When over in Abingdon, Virginia, for the 230th anniversary celebrations, Pat, our Mayor, and several other visitors, were interviewed about life in the UK by this young lady – Claire, aged 9. She was working on her global awareness Girl Scout badge.

Claire was suprised so much was alike, and that children in the UK have the same games and toys – like Barbies, and enjoy the same things like computers and dance class. She heard about differences between the towns, such as the more readily available bus and rail services over here. In Abingdon, Virginia, properties are more spaced out, and there is far less public transport.

Claire found it funny that what she calls “hiking” we call “rambling.” (she lives close to the Appalachian Trail where hiking is big). To her “going to go raaahhmmbling” sounds much more romantic spoken in a British accent. (Thanks to her mum Leslie for most of the words here.)

On blog action day bloggers try to write about the same subject on the same day – this year on October 15th the topic is Poverty.

The one example of of the word ‘Poverty’ I found today in Abingdon was in the Oxfam shop window where you can “Bring in your unwanted M&S clothes, get a £5 M&S voucher and help to end poverty .

In the year 2000 over £50,000 was raised for the Abingdon Millenium project. It included donations from Abingdon Virginia. There is no millenium monument to show for it – no sculpture on the Market Place. Instead, the money went to help fund WaterAid projects in Ethiopia and India.

The idea came from Margaret Rickmann, who with Allan Rickmann – not the actor, left Abingdon about 4 years ago to work for VSO (voluntary Service Overseas) in the Gambia, and then in Cambodia. They did return for a couple of months in 2006 to Abingdon, UK and Margaret wrote on the Rickmann Travelog with a feeling of reverse culture shock:

Day two back in UK. An efficient but pleasant banking experience. A walk along a tarred road. Buses, no rubbish, and cool enough temperatures to walk at high speed – full toubab!

“Let’s get a bus back.” Allan stuck his hand out.

Ïn UK you need to go to a bus stop”-Ah! of course.

I was asked to investigate this gnome somewhere near Abingdon Town Centre. He is a fishing gnome and is to be seen with a little wooden aeroplane. Having shown his whereabouts on this blog I hope he doesn’t get nicked. He could be the start of a gnome gathering.

The runaway fair, another Abingdon tradition, happens a week after the Michaelmas Fair. It is set up on Sunday. It runs on Monday. Road changes are needed because it takes place on the Market Place and High Street.

The iron bridge direction for example is reversed.

The Drayton Road traffic appeared to be feeling the effects, but there are many factors can cause problems here.