Blog Archive

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Sprouts and Surprises

Today was our last visit to Freshwinds Garden before Christmas.
We collected sprouts and leeks for our Christmas dinner.
They are going to be soooo  tasty, I just know it.



We had a peep in the polytunnel and got a lovely surprise.


A brand-new fork and spade and two trowels, bought for us, 
from John Cooke at the craft fair by Anne.
What a fab Christmas present.
Thank you.
Here is John`s website.























To all our followers and readers, we wish you a very merry Christmas.

Sunday 21 December 2014

Carols in the Barn 2014

The "Carols in the Barn" was very well attended and just as special as always
with the added attraction of Rosie and Alice.

As we approached the barn, we passed the horses snug and warm in their stables. They must have been wondering what on earth was going on


The barn was layered with a warm carpet of fresh straw, the bales were arranged as seating and the Christmas tree was decorated.


 I don`t know when this happened because when we peeped in on Friday lunchtime, it was not ready.
Tim and Wendy were there to greet us as we arrived.

 
Father Christmas was sitting in a wheelbarrow near the entrance...


.......and the "pews" were already so crowded, that Tim had to bring more bales in.



Wendy led the carols.



Mary came in on one of the donkeys, accompanied by Joseph, and baby Jesus was laid in the manger.


















Wendy very niftily rescued baby Jesus as the donkeys began to eat the straw in the manger.
Joseph ran back to his mum and dad.
Mary sat beautifully at the front singing all the carols.



The children came to sing special carols and recite poems.






At halftime Anne and Tim brought round very welcome mulled wine and yummy mince pies.


Everyone loved the donkeys.
























Tim gave a short but very succinct speech, citing real-life stories which brought home the need for the money collection.




















We sang more well-known carols and even had time for requests.
 The rector, Richard, said some prayers .
As people left there was a collection, which at the last count was nearly £450.














Many thanks to Wendy and the pianist.


Father Christmas looked after the money....a gift for African farmers and families.


A lovely occasion, thanks yet again to Tim and Anne,
 who are tireless in their efforts for Farm Africa.

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Santa Fun Run 2014

On Sunday 14th December, we took part in the annual Santa Fun Run for the local St.Michaels Hospice.....me, Steve, Paula, Jamie and Frazer in his pram.
It was a lovely sunny, frosty morning, which made a change....it`s usually cold, wet and miserable.
We gathered by the bandstand along with many others in fancy dress.
To welcome us we had a fantastic group of drummers dressed in festive outfits.
They are called the Section 5 Drummers.




































You can see quite clearly the heavy frost on the ground.
After my cold and chesty cough, I didn`t dare run, so we walked it, very fast.
This was a bit frustrating for Paula and Jamie as they`ve both run half marathons.
It also meant that we crossed the line just as the 5k runners left. They had expected us back within half an hour. Oh well there`s always next year.

Here we are just getting ready to warm up.


We are nearly round.


We had tea and hot chocolate at the cafe.



Finally Frazer went to see Father Christmas for the first time.

This fun run has almost become part of our family Christmas tradition.
I hope St. Michaels have made lots of money.