Christmas Jollity

Lots has been happening around town while I've been away (or too busy enjoying myself to blog).

This year's Christmas window competition was won by Hay on Wye Booksellers, with a window that incorporated a vintage sled, and lots of fir trees made of paper. They won a rose bowl. Other windows that I rather liked (but totally failed to get a picture of) included the traditional Christmas tree in the window of The End - decorated with fly agaric mushrooms (those red and white ones that often appear in children's books - the ones that make shamans think they can fly), the map woman in the window of Mostly Maps (another piece by Sarah Putt, who did their map man), and the Narnian landscape at Rose's Bookshop, complete with lamp post and furs hanging up at the back where the entrance to the wardrobe is.

This week's Thursday market included a visit from Santa, who was meeting people from his little shepherd's hut. There were two choirs singing, too, one of which was the Decibelles - I don't know who the other choir was. George the town crier was there, too, and he was also helping with the festivities of last weekend's Fairtrade Fair.

Down by the river, Want to Canoe? has been selling real Christmas trees.

Last night a male voice choir was touring the local pubs, singing carols and collecting money for a local charity (I think it might have been Mountain Rescue, but I wasn't really taking any notice at the time). [Edited to add: it was MacMillan Cymru and air ambulance] I saw them in the Blue Boar, where I was meeting some friends from work, including a few who used to work for the Cinema Bookshop. One of them was Troy Redfern, a local musician who also teaches guitar at the Globe on Thursday afternoons.

And a few minutes ago, a traction engine and trailer chugged down Broad Street, blowing its whistle, decorated with a reindeer's head at the front, giving rides around town. [Edited to add: the traction engine was actually leading the Fancy Dress Walk from the Rose and Crown to Baskerville Hall!]

The Rose and Crown are offering a special Boxing Day breakfast menu from 10am to 12 noon, to coincide with the traditional Boxing Day Hunt meet at the Town Clock.

And at St Mary's, the First Mass of Christmas is on Christmas Eve at Capel-y-ffin at 6pm, with Midnight Mass starting at 10.30pm at St Mary's Hay. On Christmas Day the Mass of the Nativity is at 10am at St Mary's, with another at St Eigon's, Llanigon at 11am.