A pedestrian crossing in the centre of Abingdon has been modified because the warning sound it makes, to say it is safe to cross, is identical to the sound made when the nearby pub’s security alarm is activated.
And so it has become Abingdon’s first talking crossing. Not only does it say “It is safe to cross” in most European and Asian languages, I have also heard it say, “Take extra care! You have had too much to drink!” and “”Did you know your shoe lace is undone?“.
And, of course, April Fool! Nice try….
San Serife and Spaghetti on trees to you too!
Oo, someone else who remembers San Serife! I wish I’d kept that supplement – absolutely hilarious to anyone who ever worked in printing or publishing.
Yes – the best ever April fool spoof (Panorame spaghetti one was before my time.). Second best was on a TV programme called Nationwide – anyone remember that? – when they did a feature on a house where the builders had allegedly got the architects drawings upside down – hilarious and remarkably convincing.
Great, Alistair. We have a yellowing copy of the San Serife April Fool spoof – that and the Spaghetti trees live long in the memory!
I too have a copy of the Sans Serife story. My Dad worked in London and I can remember him dragging me miles and miles round London Streets trying to track down a copy. Eventually we got one and he gleefully took it back to the Office as if it were the biggest prize ever- to me it still is that.
Joking aside folks, I took my wife into Town tonite (Easter Monday) to celebrate our 47th wedding aniversary today !
My starting point for a meal was The Bella Napoli, it was shut !, so was The Salinas, the ex Italian opposite ?, Ask Italian, The Grapes, The Skillet (Crown & Thistle), The Broad Face, all were closed and we didn’t bother going any further as by this time we were freezing cold and ready for home when we spotted the Chaba Thai Restaurant in High Street and it was open !!!!!!
The food and service were ‘top drawer’ which saved our evening, but you really should take the time to listen to the Moody Man and what he has to say !
I”m glad that you found somewhere to enjoy your wedding anniversary. But don’t restaurant owners also have a bank holiday off?
Quite a few local restaurants have Monday off anyway.
Well done, anyone spot the Oxford Mail??
Grants available to have sharks on every house in Oxford
a plan to turn Didcot towers into Dreaming spires,??
Very fishy some of the names in the article…..
Brian Happy anniversary i have also noticed a lot of shops shut for lunch now . This is annoying but the takings are down in local shops so they do not have cover staff . there should be free parking as the new 2hr free is totally stupid as people only now stay in town for 2hrs and rush to the car no time for coffee and post office then buying in shops . Why dont the council try it for a month like clarkson said do away with double yellow lines its more loss when shops and restaurant shut . Did anyone bother to ask how the local independents are really doing i did and they all said struggling . The new precinct has killed the shops as there is nothing there unless you want coffee all i hear on hear is dont be so negative what is there to be positive about . When Abingdon changes for the better so will i into Happy Man
Well, I went into Abingdon today and bought: shoes; a handbag; two specialist books; a very unusual birthday card; some suberb bread and preserves (from the new delicatessen). All of these items were very different from those on offer in ‘chain’ shops and supermarkets, and all were obtained from Abingdon’s Independents.
Then I went into Salinas and had a coffee and a lovely snack and wrote my card. All very convenient and relaxing. Perhaps this is the advantage of a small town with independent shops?
@cassandra people like you are an asset to the town you will help the town grow . The more the town is used the more shops will open common sense .
If moody man must rant, please would he learn to use correct punctuation, grammar and spelling?
Kelly: are you suffering from irritable vowel syndrome?
Cassandra, you are to be commended for shopping in town, but as a middle aged ordinary bloke on average income I fear Moodyman may be right.
I live about a mile from town and apart from the weekly grocery shop I am quite happy to walk into town for shopping. However on recent foraging trips I have been unable to buy ordinary stuff like reasonable quality but affordable clothes to attend a funeral. Very little about. A suit forget it. A camera accessory no. Independents may be great for a once a year gift or niche dearer products, but why should I have to travel to Tesco, Oxford or Dicot? Time consuming and not green.
Before anyone has a go at my screen name I used to comment as ‘Peter on the edge of town’. A year ago when the debate about the new precinct shops was raging on this blog I had the temerity to favour keeping the canopies or adding a roof like the Cowley centre. The response was quite rude with one suggesting I buy a shell suit and shop elsewhere else. (ironic..) To have independent shops is fantastic but I for one would like the choice and favour a few chain shops. Which haven’t arrived yet! We are a large town of 38000 people not a little village with a few shops around the market place.
I’m thinking of changing my name to moodymantoo. Maybe we need a whole army of moody men and women.
I really do like this town so let’s grow up and think about the 95%, like me, who don’t live in the inner village.
@shell suit we tried to cater for Abingdon everyone said we need a new clothes shop that does high quality clothes . We started doing high brand clothes and it was too expensive for people to buy we was asked to do plus sizes nobody bought them we did kids clothes after we was asked by many people and nobody bought them , We was asked to be the same as Gear change we had lots of people bring items into the shop hoping to sell but they did not want to buy so the shop did not make any money and then they wondered why their items had not sold . We will be took over by Abingdon fashion they are going to stock new clothes for men women and children so hopefully no need to go to other towns .
SHELL SUIT i wish i was not right but you can see for yourself . When Didcot get the other end of the broadway done and Debenhams move in as stated it will be curtains for this town regarding retail . This town has more parking out of town than in such as Tesco , Fairacres , the parking over Abingdon bridge , look at the parking over the Orchard center in Didcot no probs parking there .
Black Flag – I suffer from irritable punctuation, spelling and especially the word I is a capital letter that does not have a dot syndrome!
sorry i thought this was a blog not a gcse exam in English .
Moody man – you can get curtains for this town from Masons, needn’t go all the way to Didcot.
@Daniel ha ha funny and true
@ shell suit I am sure we would all agree with you that we need shops selling the things you mention – men’s clothes is a very noticeable gap and CDs/DVDs used to be – although I am told they are out of fashion now. I am also sure that the shopping centre managers have a bigger interest than anyone in getting their units filled. If you or anyone here knows how that could be achieved do please let the powers that be know!
If the Herald this week is to be believed (as opposed to 2-3 weeks ago when they said the opposite!) there are signs of an upturn in footfall. That is what we need to convince the big guys to come in – and that is why we need people to support the existing shops – also other businesses and events on the town.
(It is also why public comments about the town being dead, the dreadful traffic etc run a serious risk of being self – fulfilling.)
On a lighter note re punctuation, I am as pernickety about this as anyone, but my computer isn’t – when I typed your name in it came up as she’ll. 🙂
…I think it’s pernickity, not pernickety.
Oh no it’s not….. Just checked in Chambers – it also says it’s of Scottish origin and so am I!
Kelly: I see. I’m beginning to understand you. I’m saying tihs with your best inetions at heart: looking around the internet for instances of spelling irregularities, however admirable, is not going to be fulfilling for you.
You need a hobby.
Now, equip yourself with (1) a copy of Yellow Pages and (2) a red pen, and highlight any spelling errors. Report back to me in a month’s time. I’ll buy you a coffee and a chocolate biscuit.
We really do try and support the independant shops in Abingdon and the free parking is a huge bonus, however having teenage children there is a limited amount of shops that they are attracted to in the town. Fat Face is probably the only shop I can think of that appeals to a fashion conscious teenage boy, Abingdon sports is great for sport wear and equipment and New Look one of the only shops that appeal to teenage girls. Its no wonder they head for Oxford, Reading or further afield. Independents are great and to be supported but maybe need to start appealing to the younger generation that do have money to spend.
@Abingdon resident We will be stocking new clothes that appeal to children and teenagers . We love residents like you as you give us feedback to make our shops better . The independant shops listen to local people and will change with what you demand please keep supporting us and other independents .
The problem is we keep wanting the big retailers to come and fill the new units . I feel this will kill local independent shops they will simply be out muscled . You can say the big retailers will attract people to the town and then they will go onto the independants this is not true . The sweet choclate sweet shop was doing well then poundland came to town and sold sweets cheaper because they can buy bulk cheaper and you can by polish and other items while you are in there so local people favor them ,Weatherspoons will close coffee shops and pubs within a year as they will sell food and drinks cheaper -and seat more people . You may get a big retailer like Next or River island and then shops like Abingdon fashion , No tag , Mary Brooks will be finished because nobody will bother with them . This is what happened to the town butcher and green grocer when Tesco come to town . @ Moody man i went to town and ask the shops how they was doin and they said it had been awful and all blamed the new precinct and said it was too late coming .
Abingdon fashion. We will try to keep supporting you and other shops too. If you can appeal to teenagers as well as older people that’s great. Teenagers are often overlooked in towns such as Abungdon but they do have money to spend. They are very used to shopping online so anything that can entice them into town centres will be great. Think quality fashionable clothing/footwear with reasonable prices and you’ll be onto a winner. Our children and their friends actually like Abingdon. They say there is lots of nice food outlets, pubs and coffee shops but not many shops that appeal to their generation.
@Abingdon resident thank you for interest and also you have given us some ideas we will use to make our shop better . This is why this blog is helpful to us shop owners please do not sugar coat things as they will not improve if you pretend they are fine . Tell us what you want and what you do not like ,you will help us more than simply walking past and saying that shop is not for me and then we have to close .
Abbott man, If some larger quality stores were to come to Abingdon I can only see it as a good thing. Take Witney for example. Similar size town to Abingdon but there is room there for both larger well known stores such as Debenhams, M & S etc as well as smaller independents. The mix of large and small seems to work well, together with the free parking and can’t see why Abingdon wouldn’t work well with a similar mix. Empty shops do nothing to attract shoppers.
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