The Big Draw is a national event held in 1000 UK venues during October, from scout huts to national museums and underneath Abingdon County Hall.

The Abingdon event yesterday was run by artists from John Mason School, Abingdon. The children made and coloured cardboard buildings.

This years winners at the Oxford Preservation Trust’s Environmental Awards were mostly from the City of Oxford but did include a couple from Oxford’s closest neighbour town Abingdon…

“…Local councils were also recognised in Abingdon Town Council and the improvements to their Market Place…”

“Certificates were also awarded for … public artwork on Penlon Place in Abingdon…” They must mean this bronzed apron draped across a stone bench,

this pair of boots, and sack of barley. They appear to have been idly left behind by workers of Abingdon’s former industries.

Work has begun at the playpark behind Chaunterell Way. The first two pieces of play equipment are taking shape.

Not far away the bridge over the Ock at the end of Mill Lane has been repaired and re-opened. It had been damaged by vandals, and closed for almost a month, but now has a new non-slip ramp.

The steeple provided a fixed point before the days of GPS and Sat Navs. I for one can still easily imagine the sun going round the earth.

It goes down behind the clouds.

and reappears

then goes down for good. Its an illusion I know. It is easy to forget that we are not the centre and we are the ones turning, around and around like a fairground ride.