Prices SALE Everything must go!


I saw the large posters in the window. ‘SALE Everything must go!’

The sad news is that after 31 years Prices Stationers are to close.

The posters had been put up on Saturday night. Some people had learned through Facebook. Monday morning at Prices was manic. By the time we saw the poster it had calmed down and there was time for tears.

Marian was there stocking up on sketch pads. My wife stocked up on acrylic paints. I got a large notebook for a diary.

It was one of the best of Abingdon shops. The people behind the counter were friends. Running a business like that does not allow much family time or holiday time. There are also problems of trying to make enough money from retail in 2021. And some of us at this time in life are getting older and need to slow down.

Thankyou to Prices for being there for 31 years.

Mayor’s Charity Fundraiser – Market Place Saturday


There was a Mayor’s Charity Fundraiser taking place on the Market Place, between 10am and 3pm. Both the Mayor’s Charities, Yellow Submarine and Abingdon Damascus were working together. (The static bike was lent by Anytime Fitness.)

The Mayor, Cllr Cheryl Briggs, has a personal interest in both charities: Abingdon Damascus because she has done youth work in the past, and Yellow Submarine because of a family member.

Yellow Submarine work with young people with learning disability / autism, and look forward to moving into the Charter Day Centre.

The Abingdon DAMASCUS Youth Project continue to do a lot of youth outreach and workshops in South Abingdon.

There was information on one stall, a cake stall, various have a go activities including archery.

Abingdon Damascus got so many donations for their tombola, it was one of the biggest ever.

The Abingdon DAMASCUS Youth Project are hosting an exhibition at the Abingdon Museum from 26th-29th October. All the photos displayed were taken by young people of Abingdon and they were trying to get a sense of what life is like growing up in Abingdon.

Abbey Fish Ponds – October 2021


At the Abbey Fish Ponds, volunteers were at work. Some had cut sedges and reeds.

In places this had revealed ponds that were not visible before. There are water channels that run across the ground, not bounded by banks.

That is in addition to the main stream that runs within banks.

Volunteers were also cutting down trees and from them a long hedge like barrier was being made.

There were not as many insects to be seen as last month. There were more birds singing and flying about, but they are difficult to picture clearly.

Large mammals are easier to photograph. Here is Sciurus carolinensis

Here is another – its Latin name is Felis catus.

RAF exercises over Abingdon


Bob has been interested in the helicopter and aircraft activity passing over Drayton and Abingdon during the day.

He says ‘a Chinook had been flying around all day at a reasonable height (controlling?) and smaller helicopter circling at lower height with both side doors open (patrolling?).

The training is impressive, and I seem to remember a similar exercise about a year or so ago. We should all be very proud of our Armed Forces and the very varied work they do.

The exercise culminated in simulated cargo “drops” this evening. i.e. flying in at low speed with rear door open but not landing. Possibly five or six passes.’