Christmas Countdown
w/e 24 December 2017
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
The build up to Christmas has been going on for several
weeks, nay months, but we begin our countdown to Christmas on
the third Sunday of Advent, December 17th.
It was then at the Christingle service in St Mary's that children
helped build the crib as the Christmas story was retold with
the help of knitted woollen figures.
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Darkness had fallen during the service and this was the scene
on the Market Place as we left the church with Christmas lights
festooned in all the trees.
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We'd planned well in advance for Christmas and only needed perishable
foods later in the week but we had other things to do on different
days so spent Monday afternoon wrapping presents. On Tuesday
it was a trip to Markeaton Crematorium to lay holly tributes
in remembrance of family members who are no longer with us.
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A repeat performance on Wednesday took us in the opposite direction
to lay more tributes to family members whose final resting place
is at Bramcote Crematorium. It's only a small token gesture and
we always miss our departed relatives but it's especially at
Christmas that we feel their absence most.
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  Thursday (left), Friday (above) and
Saturday (right) were busy days for market traders and shopkeepers
alike. Thankfully our forward planning meant that we didn't need
to join the queues behind heavily laden trolleys at the supermarket
on "Frantic Friday" nor those on South Street at the
butcher's and the baker's shops on Saturday which didn't get
any shorter for the whole of Saturday morning.
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As the Christmas countdown continued throughout the week we were
grateful to our middle grandson and his visiting American girlfriend
who helped us by coming to ice and decorate two Christmas cakes
- and a splendid job they made of them too.
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On Saturday morning we made our traditional stop at Earl's Hairdressers
for a photo session with all the staff. Each year they don fancy
dress normally on Christmas Eve but because they were closed
on Sunday they decided to do it on Saturday. And no they didn't
all get up late and come to work in their night attire as the
theme for this year was "Pyjamas".
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The rest of Saturday was a musical affair. First we enjoyed listening
to Ilkeston Brass playing carols at the Albion Centre entrance
on Bath Street.
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In the afternoon there was a traditional Nine Lessons and Carol
Service in St Mary's.
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And on Saturday evening we joined another congregation for a
"Carols by Candlelight" service at The Arena Church
where everyone also enjoyed a performance by the Chaucer Junior
School Choir.
And that brings us full circle to the fourth Sunday of Advent
which is also Christmas Eve. After church this morning we've
spent the afternoon baking mince pies, sausage rolls and jam
tarts - we're expecting company - and if we can summon up the
energy, there's the Civic Carol Service on the Market Place tonight.
So tomorrow is Christmas Day and the countdown will be over.
Maybe next week will be a little more relaxed - just maybe!
Merry Christmas everyone.
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