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Diary – 2019 December
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DRAWING & PAINTING:
2 December
The first frost that froze the birdbath, but only the surface. The car windows were covered in frost flowers.
Today we put up the lights at the windows. Tiny Ted is absolutely delighted, as this is the first time he has seen them. Brown Teddy likes the fact that the lights are doubled with a mirror!
We ate the last two home-grown apples, one Spartan and one Russett. We are having our apples pieces warmed up and with yogurt on top, as it is now quite cold.
8 December
More lights at the window, this set is pastel and colour changing.
We saw the Santa Dash from the park to the High Street. These horses and carts were very festive, jingling and sparkling with tinsel around the park.
9 December
Today we went to Upminster. The weather was not quite so cold, so we sat in the park for our sandwiches. I like to see Nativity scenes in the shop windows.
All our decorations fit into this old printer box. The lights are in another similar box. Brown Teddy has the job of untangling all the gold and silver hooks. He says it's easy, just shake the tangle and they all fall singly on the floor, eventually, and then he puts them on a big tray. The more delicate baubles are stored in cut-down apple juice cartons to protect them.
We like all our decorations to be shiny and sparkly. Brown Teddy put the feather angel on the top.
11 December
This is the Santa Express in a shopping centre nearby, and this is the selfie wall, with the usual angel wings.
More Nativity characters in the shop window. The band was playing and collecting money for charity.
13 December
We went to the Christmas Tree Festival in Christ Church, Erith.
Tiny Ted could hardly believe his eyes, so many trees, all completely covered in decorations, lights and tinsel. They are done by clubs, friends and families remembering loved ones.
We all loved this pompom tree. My favourite is this pompom robin sitting on a wooden spoon.
Here is the crib scene, and the shepherd holding the little lamb.
I think this black faced lamb is wondering whether a sheep can eat Christmas tree leaves! This tree as paper penguins, all with "Happy Feet" (as per the movie)
There is a big church organ, and the painted patterns look to me like the air blowing out of the slots.
After that we went to Erith Pier. The big flood gate was shut against the high tide, and we had to go up the concrete steps and down the other side.
A few seagulls were flying round us screaming, in case there was food on offer. We sat and had our sandwiches, and on the far north bank we saw thousands of gulls circling round the tractors, who are doing rubbish landfill.
This is the Littlebrook Power Station chimney which is due for demolition early morning on 15th December. The wind turbines are producing cleaner power now. On the youtube videos, you can see it beginning to drop before hearing the sound of the explosives!
14 December
We went to Wembley to see the neon Christmas light installations. This is underside of the Bobby Moore bridge, then a neon tunnel with flowing lights to match the music.
These were meant to change with the sounds, but not much was happening at the time, apart from children hanging onto them, so I don't think they will last undamaged till New Year. In the shopping centre is this big bauble of lights that you can go inside.
At the far end a huge cone of a hundred thousand lights, meant to be a tree. You can go inside and I would love to see this in a fall of snow!
16 December
This is the suntrap area (north gate) of Holland Park, but no sun today. The woodland paths were very muddy so we walked on the thick layer of soggy leaves at each side.
In the Japanese garden, the koi in the pond were hanging around quietly.
We had to move seats as the fat squirrels were being a nuisance, getting far too close to us and our sandwiches. The peacocks are well used to people and got a few crumbs. They walk up to people and look up to see if anything is likely to be given to them!
Further along are these very beautiful murals, under a covered walkway, showing what a party might have been like here long ago.
We then went to Westfield shopping centre for a while. Then we came back to Trafalgar Square which had lots of Christmas market huts outside the National Gallery.
A large group of people were singing carols in front of the big tree. The Nativity models in a big glass case are on display each year, this time sited next to the tree.
Then the lights came on in the fountains. It was starting to rain slightly.
We took a bus to Somerset House to watch the skating. The session had just ended so we were able to see the machine resurfacing the ice. He didn't miss any bits!
This year there are colour changing lights and the music is quite classical.
18 December
On our way up to London, we passed Father Christmas's train. We couldn't think of any other reason why a train would be painted bright red. We went to Fenchurch Street, and saw this "snowy" scene in Minster Court.
We went up the Sky Garden, 35 floors up, and looked out over the illuminated city.
Then we caught a bus and went to Winter Wonderland. The first stall we saw was selling bubble machines. Sometimes the bubbles are blown out with smoke inside instead of plain air, and the white bubbles look like giant snow.
Everything lit up and noisy, and slightly fewer crowds because of the light rain.
No shortage of people on the ice rink. The surface was quite wet and puddly, so there were a few soakings happening, but it didn't put anyone off.
20 December
Today we went to Fortnum And Masons store, which is full of delicious foods. They have their own beehives on their roof and sell the honey. This big box of chocolates might just last a bit longer than usual!
I just love these glass decorations in the shape of Sundae glasses full of whipped cream. These winged teacups point the way to the tea room.
Down the stairwell in Fortnums. Outside we saw this Tea Bus Tour in an old Routemaster bus.
Then we went into Princes Arcade, and then into Burlington Arcade where the first shop is this sweet shop decorated to look like the gold foil on chocolates. I could just eat a whole chocolate shop!
This perfume shop had the best window display, all snow, glitter, jewels and golden things.
After that we went to Covent Garden which is full of small shops and stalls. Tiny Ted found this teddy bear window packed full of interesting miniature items just right for tiny teddies.
Outside this display of trees with artificial snow surrounded a skating rink. We realised the surface was not ice but teflon/plastic or similar, and the two skaters we saw were not moving that much!
21 December
This is Selfridges, a huge store in Oxford Street. We went straight to the Christmas decorations department. This glass ornament is a large plate containing the Christmas turkey and all the trimmings.
Lots of cuddly toys and smart bears. These turtles are cuddly as well, unlike real life turtles.
The demonstrator was playing these giant piano steps by treading on them, and you could buy a smaller one for home. The cupcakes are very friendly and not at all fattening.
Mystery present!
We then went to Harrods in Knightsbridge. The inside is all Egyptian decoration, and the outside is very well known at Christmas because of the lights.
I am very glad to say they had a Nativity scene in the decorations department. You can't get a softer cushion than these smiling clouds!
We went back on the bus to Trafalgar Square. These Santas were climbing up the plinth of Nelson's Column. We watched the illuminated fountains.
Then we walked on to Seven Dials. The monument has seven sundials on it, and seven roads converge at this point. It was raining on and off, and so we went home before the rain got any heavier.
23 December
Here is the Christmas tree at Waterloo Station, decorated by the Royal Horticultural Society in pine cones and white poinsettias.
We took the train to Teddington to look at the shops, and then a bus to Teddington Lock. The river was very high, fast and overflowing the lower areas, because we have had a lot of heavy rain in the last few months.
We sat in the lock island garden area and had our sandwiches. The seagulls had a few bits and so did some large ravens.
Then we took a bus to Hampton Court, where the river was also very high and covering the riverside paths. We went into Hampton Court Palace to the ice rink. The machine was resurfacing the ice.
It was very crowded with happy skaters. They now have these blue dolphins that children can sit on.
A view of the ice rink from the bridge. The river water was very high and covering the landing jetty.
24 December
We finished our shopping today and everything is ready. This is Brown Teddy's favourite lighted Christmas picture. I am following Santa on the NORAD Santa Tracker, he is over Italy, and we will be in bed long before he reaches the UK.
25 December
The first job of the day is to see if the robins are around for their breakfast pellets. When they see someone at the window or the curtain move, they fly in. Then it was time to get everything in the saucepans.
I am taking the easy route to smooth custard today. Brown Teddy put out the packets of popcorn and crisps.
At dinner Tiny Ted handed round the vegetables, or at least tried to!
I always leave room for the Christmas pudding and ice cream. Tiny Ted did not manage all his mince pie, so he is saving the rest for tomorrow.
We love to watch our wonderful Queen, and listening to the choir singing.
We will be spending a lot of time reading our new Rupert Bear book, we all take turns reading it.
26 December
The weather started a bit gloomy. The pond now has the foam lily leaves on it, to give the fish somewhere to hide under during winter. Boxing Day is a good time to open the chocolate orange, with Tiny Ted's help. We ate some of it whilst watching a television programme on how they were invented and made.
Tiny Ted has also noticed the jar of Battenberg cake, and Brown Teddy remarked that the ginger cake is proving very popular as well.
27 December
We went to Morden Hall Park. Here is the big Christmas tree in the stable yard, covered in red bows. The mill race was high and racing, with all the rain we have had.
In the garden centre we saw these lovely peacock coloured decorations. This gingerbread tea light holder was fun too, I think it's because there are four smiles in every direction! If they had little ears, they would be teddies!
Then we walked round the aquarium centre.
This anemones has a fish sitting in it.
Here is our tram to take us homewards, right next to the park gate.
30 December
Today went to the big shopping estate in Charlton, near the river. This wall at the end of Anchor and Hope Lane has some big knots in the brickwork, as ships ropes used to be made here.
Then we travelled into London, watched the skating at Somerset House for a while, and then went on to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. it was very crowded. We had a good time, much better than our last visit when it had started raining.
This is our favourite ride to watch. It is the Barth Looping switchback, and the train goes upside down round the five loops, with very loud rumbling. There were long queues for this one. We said goodbye to Wonderland until next Christmas.
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