Thames Source to Sea Relay via Abingdon

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Thanks to Suzanne and Rob for this report from 4 days ago.

“My husband, Rob, our cat Lolly and myself took our boat upstream to Sandford and on Wednesday collected a bottle of Thames source water that is making it’s way downstream via different river users.

There is more information about its journey at: http://totallythames.org/events/info/source-to-sea-river-relay ). Our task was to safely carry the bottle from Sandford Lock to Abingdon Lock where it would be looked after for the night before continuing it’s journey the following day without us.

At Abingdon Lock Rob, of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers, was met by his fellow Morris men and they danced (in the pouring rain) to entertain boaters passing through the lock, before the bottle of source water was officially handed over to (ex Morris dancer) Frank who was manning the Lock.

There are more photos (non-Morris) and also a couple of video clips of the dancing available on Suzanne’s blog:http://thegabbleratchet.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/2015-totally-thames-source-to-sea-river.html

2nd Oxfordshire Chilli Festival

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Chilli Fest
The 2nd Chilli Festival took place on Abingdon Market Place today – organised by Dawn.
Chilli Fest
Colourful people were there to entertain with dance and music.
Chilli Fest
Giant Paellas, Thai curries, Indian curries, and many other dishes could be tried.
Chilli Fest
Then there were stalls offering chilli plants, chilli peppers, chilli oils, sauces, pickles and jams to sample and buy.
Chilli Fest
Could chilli be the elixir of life? The Chilli Alchemist seems to thinks so.

Bury Street Bake Off

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Bury Street Bake Off
Shows like ‘Great British Bake Off’ have helped encourage people to bake. Bury Street shopping centre has launched a cake decorating competition, and the winner receives a hamper full of baking goodies worth £100.
Bury Street Bake Off
All you need to do enter is send a photo of cakes or cakes that you’ve decorated via their website or Facebook and you could win the hamper.

They are accepting entries until 19th August, when a shortlist will be chosen by an impartial voting team. Then it’s over to the local community around Bury Street and Abingdon to pick the winner.

The poll will run via the website, Facebook and Twitter as well as by newsletter to centre members. Visit www.burystabingdon.co.uk or ‘like’ them on Facebook and ‘follow’ them on Twitter .

Oh Why the Saints?

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Oxford Saints kneel
I was passing by the American Football Game between the Oxford Saints and a visiting team on Sunday at Southern Town Park in Abingdon.

After a period of stop-go action, both teams went off for a talk from the team coach.
Oxford Saints kneel
There are 45 players in each team and as the coach spoke quite a few of the Saints ‘took a knee’. The only thing I overheard was the coach say “you went in too high that is why you got hurt.”

I left wondering why they keep kneeling down when anybody gets hurt, or the coach is talking.

Is it because …
a) They are the ‘Saints’ and want to pray
b) They want to show respect to the coach
c) Sitting would look lazy and inattentive
d) Another reason ?