Get planting for Christmas 2022

Every year we see real Christmas Trees ready to be purchased. Whilst I love the smell of the winter pine, I must confess to getting the fake Christmas tree down from the loft each year. I don’t want to be hoovering up pine needles in the run up to the Christmas period and with a little toddler around the place it seems a little safer too. For those of you for whom it wouldn’t be Christmas without a real Christmas Tree it may interest you to know that it takes 10 years for a Christmas Tree to grow during which time the trees have to be nurtured and checked regularly. This is very dedicated work. Each tree is grown from seed in a nursery and takes 3 – 4 years before the trees can be transplanted into a field where they will grow until the tree is 10 years old.  As you can see this is a long term commitment.

I remember driving through Scotland and seeing fields of small Christmas Trees – this was around October time and the sight of all these little trees really put me in the Christmas Spirit.

Norway Spruce from Scottish Christmas Trees

For more information see Scottish Christmas Trees were you can order online, although you might have to wait until they have their 2012 trees available!!

Tags: christmas trees, scotland

Why can’t it snow at Christmas?

With all the cold weather and snow about the place it did start me thinking that it is such a shame that we didn’t have a white Christmas. There is something about the festive season and snow that go together. When it snows in January and February although it is pretty, the coldness and bitter wind can mean that the snow soon looses some of it’s sparkle.  I would like to know if anyone remembers a White Christmas and where they were in the country or world they were when it happened.  I expect for some of you that Christmas 2009 and 2010 were white for you but they weren’t here in Norfolk.  Here is a picture of Norwich Cathedral when it was in the white stuff.

Norwich Cathedral in the snow

Christmas Bargain

I never buy Christmas cards for next Christmas in the January sales as it just doesn’t seem in the spirit of Christmas. In fact, buying Christmas cards and wrapping paper is probably one of the first things to do on my Christmas ‘To do’ list. However, I am willing to take advantage of the January sales for those Christmas finishing touches. I talking about Christmas Decorations, cake decorations table runners, etc. As these things are usually overpriced to begin with it seems sensible to take advantage of the sales.

Although most of the sales are now coming to an end there are still bargains to be found.  For example, John Lewis are talking sales anymore but there are still items reduced.  On my list are some Christmas cake decorations.  It saves the thought of icing actual words on the top of a cake.

Another bargain are Christmas Crackers which are great fun but not worth spending too much on.

Don’t delay and miss out!

Tags: Christmas Bargains, Christmas Decorations

Thursford Christmas Spectacular

I know it is only January but believe it or not there are some people already thinking about Christmas 2012!  If you haven’t heard of Thursford it is a little place in the between Fakenham and Holt in Norfolk that houses the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs.  During the year it is open for people to view these wonderful machines where Robert Wolf is often playing these beautiful organs.  There is a fairground carousel for the children and behind the scenes tours.  Of course no attraction such as this would be complete without a cafe and gift shop and Thursford does both of these things very well too.  During the year, Thursford is also a hive of activity behind the scenes as they plan their Christmas Spectacular.  This Christmas Spectacular is a mixture of dancing, singing, carols from a cast of over 100.  The ceiling and stage must contain the most Christmas decorations you will ever see in one place and will put the most determined Scrooge in the Christmas Spirit.  The Thursford Christmas Spectacular runs from 9th November and you must book early (in other words now) to get it as people come from all over to see it.

It never ceases to amaze me that a sleepy little place in the middle of Norfolk houses such a collection and a renowned Christmas show such as this but it is a triumph each year.  I would advise a sat nav or a coach trip in order to find it, in fact when Prince William and the then Kate Middleton attended prior to last Christmas on their first ever official visit I had wondered how all the journalists had managed to find Thursford – it’s amazing what Royalty can do.

http://www.thursford.com/default.aspx

Christmas Events – Not to be missed

Further to my previous blog, information regarding the Oxford Street Christmas Lights Switch On can be found in the link below.

http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/oxford-street-christmas-lights-feature-event-4216.html

This website also contains information on all  Festive events in and around the capital.

Also, Harrords have released their Christmas Parade details. Mandy Higgins (top Christmas Countdown Blog Contributor)  said ‘I went a couple of years ago and had a fantastic day. It’s an early start and to get a good view you do have to be there by 8, but in my opinion definately worth it!’  Previous years parades are on YouTube.  Magicians and street entertainers make the wait until the start an enjoyable one:

http://www.harrods.com/content/visiting-the-store/news/harrods-christmas-parade-2011/

Finally, Boots are holding their shopping events again this year. These evenings have a very festive feel about them, making it an ideal way to start the Christmas present shopping if you haven’t already done so. Of course the added bonus is the advantge card extra points if you spend over a certain amount.

http://www.boots.com/en/Christmas/Ideas-inspiration/Christmas-shopping-events/?cm_re=c1020_link4-_-content-_-christmas_shopping_events&cm_sp=cat_campaign-_-c1020-_-c1020_link4