Feeling Christmassy

With all the making of gifts, of foods and the wonderful organic free range bronze turkey is on order from our local organic farm ... I can't help feeling all warm inside and Christmassy. I really enjoy the run up to Christmas time.

I don't join in in the mad Christmas present buying race, preferring to make gifts and those that are bought are purchased away from the madding crowds, and preferably before December is upon us. Instead I like to seek outings to farmers markets and Christmas markets with plenty of homemade goodies to look at, even if I buy nothing. There are a few such events not far away from us again this year that we shall try to go to (weather pending for some of them).

The first such event is this weekend at Weald and Downland Open Air Museum - for a Christmas market. This place is such a joy to visit anyway, but with the added excitement of Christmas and a reduced entry fee, who could resist.

Closer to Christmas, our local open farm is also hosting a Christmas market, so we hope to go there to; to see the animals, partake in some crafts and have a great family day out.

We then have the Victorian Christmas at Portsmouth Historic Dockyards (at least a full day out in itself). We have been to this a couple of times and it's got a fantastic atmosphere with snow covered streets, street performers (see here for all the characters - street vendors, "cops and robbers", Queen Victoria, Scrooge, Brunel, etc), carol singing, roasted chestnuts, Father Christmas in the traditional green suit (not the other one!) and lovely market stalls. It's lovely and you really feel transported back to Victorian times. On top of that you can walk around HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and see where the Mary Rose has been preserved (although this is closed now for a while while a better museum for it is built). Such rich maritime history with displays of all eras.

In the lead up to Christmas, Winchester has a Christmas market event with ice skating rink in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral. Yet another opportunity to see small traders with lots of handmade wares. On the opening day there is a lantern parade too which will be great to see.

Looking forward to these and any other events to pop along to, and enjoying all the making and baking. How are your Christmas/Yule plans going?