Ilkeston - Christmas Eve Eve
w/e 24 December 2023
All of this week's
pictures were taken with a Nikon D3300
Friday, December 22nd, was
exceptionally busy in Ilkeston and I was expecting the same again
on Saturday, the eve of Christmas Eve.
![Bath Street](231224/23122401.jpg)
By comparison though Bath Street on Saturday morning was relatively
quiet.
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![Ilkeston Brass](231224/23122402.jpg)
Quiet that is, apart from the sound of Ilkeston Brass playing
carols outside the Albion Centre.
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![Santa Suits](231224/23122403.jpg)
Some of the Brass Band musicians had donned red and white hats
and if anyone wanted to go the whole hog and wear a Santa suit,
I'm sure the Arena Hope charity shop would have been only too
happy to oblige.
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![Chapman's](231224/23122404.jpg)
There was more festive headgear worn by the staff on Chapman's
Bakery stall on the Lower Market Place opposite the charity shop.
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![Market Place](231224/23122405.jpg)
Like Bath Street the main Market Place was really quiet.
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![Christmas Tree](231224/23122406.jpg)
The lights on the Christmas Tree were not switched on and even
the seats around the Market Place were empty.
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![Christmas Slippers](231224/23122407.jpg)
There were still traders trying to sell their wares and there
was a plentiful supply of Christmas slippers for the last minute
shoppers.
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![Christmas Wreathes](231224/23122408.jpg)
And there was still time to buy a Christmas wreath from at least
two stalls at the market.
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![Queues](231224/23122409.jpg)
There was more activity on South Street though with queues at
the Butcher's, the Baker's and if there had been a Candlestick
Maker, it would probably have been the same there too.
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![Car Park](231224/23122410.jpg)
It seems most people had shunned the Council's pay and display
car parks to take advantage of the free parking at the supermarkets.
It was just as busy inside too with long queues at all of the
check outs. Wasn't I glad we'd done our Christmas shopping early?
And to think the shops will only be closed for one day and then
it will be as bad again .... for the Boxing Day sales!
Happy Christmas everyone.
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