Firday Smiles 2025 # Week 50

Today my post is mostly about Christmas. And I love Christmas so there is plenty to smile about. 

When we were in Spain I often said how traditional their fiestas were, with everything staying much the same each year. But the last few years we saw some small elements disappear so the fiestas were slightly smaller. The old folk are getting older, and the young ones have too many other distractions, but I think their traditions will still continue for years to come. Here in Oswestry we have our own traditions, but here they are growing year on year, and what we saw last weekend was immense compared with what happened before we left.

The first Friday in December is always late shopping night. Lots of small business stay open well past the usual closing time here of 5.00-5.30, and they used to be brightened up by a band on the main square, and a few food stalls along the streets. Now however it is a full scale fairground in two big car-parks and along the main road. There were heart-stopping rides for those who love such things, (I feel anxious just seeing them!). The market street was full of stalls selling everything from burgers, to scotch eggs, to cakes and cookies, and even one with churros and chocolate - a must at any Spanish fiesta!

Sadly it rained fairly persistantly all evening but that didn't deter the crowds, and it was quite a challenge to get through them. But the atmosphere was happy, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

This was followed on Saturday morning by the annual Christmas parade. Run by the local Rotary club, this had grown from a handful of lorries with excited children on them, to a proper carnival parade with floats reresenting local sports clubs, nursery schools, and trades. Again the crowds were out in force, eager to catch the candy thrown from the floats, and small wrapped portions of cheese from the Cheese Company float. The last float always carrys Santa.

Sunday was a red day as over 500 Santas mustered on the square ready for the 5K santa run. YTheir entry fee provided them with a running number and a santa suit. They ranged from serious runners, to dog walkers (joggers), to young folk pushing pushchairs. We saw them off and walked back home across the path, just in time to see the last few runners passing our house. 

One of the fastest runners is dressed as The Grinch and anyone who makes it to the finishing line before him gets a free breakfast. I haven't heard whether anyone managed it.

All in all it was a good start to Christmas for Oswestry.

Apart from that we have mainly stayed home, watching our kitchen slowly emerging and becoming a reality. On Monday the fixtures arrived. We do not have easy access to the house so most pieces were brought in along the back alley and through the utility area. But the last piece was huge and the alley wasn't an option so the builder and delivery man together managed to bring it up our not very easy front steps and through the narrow hallway.

The cupboards were all ready assembled at the factory, so they were piled up wherever there was a space. I am glad I wasn't the one to sort them out.

Now most are in place and by tomorrow they will be fixed. Next week the appliances will arrive. Work will finish next Friday for the holiday break, but Dave has promised to have it all in working order for us for Christmas. In the new year he will be back to do all the finishing touches, and make a start on the utility.

Amid the choas of kettle and mugs in the sitting room, later than usual dinners when the workmen have left for the day and I can get through to the back kitchen etc, I did manage to get all my cards and a Round Robin letter written and delivered or posted by Monday. 

And I have worked one side border on my crochet with the second one in progress. So maybe we will have a slightly easier week next week. Only one more post to go this year. I don't suppose many folk will be writing on Boxing Day. So see you all next week.

Friday Smiles 2025 # Week 49

So here we go again. I do declare the days are passing so fast I can't keep up with them. But I have a few 'smile worthy' things to write about  so let's have a quick look at the past week.

Our days are marked by which set of workers might be popping in, and they have all been quite busy this week. The plasterers have done a super job and the walls are so smooth now. The electrician has  installed the ceiling spot lights so we  can all see what we are doing now, and the floor has been sealed and levelled, and the first couple of tiles are down. The rest will follow tomorrow.

I was determined to get my decorations out so the rather skimpy little tree is now well dressed and looks quite good.

My wreaths are up at the front door and on the walls, my 'Willow tree' nativity looks good on the mantlepiece, and my light-up scenes from last year survived the packing and stand at either end of it.

I sent these photos to my son Tom in Denmark. I visited him one Christmas and found all the shops sold gnomes; very few Santas and no nativity characters, but lots and lots of gnomes. Of course I brought a few back with me and they show their faces each Christmas for a few weeks.

On Wednesday Chris had an eye appointment at Shrewsbury hospital, so I went with him in case his sight was a bit blurry after the treatment. It was about an hour on the bus, but it was warm and comfortable, and I took the opportunity to get my bearings. Then there was a brisk walk to the hospital and a lot of waiting around as Chris was tested, then waited to see the doctor.  Once we got out we walked round to the other side of the building, and my these hospitals are big!, where we caught a bus into the town centre.

As we walked into the first shopping mall we were greeted by this light bauble and immediately it felt like Christmas. 

Then I spoted this display of polar bears. I have a soft spot for bears, so I had to stop to take a photo. 

We did a bit of shopping and found some tasty lunch, and then we walked through the shops and out onto the main road. Here we had to walk aroud the legs of this huge reindeer, with his name tag a mash up of his home town and tradition. 

After that we went back to the bus for the drive home. I enjoyed getting out of the house for a while, and during the day the builder had spread the sealant on the floor which couldn't be walked on until the next day, so it was a good day to be away from home.

I said last week that I would try to finish joining all my little crocheted motifs, and last night I did just that. It is such a joyful riot of colour. I really like it. It was joined by crocheting with a slate grey yarn, and now I have a lot of ends to sew in, so that is tonights work sorted. Then it will need to be stretched and steamed to get it properly square and then have a border worked. So it is not quite done, but the end is in sight. 

And so is the end of my post for today. I hope everyone is enjoying the run up to Christmas, and not getting too stressed about it all.  I'll be back with the next installment, next week.