Monday 26 November 2012

The madness has started!

Good evening

Yep the festive madness has started. Firstly Saturday saw those brass players of mine at their first festive event - Christmas Lights Switch On in Aldeburgh. Oh dear the weather was pretty dire - wet & windy. However most of the band are a hardy bunch and there was an excellent turn out and they played their sets and then retired to the pub!! Therefore we missed Lenny Henry actually doing the switching on bit but I'm told he was lovely!!

Sunday was drier which was handy as I'd a hot date with Little Son. We headed on the train to Ipswich. He has his first proper girlfriend and wanted help choosing Christmas presents for her. There was also a list of other things that are needed both for Christmas and now including trainers for said teenager who is growing far too quickly.

What we didn't realise until the morning was it was the big lights on event there too - luckily we were in and out in a couple of hours before the hordes descended on the Cornhill. This picture from the local paper shows how busy it was after we'd left and also the Christmas tree which is dividing local opinion;


I don't think I need to go into any big town now until after Christmas - any remaining pressies can be bought locally or online :) Rather handy as there are now no spare weekend days left!

I treated myself to two things - firstly this cute gingerbread house which you can light up with a tealight;

Good old Poundland!

and secondly the Pretty Nostalgic book - its normally for sale for £25 but WH Smiths had it on offer for just £12 - an early pressie to me from me!!

Lots of lovely pictures and articles - I've started on the Winter section with pictures of vintage Christmas celebrations and decorations.

I've decided to join in with Floss's Pause In Advent for a 4th year - some might have noticed I accidentally published the draft of my first post yesterday - whoops - its now back in draft form till next weekend.

I hope none of my lovely readers and followers have been too affected by all the awful flooding? 

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

11 comments:

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

Those lights look wonderful! :)

Serenata said...

I can't believe how quickly the year has gone! It really does seem to get faster and faster every year that goes by. I need to start thinking about Christmas here, especially as we are hosting it this year - yikes!

Serenata said...

I can't believe how quickly the year has gone! It really does seem to get faster and faster every year that goes by. I need to start thinking about Christmas here, especially as we are hosting it this year - yikes!

Lucy said...

We decided not to face the crowds in Ipswich. The tree is actually quite nice although definitely not as good as a real one! :O) Loved your pause for Advent posts so am looking forward to reading it on Sunday.

Ditzy and Dotty said...

I love the gingerbread house - can't believe it's from Poundland, what a bargain.
Sally
xxx

Josie-Mary said...

Shame you missed Lenny but sounds like a good weekend :) x

Crafty Helen said...

I am always a little depressed but Ipswich Borough Council's attempts at Christmas decorating and think the change was much needed (nt that I've seen it myself). I think staying out of the town centres is a very good idea! XX

Alice said...

I am so kicking myself because I was so tempted to buy that little gingerbread house in Poundland at the weekend, but didn't and now I really wish I had!
That Pretty Nostalgic book is a good buy also, can't say I've seen that in my WHSmith, may have to investigate further xxx

BadPenny said...

The madness has started here in my village - the stealing of the top of the village Christmas tree by someone !
We started the Christmas window in the shop. Hope your son finds something special for his girlfriend.

Annie Cholewa said...

I tend to stay clear of town centres in December too, but I make a point of going along after dark at least once to admire the lights :D

I keep hearing good things about Pretty Nostalgic ... perhaps while I'm looking at those lights I'll just pop into WHS ;)

Kezzie said...

Hello Vicki! I have seen your name crop up in lots of people's blogs but never actually come across to say hi before! I am taking part in the Pause for advent too (1st time!) Are you based in Aldeburgh? It's gorgeous there? We went across for a Player-piano concert (and a chamber wind one) back last May which I really enjoyed. I'd never been before but really liked it. My fiance loves it as he was a steward there once!