P.S.

It has been pointed out to me that, in my lost offering, I failed to say when the episode of Countryfile is being shown. Sunday 23rd December, not sure of the time.. And Ragley is the subject of the entire programme.

Christmas is near!

 

I’ve just been to my first Christmas party of the year! Well, it was Paul’s party not mine. He’s been working this year as a guide at the local ‘big house’ Ragley Hall. The reason it was so early is that the BBC programme ‘Countryfile’ had been filming there all week, culminating in the staff Christmas party in the Great Hall. All the presenters were there, including John Craven, who sang ‘Deck the Halls’ with the Alcester Male Voice Choir. He sang the second verse solo!

Matt Baker and Julia Bradbury were very adept at handing around the canapés! Nice ones, they were too.

But the point of this is that all the indications are that Christmas is looming. Back to the writing of cards, trying to think who I actually want to send one to, who I really have to send one to. And the presents…. and the food……and the visits? For what is supposed to be a holiday it all amounts to a huge amount of stress. I seem to remember writing about this last year. So this year I have made some adjustments. The card list is being culled for a start. Not least because of the hike in the cost of postage! Presents are going to be ‘reasonable’. And as for food, Paul and I are booked for lunch at a local hostelry Arrow Mill. We’ve been there several times, and it is always good value.

We wander in when we feel like it, have lunch (9 courses!) at our leisure, then wander out and leave the clearing up to someone else. Bliss! The best thing is there is only one sitting, so no rushing to make room for the next lot. Here’s hoping the weather is decent though. I remember a couple of years ago driving up in thick snow. We parked okay, but had to be towed out of the snow bound car park by mine host’s Land Rover! Finger’s crossed but the forecast isn’t too bright.

The next Christmas party is at the Alcester Roman Museum on Saturday. Saturnalia!

Well, not quite, that’s too much to hope for. But it is a nod in the right direction I suppose. The Museum seems to have had a pretty good year, including several evening talks, the last one being Dr Alison Cooley of Warwick University on the subject of Pompeii. This was quite a coup because she is an acknowledged expert, having written books about the town. It is certainly worth celebrating at the end of the year.

I may come across as a bit cynical about Christmas. To be honest I suppose I am. As a religious festival it’s fine. But that isn’t what it is any more. It’s an excuse for over indulgence, and a trading frenzy. Today is, apparently, the biggest day for on-line sales of the year. Millions are being spent as I type this. Why? However, what I don’t mind is the idea of reconnecting with family once a year. My only brother and his wife are driving down from Yorkshire on Sunday to exchange presents and have a meal together. We don’t see each other enough during the year. Perhaps the incentive of Christmas does have some purpose after all!