Christmas Lights

A lot of effort was put into the switching on of the Christmas Lights this year - and the crowds turned out in force.
When I got up to the town square I could hear George the Town Cryer testing the microphone by singing in Welsh.
In the Buttermarket there was mulled wine and gingerbread and mince pies, provided by the Swan, and being given out in return for donations to Bryngwyn Riding for the Disabled, which was the charity Josie Pearson had chosen. There were people going round collecting in buckets, too. There was also a post box for letters to Father Christmas, and Father Christmas himself, in the form of Karl Showler (who has the beard for it!). I sidled up to him while he was standing there, and said: "I think you ought to know - I have been very good this year."
In the marquee that has been erected in the car park for the Food Fair, the stalls were being used for local businesses and groups for the evening. Stuart the Greengrocer was right by the door, with clementines and chestnuts and dates, and other seasonal treats. Inside, Londis had made up Christmas hampers, Hay School were selling raffle tickets, Castello de Haia soaps were there, and so was the WI. There were other stalls selling hats and scarves, and chilli sauces, and the Eighteen Rabbit man with some purses and wallets made of old car tyres as well as some of the things I'd seen in his shop.
The Cheesemarket committee were selling cards with the design of their tiled picture on them, and you could buy a tile for £10. There are 900 tiles in the finished picture, and one of them will be gold coloured to commemorate Josie Pearson's Paralympic win. Others include a rabbit for the Warren, a marquee for the Festival, and a Tuareg cross for the twinning with Timbuktu. They're hoping to put up the finished picture in the Cheesemarket.
Outside, there were carols from Clyro, Llanigon, Clifford and Hay schools, and the fire engine was parked by the bank. Shepherds had stayed open late, too.
John Evans took the microphone after the last carol (which was Away in a Manger so everyone could join in), and announced that the Cheesemarket Committee had just got the news that they have been given the grant they were hoping for - £300,000 to restore the Cheesemarket!
And finally, the lights were switched on by Josie Pearson, to a great "Ooooh!" from the crowd.