A night in the cellar

Last night I spent some time in a cellar.

It was in a very old building in Bury St Edmunds and was dimly lit.

It was actually very easy to get into the cellar but I found it very difficult to get out.

I must have been down there for at least 40 minutes.

However, I didn't panic.

Particularly because it was no ordinary cellar.

No, the cellar was actually a wonderful place to be despite being quite dark.

It was a very special cellar.

Mainly, because it contained lots of these.




So as you can tell, I was very happy to be "trapped" in this kind of cellar.

Even better, I wasn't on my own. I had company in the form of my friend Alison...



... who had invited me to a Christmas Wine Tasting session at Thos Peatling an independent retailer of fine wines and this is the building to which the cellar belongs.


There were 50 wines available to taste throughout the store. Don't worry, it wasn't a challenge to see how many you could get through, just a fabulous opportunity to try a wide range of wines.

Amongst others, I managed to sample a 2005 Shiraz from South Australia, a 2005 Pouilly Fume from the Loire region in France , a 2006 Sauvignon Blance from South Africa, a sparkling Rose from Switzerland, a 2005 Riesling and a 2007 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand as well as a 2004 Chardonnay from California. However, my overall favourite was the Corton Grand Cru 2003 Domaine Latour, which at £32 per bottle is so typical of my expensive taste.

The event was very busy, with approximately 150 people spread around the shop. There was lots of conversation to be had. We bumped into a good friend who was there on a date. However, we left her to her privacy, while we wandered around catching up with people who we knew and chatting to people who we didn't.

There was the chap who we thought was Australian, but was Suffolk through and through and told us that he was often thought to be from Australia. This wasn't the first time that I'd heard this. Only a couple of weeks ago, I had a similar conversation with some ladies in Stowmarket, who had said very much the same thing.

We also got chatting to a lady from a local village and enjoyed the tales of the villagers' whisky club, which meets regularly at different members' homes and samples different whiskies. Now there's an idea for Moreton Hall. However, I think I'd rather stick to the wine or perhaps gin.

After tasting a great range of wines, I actually left with a bottle of Sloe Gin to help keep us warm over the winter period.

This was my first visit to Thos. Peatling and I now think it will be the first of many. As well as fabulous wines, I also loved their sense of humour and I definitely think they win on the Christmas Decorations.

See for yourself, rather novel don't you think?

Say hello to Nakima

She is a 36 year old chimpanzee who lives at a Monkey Sanctuary in Swansea. She loves to wear clothes and spend time in bed....

and...she will soon be introduced to my mother...

You see, when you have someone who doesn't know what they want for Christmas and you've got no idea what to get them but would still like to show them that you care, you have to sometimes think "out of the box".

So this Christmas, I have adopted Nakima for the next twelve months as a gift for my mum.

Now it may seem a bit of an odd present, but for a woman who nagged us as children to write to "Jim'll Fix It" to arrange for her to attend a chimpanzee's tea party, I think this will make her happy.

My mother will now be able to visit Nakima at the Cefn-Yr-Erw Primate Rescue Sanctuary as many times as she likes and will receive regular news about her progress. Far more satisfying than yet another handbag (for some).

I blame it on the old PG Tips adverts! If you need a reminder, here's your opportunity to reminisce:

The Christmas Tree Fairy et al

This morning, I awoke to squeals of excitement, announcing the most fabulous news that the Christmas Tree Fairy has visited our house and decorated the Christmas tree overnight. In my awakening slumber I could hear:

"Wow"

"Look at that one"

"There's a Father Christmas"

"That one's shiny"

"This one's red"

"Mummy, Daddy, QUICK! The Christmas Fairy's been!"

And behold, as I wandered into the living room, rubbing my eyes to overcome my tiredness, there in the corner was our tree, decorated with all our lovely decorations.



There are the ones that I had bought for our very first Christmas Tree, when 21st C Dad and I lived in Nottingham and we had a red and gold traditional colour scheme. Now, it's a fabulous eclectic mix including the old glass baubles from my grandmother's tree, the lovely wooden baubles that we bought during our adventures in the Lake District, the little wooden decorations that I collected when our eldest son was born and the handmade beaded hearts that I made for 21st C Dad a few years ago.

These days, it's a wonderful case of "anything goes" featuring all the oddities that we have collected each Christmas.

If the excitement of the Christmas Tree Fairy wasn't enough, we ventured into town to witness something very special. If ever you have wondered how Father Christmas delivers all the presents on Christmas Eve...I'll let you into a huge secret...it is because he has hundreds of helpers who help him on his way and they are not just elves.

For those not in the know, Bury St Edmunds is the highly classified location, where Father Christmas holds an annual competition to test the speed and dexterity of his team. So, we rushed into town this morning to witness the event and there they were, all running around the Abbey Gardens and the streets of Bury, giving new meaning to the phrase "The run-up to Christmas"


With a quick visit to Santa's Grotto and then a stop-off at Moyses Hall to pick up a silver threepenny bit for our Christmas pudding, we ventured home for what has become a new tradition in the 21st C household...the making of the nativity costume for the school play. This year, the eldest 21st C kid is a Wiseman, which is more advanced than last year's snowflake affair and has required a tad more creative thinking.

Despite about ten days notice, I'd completely forgotten about the costume until this weekend and panicked when I saw the reminder notice on Friday that the costumes must be in by Monday. So armed with some shopping time yesterday and some time on my hands this afternoon, I set about trying to make something from this pile of materials.

Not being a natural seamstress, I had thought that it would be just a case of cutting a hole in the middle of the beautiful fabric and just putting it over the little man's head and then tying some braid around his waist.

Oh um....if only I hadn't cut hole so big.

Instead, with a hole that was way too big, out came the needle and cotton, which then led into a complete afternoon of dressmaking. However, I am dead chuffed with the results that I can now see me competing for the Martha Stewart award. Here's the little man modelling the finished results...(note to self...must send my mum the photos to reassure her I am not a lost cause!)

So after a busy day of festive traditions, new and old, I think it's time to put my feet up and watch Cranford on BBC1, with a glass of the Drunken Monk's Christmas Mead. Not to be confused with Ruby's monk of course.

All across the land there will be mothers uniting in the taste of fortified wine and honey. To you all, here's a toast....

"To Christmas time and the joys of traditions, borrowing from the past and creating your own and setting great memories for your children to take into their future....Cheers".

The festive season is upon us...

(Tudor Rose Florist, Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds)

...and it's time to kick off the celebrations...The Christmas tree has been bought and the Christmas Tree fairy & her decorators will hopefully visit our house tonight to make it look pretty by morning.

In the meantime, I have been indulging in some of the prettiest sights of Bury St Edmunds whilst enjoying some festive mulled wine.

...not forgetting the fantastic Christmas Fair, which is in the heart of Angel Hill, where we have enjoyed funfair rides, a living nativity scene, a Victorian market and French market with live music playing in the background. Don't miss Ruby's account on her Living in Bury St Edmunds blog, where you will see some great photos, including a brush with Captain Jack Sparrow and a huge, (and I mean) HUGE snowman.

Let the festivities continue...
...now where are those little fairies, there's a bare tree in need of decorating.

30 days to go...

...as if you need reminding, eh! Only 30 days to go until Christmas Day and 31 days to go until the adverts for holidays to sunny places...not to mention 37 days until the shops start selling Easter Eggs. Okay, the last one was a slight exaggeration, but what's the betting that they'll be out on those shelves before you buy your Valentine's card.

Of course, the Christmas Madness started months ago with reports of shops stocking gifts and cards etc in September, only weeks after the the children went back to school. Regular readers will already know my feelings about the seasonal hype that is exacerbated by the retail sector. In the last week I have heard moans from people who are already "shopped out" and have tolerated whinges about traffic jams at the local supermarkets.

How awfully depressing. All this for just one (hopefully) happy day out of 365 days in the year (or 366, in the case of a leap year).

I promise, I really am not a Scrooge. I love Christmas. I especially love the Christmassy smells of the tree, the taste of the Christmas cake and the warming feeling of the Baileys. In our old home, I also enjoyed the sight, smell and sound of the logs crackling on the fire.

Now, I enjoy the build-up at school and trying to cobble an outfit together for the Christmas Play.
I love the way that the Christmas Fairy decorates the Christmas tree and that Father Christmas has got a magic key to come into our house. There is also the excitement that keeps the children up so late at night on Christmas Eve. I love the fact that because we are so busy all year around, the festive season gives us the chance to stop and catch up with friends. I love the goodwill that is expressed and the way that everyone is so cheery on Christmas Eve...not to mention the fabulous Crib Service and carols in Bury St Edmunds' cathedral.

I also enjoy the big sigh heaved by the shops and their staff, when the tills have rung through their last sale, as we take our family walk around town to look at the Christmas lights and enjoy the silent lull on Christmas Eve. If only it could last a bit longer than Boxing Day.

So with 30 days to go, I haven't quite been affected by the Christmas Madness yet. I certainly haven't shopped till I've dropped and don't plan to either and those huge supermarkets are nasty at the best of times, so I don't think I'll go anywhere near them this Christmas.

No...in the words of Baldrick...I have a cunning plan.

1. On the basis that everyone already has enough, this year we made the decision to buy gifts for family members only, which has made a drastic reduction to the Christmas List.

2. Any gifts that are needed for family who live afar, there is the pleasure of Internet shopping, which means they can be posted directly and avoids the long queue at the post office.

3. I am ready and waiting to book the all important delivery slot at Waitrose and do my food order online. Yes...I really do hate supermarkets and even the lovely Waitrose will no doubt become a battle-ground in the next few weeks. I will also enjoy the pleasure of reserving the meat from Barwells, in Abbeygate St. Tradition is tradition!

4. As for Christmas cards...these are reserved for the people who we don't see regularly. I had thought about including a note that says..."Merry Christmas for now and forever" to save me the job next year...but don't worry, I've not gone that far down the road of Bar Humbug.

5. Talking of Bar Humbug, there is a bar of that very name which is open during the festive period at Blackthorpe Barn, where we will be able to indulge in a mulled wine and mince pie, after collecting our Christmas Tree...

Of course, I will still venture into Bury St Edmunds, to enjoy the sights of the Christmas build-up. I hope to be the one watching the world rush by, from the window of Tickety Boo or The Lounge while relaxing with a hot chocolate or two. Do drop in, if you are passing.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your countdown to the big day...whatever your plans!

Merry Christmas Blog Action Day

(Image courtesy of http://image.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2006/12/18/valdiserePR276.jpg)

As I write today on Blog Action Day, there are 70 days until Christmas 2007...oh yippety yah...70 nights of anticipation and 70 days of ball-busting preparation! Don't get me wrong, I actually love Christmas Day. I enjoy waking up before the children, creeping downstairs and making Christmas Morning Muffins. I also enjoy seeing them open some real surprise presents and watching the sheer delight on their faces as they play with some new toys. And yes, I enjoy receiving the odd present...who wouldn't?

However...it has to be acknowledged that for many, Christmas is no longer the season to be simply jolly, but has become the season of sheer madness which starts in September...and has turned into a madness of over-consumption in every way.

Before I go on, let me emphasise that I am not particularly religious so I have no bone to pick over how the meaning of Christmas has been lost from a spiritual perspective (although I do understand). Also, I am not a scrooge, far from it. I enjoy giving presents and seeing the enjoyment in people's faces over the effort I have made in presenting them with a good honest gift that they will love.

My beef is about the overwhelming efforts that are multiplied many times over in our western society to make sure that everyone has the perfect Christmas...which often consists of...

• excessively over-packaged presents, many of which are unwanted and are a result of panic buying.
  
• extreme quantities of over-packaged food, much of which goes to waste,
• increasing extremes of excessive festive outdoor lighting,
  

and which is often accompanied by

• individual disappointment, if expectations aren't met,
  
• excessive waste needing to be managed by local councils,
• individual regret following over-consumption of food or alcoholic beverages.

Before I get accused of being a grumpy old git, I am simply asking the question

"is it time to change our expectations of Christmas?"

We can all still have a great time, but does our society need to take things to such an extreme, for just one day. Some might say, "but it is only one day, surely if you can't enjoy yourself and have lots of presents on that one day, when can we?"

I say, "Yes, go ahead. It's only one day, once a year...so what's the problem...for now...but what about in 10, 20...or 30 years time...or when your grandchildren grow up, with grandchildren of their own... coping with higher temperatures, freak weather with floods and droughts, rationing of resources. What will they think about the excesses of consumption which led to their situation.

For every present, there is often protective packaging, plus a carrier bag, many of which have required energy resources to produce. It might have been shipped or flown in from the other side of the world, eating into more energy resources.

Once the present is opened, its packaging is discarded for waste disposal, impacting once more on the environment. The real shameful fact is that in many households the usefulness and relevance of the gift can be short-lived and once boredom sets in or new fashions take over that it too is discarded. You only have to visit a car-boot sale to witness the evidence, with the hundreds or thousand of DVDs, CDs, toys. A car-boot sale to me is like a graveyard to consumerism, with people picking over the bones. I know it has great recycling power, but without the heavy consumerism in the first place, we wouldn't need to worry about the recycling issue.

It may seem like I am standing on my soapbox preaching to the unconverted and yes, in a big way I am. However, I am really waving a white flag, calling to be rescued from my own part in this madness, where I can often be found racing around for a present for a member of the family who doesn't even know what they want for Christmas. I do it because they might think I don't love them if I don't and might get a mardy on....how mad is that.

Also, how mad is it to throw out kids' toys which are good enough so that you fit more in each Christmas. On this subject, I do not want to spent my precious little time, taking little used toys to a charity shop or selling on ebay just to make room for more each year. Already, I am getting myself in a tizz, just thinking about it.

For me, the Christmas preparations have already begun. Last week I bought several packs of cards so that I can at least have a chance at sending out my Christmas messages in time for the big day and I will be writing our my gift list soon, to work out all those who I will be buying presents for.

However, this year I intend to reduce my own contribution to over-consumption, with just a few hits...

• I have made an agreement with my friends that we will not be swapping presents for our children this year. One friend is quite relieved as she already had over 30 children on her gift list ...two less won't make a big indent but it's a start! For me, it means 10 less presents, both incoming and outgoing. That makes 20 less presents for people to buy in total - just imagine the impact if every family did the same.
  
• For my extended family, I will work hard and give the gift of time.
• The Christmas cards that I have already bought are intended for all those people who don't have access to a computer or whose email address I don't have, but for those who have email, they can expect something different this year.
  

This year, my Christmas list is as follows.

• If you see me regularly, don't worry about sending a Christmas Card. Show that you are thinking about me by not sending one. I'll still know you care, when you say hello in the street.
• I don't expect any presents. Honestly I have enough, so don't feel the pressure to shop till you drop. However, if you've slaved over the oven in a Christmas baking project, I will be happy to share your delights instead, but no pressure.
• For those in my family who really want to treat us, come up and visit . 21st C Dad and the kids would love your company. If you're feeling really brave, you could even baby-sit.
  

There are lots more ways in which we can make each other feel appreciated and loved at this special time of year. I am sure I will be indulging in other ideas, which can be found by clicking here.

However, if you really feel the urge to buy me something for Christmas, I wouldn't mind a couple of goats or condoms. Not for me, you'll be relieved, but for those in more need of such things. Get the full picture and visit www.oxfamunwrapped.com.


Oh yes, and one last thing....have a great Christmas won't you...and if I've been successful in passing on the guilt...it makes me glad that I am not on my own. Otherwise, I think I would be in need of therapy.

This post was written as a contribution to Blog Action Day, enabling bloggers to post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. It's aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future. It's not too late for you to join in, just visit http://blogactionday.org/.

For inspiration, see the latest posts from Ingenious Rose, Jo Beaufoix, Beansprouts DomestikGoddess, Musings from a Stonehead and Zen Habits, which are just some of the blogs participating in the Blog Action Day movement.