decisions made, but also some good ones. The vast majority of the individuals involved are either volunteers or not particularly well paid public sector employees.
You’ve had a go yourself at trying to achieve a few things – the footbridge, the sunday market, and presumably realise that these things whilst sounding easy in fact arent so simple.
I’m not seeking to be an apologist – i think one of the councils has just made one of the most appalling decisions i’ve witnessed in my 20 years living here, but i think you need to be much more tolerant as to the motivation and intent of the piblic sector in our town. Most of the things we would like to see changed just arent nearly as straightforward as they seem at forst glance.
…if it helps direct a point of view, I am very happy to field what you send my way. It provides the sides of a debate that I think people want to have. I’m all for it – so no apology necessary.
For what it’s worth…I absolutely don’t want Abingdon to be like Didcot. I think it could be entirely different, and twice as successful, and, to my mind, a darn site ‘better’.
However…what “I” want isn’t relevant. What “Abingdon wants” is what needs to be considered. Until it is…we’ll continue to fall under Didcots shadow. (Although our flowers are nicer).
Iain; I am happy to be taken as people find me. Or not. I have no expectations eitherway – although I’m putting a recent comment from ‘birdys Mum’ down as fan mail. Officially.
Considering what we are confronted with….I feel I am exceptionally balanced, bearing in mind what we see happen…but am always up for enlightenment.
From what I see, you are indeed correct, the institutions I criticise are not uniformly good, or bad. But, they could be uniformly, and overwhelmingly “better”, and I’ll forever hold out hope that they will oneday be – despite being an experienced optimist. I would like to think, that if the system that people are working to is so flawed, then they are best placed to change it….but I disagree, or need educating about, these volunteers or lowly public sector workers who have such sway over our town, its aspirations and its success. The fact the town is left to the hands of well meaning but ultimately non specialists is a moot point in itself!
If the very best people available aren’t ” on the case”….perhaps that’s part if the problem!? If the motivations and intent of the decision makers (whoever they might be) were in someway known….perhaps we might judge them accordingly, and in doing so, be more (or less) tolerant of their efforts!? And, if things are complicated, or not straightforward…then let them tell us….and perhaps we could then explain it to them?
I think Abingdon is great. That’s why I like living here. But I remain convinced that I am allowed to want Abingdon to be so very much better, and I feel blessed that I have the freedom to air my disappointment that it (still) isn’t.
If these so called people in the various councils are just normal people making decisions good or bad for the town,
Why the secrecy over the Old Gaol,Tilsley park give-away to name but a few.
Continuous council meetings held behind closed doors.
The longer these things are not made public the more that the so called normal people behind the Veil etc will be seen as not normal and having a different agenda.
Are the general public really that stupid
who puts the dinner on the councils plate?
The tax payer you continue to treat with complete contempt.
Rant over.
Colin – i largely agree with you on the point of secrecy. Whilst a deal is being done I believe it is sensible to observe some confidentiality as typically you dont want to give away the council’s (on behalf of us as ratepayers) negotiating position, in order to reach the best deal.
Once the deal has been done that no longer applies and i agree the position should be public. I can think of no good reason why the two deals you mention shouldn’t be shared with the public.
Daniel – i agree with you that it would be fantastic if we had some of the many highly experienced and capable people who have achieved great things in their personal careers represent us on the council, as the decision makers in question are our councillors.
I looked very hard for them on the ballot papers at the last election and I couldn’t find many. The challenge is getting these people to stand. You cant really blame the people who do take the trouble to stand for not being la creme de la creme . Perhaps the blame should really lie at the many very capable people who are happy to live here but don’t put themselves forward to try and make the town a better place.
…if they are happy to live here, perhaps they are happy as it is, so why would they put themselves forwards?
Plus…I didn’t look that closely at the ballot paper. Why would I? It isn’t those noble people who make the decisions. The decisions and driver of our town is from unelected, unaccountable, unnamed “council officers”. I would assume that those owopke:; saw an appropriately witded job advert, sent in a CV and covering letter, for short listed for interview, interviewed, perhaps second interview – with those interviews exploring how their skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role. The best of all those is then offered the job. We live with the result.
Councillors are transient. The officers are not.
I would rather every ” developer” had to pay a 2% surcharge on any build…with that going direct into a fund for The Veil to pay for a proper “crème de la crème” planning expert to represent us and ensure Abingdon is not ridden rough shod over; for example. Money well spent. Instead….we don’t.
I would also argue that “the best deal” is reached by secret negotiations. They very clearly arent. Again…I have no reason to believe these ‘negitiators’ are any more qualified or better at it that I would be.
And actually…I think I do blame (partly) the people who are indeed noble enogh to stand for not being the “crème de menth”. If you aren’t brilliant at what you do, and what you can bring…why stand?
Not the creme de la creme, thanks for that Iain, nothing to do with Politics then?
Do you really think we are Angela? and i include myself in that. It would be interesting if we had to apply for the job of councillor like a normal job then how many would be selected – but I guess that is the reality of democracy.
Daniel – i disagree with you about the officers. They don’t take the decisions, the advise councillors and then execute the councillors decision. If councillors dont hold them to account should the not be good enough (which is not my general observation – certainly some I worked with were excellent) then that’s down to the councillors.
If that is the case what happened at the Drayton road development?
The newspapers were reporting that all councillors were against this development. but buy some kind of magic the developer won the day.
The developers took the council who initially declined the application to a national planning appeal and won Colin.
So once again it calls into question what is the point of the council.
As Daniel points out the final decision was not made by the council it was made by an unelected body.
Once an application goes to appeal the local authority is powerless. The planning inspector is answerable to government not to council officers.
Thanks for continuing the dialogue Iain; you may stand corrected in the ‘decision making process’, but my concerns still stand – or even exacerbate the situation….
If the councillors, as you point out, are NOT experts, they rely heavily on the officers to advise them. I still have no faith in the veracity of what they are told by the officers…by what measure are we to judge these officers? Are THEY the crème de menth of officerdom…or just the chump tasked with a project or idea? And…if we are continually disheartened by these officers efficacy, judgement, or proposals…by what means are they accountable for that ill decision? Can an officer, an expert in recreation, be tasked with finding out whether we should keep the outdoor pool…the same person who recommended going against the traffic consultants suggestions and push to implement AbITS?
This topic is about to drop off the first page. I have enjoyed tge dialogue, but I remain convinced that the thread of dissatisfaction in Abingdon is entwined somewhere in The Veil…and nothing I have heard yet has made me rethink my thoughts.
Abits? Now there’s a sore subject, Ian, if you’re not aware i put up £11k guarantee to commission an independent review of the system (scoots) which basically concluded that scoots was/is completely the wrong software system for Abingdons layout, in short it is totally incapable of managing the layout and defaults to a 50’s designed timed system which makes the whole layout gridlock ! Why did we end up with this? Well that’s what the officers advised the councillors to go for, and that’s s fact !