This is the top of a wet Stert Street yesterday evening. AbITS work is underway to widen the pavement – something that should help protect the jutting out side of The Knowl building – built around 1580, with a lot of rebuilding in the 18th Century including a fine staircase….

and this is the Market Place, pictured a few minutes later, with rainwater running away along the newly made channels. I shouldn’t think the hanging baskets have really needed THAT much watering.

It has been a summer like no other.

Last year there were not the usual number of hanging baskets in town because of the drought, but this year they are back in profusion.

These ones next to the War Memorial might well have impressed the Britain in Bloom judges, but there will be no judges visiting Abingdon this year because of the recent floods. Town Council staff have been concentrating more on flood reparations than Britain in Bloom. Only the judging of private displays will go ahead.

This basket is next to Twitty’s Almshouse.

Here can be seen the shellfish at an Abingdon supermarket.

Included here are: King Prawns, Seafood Sticks, Canadian Lobster, New Zealand half- shell Green Mussels, Fantail Prawns, Seafood Cocktail, Cockles, and Mussels, Madagascan Crevettes, Tiger Prawns, Cromer Crab (dressed and undressed), and North Atlantic Prawns.

Last week on holiday I was gazing at a similar display. The main difference being that a lot of the creatures then were still Alive. The crabs kept trying to walk away.

There are times when Abingdon does feel like the seaside. This view down Queen Street towards the top of the County Hall often makes me think of the pier at Brighton.

This window display of Frugal food uses two bathing beauties to help promote natural sun creams, and insect repellents.

Off on my hols for a few days…. back soon.