A Few Ramblings…
Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
Christmas at Cliveden – 11th December 2011
With just two weeks to go until Christmas, we decided to head up to Cliveden so that the girls could visit Father Christmas.
We arrived to an accompaniment of light rain and parked up in the car-park as a number of visitors were moving into a large marquee to enjoy some carol singing.
Deciding to bypass the carol singing and investigate the Father Christmas trail instead, having obtained a map, clipboard and pencil and duly paid the required £4 per child, we set off in the rain.
The fountain wrapped up for the winter
Rebekah
Holly
Fortunately the inclement weather soon abated and we were able to follow the trail through the gardens seeking out various numbered clues and answering questions posed on the sheet – some of which had somewhat tenuous links to Christmas!
Map of the 'Father Christmas trail'
Questions on the 'Father Christmas trail'
Approaching Father Christmas
Eventually we emerged at the side of the main house and on rounding the corner, were greeted by a queue of around 30 people waiting to meet the Big Man.
Joining the queue for Father Christmas
The queue from on high
We joined the back of the queue and had to wait outside for around 20 minutes before we finally reached the front of the queue and were directed to Santa’s Grotto by one of his helpers.
The Grotto was quite well set out and impressively organised, with all the gifts being sorted by sex and age of the child. There were even some for ‘Over 11s’!
Father Christmas himself was secreted behind a screen which was liberally decorated with holly.
When it was our turn, we were ushered into his presence and he invited Rebekah and Holly to sit on chairs opposite him before asking them various questions about Chrismas – whether they had a tree, had they bought presents and most importantly had they been good?
Father Christmas with Rebekah and Holly
Talking with the 'Big Man'
About to hand the girls their presents
Rebekah receiving her present from Father Christmas
He finished by giving them their presents which they opened as soon as they got outside the Grotto. Rebekah received a Christmas quiz and activity book. Holly was equally pleased with her gift of a pair of binoculars.
Holly with her new binoculars
Overall the whole ‘experience’ had been well thought out and organised. It was good to get outside for a walk in the open air and being able to combine it with seeing Father Christmas proved ideal.
My only thought would be to consider having some shelter for the queue from the elements. On a December day, 20+ minutes is a long time to wait outside! Surprisingly the girls didn’t seem to mind though!
Maidenhead Christmas Lights – 26th November 2011
Tonight once again marked the occasion of Maidenhead’s Christmas Lights being switched on outside the Town Hall.
As in previous years, we made our way into town, this time choosing to refuel at McDonalds before heading up to St Ives Road for the festivities.
Approaching sunset outside Nat West
By the time we had negotiated the various stalls set up in the road it was already past 5pm and local band Riser were already in full swing, playing the first part of their set.
Riser playing amid the undergrowth
Holly particularly enjoyed dancing along to such classics as Place your hands – Reef, Dani California – Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol, and even Emily was clapping along! There were also a couple of Christmas numbers thrown in, with Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens and a final offering of Fairytale of New York – The Pogues and Kirsty McColl.
Overall, Riser were very good. Their speakers certainly worked well!
Following the band, there were the usual announcements about the upcoming Christmas performance at Norden Farm and corny jokes before we finally reached the time for the big Switch-On.
Emily
This year, due to inclement winds, the fireworks were launched from the roof of St Ives House, just across the road from the Town Hall. This arrangement seemed to work very well and the fireworks were certainly the highlight of the evening.
First rockets heading up from St Ives House
The lit Christmas tree outside the Town Hall
Crowds outside Maidenhead Library
After they were over, we had a wander up the High Street and into the Nicholsons Centre to investigate their lights and Christmas tree, before heading home.
Holly and Rebekah on the Giant Tea-cups
The Bear
Looking up the High Street
One of the 'lights'
Queen Street
Bauble reflections
The Nicholson's Centre Christmas tree with Father Christmas' chair
Decorations outside the defunct Waterstone's
Baubles!
More bauble reflections
The girls by the Christmas tree
Holly’s 5th birthday party – 19 November 2011
Holly held her 5th birthday party this afternoon at our church, Parkside Christian Fellowship.
Holly had decided on a pink theme for the party and we were down this morning setting up the hall with appropriately coloured balloons, bunting and table decorations.
The birthday girl
Rebekah and Holly
Looking down the hall
The party ran between 1.30pm and 3.30pm and Holly had invited 11 of her friends, mainly from school to help her celebrate. We managed to persuade my neice and nephew that they would like to help as well.
The guests arrived at around 1.30 and about half of the parents decided to stay for the duration of the party.
Sarah was in charge of activities and Rebekah and I were helping out by obeying orders. As such, I didn’t end up taking that many photos.
The party began with a craft activity to decorate cardboard crowns. This took some time as some of the children were more thorough than others!
Party games included ‘Duck Duck Goose‘, ‘Pin the kiss on the frog’, ‘Musical bumps’.
Holly takes a turn at ‘Duck Duck Goose’
Nathan takes a turn
The games were followed by food – consisting of mainly cakes and biscuits – as well as the ubiquitous birthday cake.
The tea table
Looking from the other end of the table
Holly’s birthday cake
Ready for the big moment
Blowing out the candles
After the break for food, it was on with the games. The first was ‘The chocolate game‘, ‘Musical statues‘, various games with a parachute and finishing with playing with space hoppers.
Overall, the party went off very well – largely thanks to Sarah’s organisation. All the children seemed to enjoy it and Holly also had a good time.
Afterwards, I asked Holly what was the best thing about her party. Her reply ‘Me being silly!’. Typical Holly.
Holly’s 5th Birthday – 17 November 2011
Holly on her 5th birthday
Being a school day, most of her day was already taken up, but she still made time to open her presents before leaving.
Holly with her new Disney tin from Rebekah and Emily
Holly with her new Polly Pocket characters
High excitement as Holly realises what her present is!
Inspecting the new car
Holly with her Barbie car
Holly with her birthday card from us
Once we had dropped the girls off at school, most of our day was taken up in one way or another with shopping. We also enjoyed an excellent lunch at Smiles in Bourne End.
After collecting the girls, we went around to Sarah’s parents for a while to enable them to pass on their presents.
Another pink present
Finally, we moved on to visiting Mum. Heather, Hugh and Katy were there as well and, after opening more presents, we finished off the celebrations with a birthday cake and the usual ritual of singing ‘Happy Birthday’.
Holly with a sheep bag
Holly with a birthday card
Holly’s birthday cake
Blowing out the candles
There was one final job to be done when we got home. It’s become a tradition for the girls to put up their Christmas tree in their room on Holly’s birthday and this year was no exception.
Holly’s birthday celebrations aren’t over yet. She has a party planned for Saturday afternoon!
A Few Ramblings... 