Saturday Night, Bee Happy, PPE available

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Saturday Night
It is Saturday night. No pubs or restaurants are open, apart from takeaways. I noticed Sami’s Kebab Van on Abingdon Market Place for the first time in the lockdown.
Saturday Night
Our short health walk today took us near the Abingdon Wellbeing Centre where I saw this Bee Happy rainbow.
Saturday Night
Wallingford School have hundreds of face shields which their DT department have made and they would like to distribute to Key workers. They have worked in Wallingford and are wondering if any care homes etc in Abingdon would like some.

If you are interested follow this link ….  https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/news/thumbs-up-thousands-of-face-masks-for-nhs-and-care-homes/?fbclid=IwAR1D4t2RYw95AEtkC38K6xZ-bXZ_AbQ_RW_bZwate1wskxUZ7GV5yEwb9Qc

May Morning in Abingdon

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May Morning in Abingdon
I went for a walk this May Morning in Abingdon after watching the Virtual May Day Morning from Oxford. It contained a fascinating history of May Day celebrations put together by one of the Oxford Waites.
May Morning in Abingdon
Fabulous Flowers’ flower containers shone in the early morning sun. For any in the florist trade it must be a nightmare trying to guess what will happen in the weeks and months ahead.
May Morning in Abingdon
On the far side of The River Thames some adult geese were shepherding their young.
May Morning in Abingdon
They were a little wary but not aggressive. The fabulous views of Abingdon can be seen beyond them.
May Morning in Abingdon
There are many good viewing points for seeing St Helen’s Church around Abingdon and beyond.
May Morning in Abingdon
The main parish church seems to have been placed to help direct people from afar.

After April, when May follows

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After April
Waitrose were handing out umbrellas for people in the queue. At the very end of April, the month is trying to make up for all the missing April Showers with one downpour .
After April
With the shopping I got an Abingdon Herald. On page 22 is a message from the editor.The Herald has been hit hard by the lockdown in sales and advertising revenue. During the next six weeks they offer free delivery.
After April
For May Morning (Friday, 1st May), Rotary Abingdon planned to have a choir singing on top of the Abingdon County Hall and a May Pole in the Market Place. This is postponed until 2021.
After April
The large event in Oxford, that attracts thousand of people, has also been cancelled. However Oxford are having a virtual May Morning. People can join in by tagging their own social media posts with #MayMorning .

From 6am on May Morning you can see a Virtual May Morning live stream featuring: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford Horns of Plenty,  Oxford University Morris Dancers, John Otway, and many more. The Choir of Magdalen College have recorded their parts individually, and through modern technology will be singing together. I don’t know how the Morris Dancers will dance together while apart.

Abbey Fishponds and back

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Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
In Abingdon, there are two nature reserves looked after by the Earth Trust: Radley Lakes, and Abbey Fishponds.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
For our daily walk we went along the Radley Road, then through the Abbey Fishponds.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
Volunteers have laid wood chip over the path at one end.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
They have also cut back the reeds. From the wetland fresh reeds grow.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
At the cross paths, near the centre, we saw a gentleman coming the other way, and using the choreography learned during the lockdown, we walked up the earthwork, while he took the low path, and said hello as we passed.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
We crossed Audlett Drive and then went round the Leisure Centre. It was closed but the side area was open. Some dog walkers were on the green, and one young person was using the skate park.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
There is a narrow path to Barton Lane. My wife took this picture of me taking a picture through the tunnel of leaves. She liked the colours.

We then walked by Sophos and Penlon. I had a word with somebody at a distance at Penlon about their activities, and I am hoping they will send me something for a future blog post. But they do have more important things to do.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
Outside the businesses on Barton Mill corner, on Audlett Drive, there was a rainbow.
Abbey Fish Ponds and Back
Back through the Abbey Grounds my wife got this picture. The thrush had been hopping about tapping the ground, and this is the moment the thrush got the worm.