I’ll start with the kiddies. I’ve got enough decent pictures to do two days on this event…

Scooter McKenzie – see local blogroll – was doing a Cartoon workshop for children.

The Carbon Cutters were pressing apple juice with the help of children from the audience.

At the Abingdon Town Twinning stall Stella had all the flags flying.

The Face Painting at the Vineyard Church stall was a bit too popular. Maybe they should start charging.

The army is starting them young at the fun day assault course.

And at the Abingdon Baptist Church Stall James pulls one brick too many from the giant jenga. We were all hoping it was going to be his opponent, and father, Richard Gibson – District Council Chair of Building Planning… So no big scoop this time. But in the next episode of this blog see what happened next to James…

The proceedings kicked off with dancing from the Abingdon Traditional Morris Men.

Carswell Old School was open along with 13 other buildings. At Carswell there was a mixture of new children’s artwork and historic school photographs, computers and writing slates.

Down in the museum basement the old town water pump was on display.

Most of the museum staff were in costume, and two young Tudor ladies can be seen escourting our local Member of Parliament, Dr Evan Harris.

In the Abbey Grounds the Lost Abbey of Abingdon Project were doing underground scanning to find out better where the old Abbey walls lay.

Next to Beth Flemming, deputy chairman of the Vale District, is a monk from the lost Abbey. That’s me by the way. I got lots of people saying things like ‘That’s a terrible habit you have got‘ or ‘You will have to control your habit‘ and much much more. I smiled meekly – as one does.

Along the River Ock, beside Ladygrove Meadow, work is being carried out to reinforce the bank. For a long time this bank has eroded, and an old sewage pipe has been completely exposed at the edge of the water. So it needs strengthening, but you can see how narrow they are making it and creating a potential flood risk.

Jim King from Chaunterell Way, and a member of the Ock Valley Flood Group, is one of those planning to ensure something is done about this. He says the opposite bank needs clearing and widening.

Things are beginning to look a bit more autumnal. These berries in the Abbey Meadows…

and the Virginia Creeper on the Citizens advice Bureau tell their own story… Schools are all back. And it’s Heritage Open Day tomorrow in Abingdon. That always keeps me busy. This year I’ll be going round dressed as a monk…

This is one thing you won’t be able to see. St Michael’s should be open and their new labyrinth, but you won’t be able to see behind the alter. That only gets opened on special religious occasions not Heritage Open Days. I’m not totally sure of my facts, and am hoping to be corrected, but I understand one of their ex vicars quite some time ago took a hammer to it.