Monday 7 December 2009

Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre


There's nothing like seeing a donkey to make you feel all gooey and Christmassy is there? This chap (or lady) was at Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre on Saturday with his friends giving rides to youngsters in the town. This fayre is a ritual for us the first weekend in December, ever since Josh was tiny and he rode a donkey through the priory grounds to visit Father Christmas in his candlelit grotto. Nowadays we are accompanied by a sometimes reluctant teenager. This little fayre in this tiny town feels like no other. It really has that special feeling you get in a smaller community as shopkeepers and stallholders alike join in proceedings. There is a marquee selling local crafts and foods.



As well as stalls lining the narrow high street.



Vintage vehicles



You can always find something good to eat





and there are still favourite shops to explore and festive shop windows to peer through.



Ippikin has loads of funkiness going on with colourful wacky knits. If you enlarge the picture you might see some of their wonderful tea cosies. Mr F did buy me a little pressie from there...but of course I can't show you until after Christmas.


And of course you have to have The Salvation Army belting out some beautiful Christmas Carols.



After a busy morning and lunch at the fayre we moved on to Bishops Castle for more shopping and aftenoon tea. You can see more of Bishops Castle here. Our journey there and back meant a steep drive over Long Mynd at Church Stretton. The homeward bound journey was quite eerie as the mist and rain moved in. I'm not quite sure the photos show it at its mysterious best.







Of course when we got home we felt we needed more tea and cake!



Yesterday was still busy as we visited several garden centres looking for door wreaths. After much deliberation I chose this. Do you think it will do? I'm pleased with it as it is a little different to ones that I've had previously....time to ring the changes...but only a little.




One place we visited had a family of reindeers visiting for the weekend. No doubt they were having a nice rest before their busy time ahead. Each time the reindeer moved the bells on their collars made the most tremendous jingling sounds....just like Santa was already on the way.



Next weekend is tree weekend. Josh had a friend staying on Saturday evening/Sunday morning so wasn't free to come choosing trees with us. I don't think we would have been popular parents if we had chosen without him! I hope they still have some good ones left....you know the type I need....one that is exactly the right height, the right shape, a good straight bit at the top for fixing a star and branches that are spread nice and evenly throughout the tree. Oh and it needs not to shed needles everytime someone walks past. Please tell me if you see one!

15 comments:

Andi's English Attic said...

I haven't seen anything like this advertised in my area and I'd really like to go to one this year. The bells on the reindeer are a good idea - it must have been a wonderful sound. The wreath is beautiful, and you've reminded me...I need to get the tree! xx

Pipany said...

Ooh such a lovely post. The hog roast has my mouth watering and hte shops look so festive., these types of markets really get the festive feeling going don't they? x

Sal said...

What a great post!
I've really enjoyed visiting that area a few times..but I've never visited at Christmas time.
Hope you are well ;-)

Rosie said...

Super post - everything looks so festive and I love your door wreath:)

TAPESTRIESOFNATURE said...

OH, HOW MY HEART HURTS! MUCH WENLOCK IS MY FAVORITE VILLAGE AS I STAY IN A COUNTRY COTTAGE NEAR THERE EVERY YEAR. AND IPPICAN IS TRULY ONE OF THE JEWELS IN THE VILLAGE, AND THE OWNER, LESLIE, AND HER HUSBAND PAUL ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

I WISH I HAD BEEN THERE.

CHEERS, JUDY

Simone said...

The door wreath is lovely and looks really great as your blog header! I bet it felt really Christmassy at the fayre. I wish I was closer to an event like that.x

Annie said...

What a wonderful Christmasy event and that hog roast looked delicious. Your door wreath is lovely I think the fruit looks great on it.

Lizzie said...

We found a lovely tree today at Pavilions, and also at the small garden centre at Hilton (don't know the name) both on the road to Bridgnorth - so you could take in a pre-Christmas wander round the market, and a cup of tea and a cake in a local tearoom too!
The trees aren't cheap this year, by the way!
Like your pics of the Xmas Fayre, really should go one year soon....

Thedarkerside73 said...

Gosh how lovely with all those reindeers. I have only ever been too Much Wenlock once a very looong time ago. But do rememeber it being a lovely little place to can well imagine the weekends fesitivities being really lovely and special.


MBBx

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Jo xx

Vintage to Victorian said...

Yummy pigroast!! And the other photos are nice, too!!!!!!

The snow didn't settle and soon turned to murky rain, so you needn't feel sad about missing it.

I've just read back on your previous posts as I haven't visited for a while - I see you had problems with your kitchen. We've just had fun and games with ours, even though it was only a single straight run of 2 metres.

Have a lovely Christmas!

Sue

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Divine post! Hello, Sarah here! Nice to meet you.
Wow a Donkey, reindeer and Sally Army brass band, Christmas tastic how lovely!

I shall be donning my snow boots and attempting to walk my very excited Chocoalte labrador through the snow drifts any moment!

Sarah x

AC said...

looks like a lovely Christmas Fayre:-)
Alison

harmony and rosie said...

Hello, I just popped over from Pipany's. I think your wreath is gorgeous and I also really like the photo of the hogroast - you've captured the steam brilliantly and it's making my mouth water!

Anonymous said...

Love all these pics :o) Your blog is always such an interesting and Beautiful place to visit.

xxx

Sumea