Things to do in Advent 4: visit the Winter Wonderland

[callmemadam]

To the garden centre again yesterday for another look at the winter wonderland display, which has been up since October. I’d received my invitation to the special opening evening in August! I felt things were lower key than usual this year but there was still plenty of wackiness around and people of all ages were enjoying the festive scene. You don’t often see a Christmas banjo, so I liked this chap.



He was part of a band merrily playing away unfazed while Thomas the Tank Engine whizzed around their feet. I was longing to photograph a small boy gazing rapt through the railings, but you can’t be too careful these days, so I didn’t.



If animatronic dogs are your thing, you’d like this St Bernard, complete with barrel of Cognac. He moved his head around but refused to look at me.



There were trees everywhere, none with a bare branch.









More Santas than you could shake a stick at.



The village layout was smaller this year but these children were still having fun.



I may re-read The Christmas Village, which I enjoyed last year.

I wish I could have seen Santa’s Real Reindeer but you need a small child and a ticket and Santa’s grotto is completely booked up.

Comments

[gwendraith.livejournal.com]

It looks lovely, much like our garden centre. They have changed so much over the years!

Your beautiful hand made card has just come through the door! Thank you so much. I think I have sent you one. I have two friends with very similar names (yours and B Drayton). I always get paranoid that I've sent to one and not the other which is the case again this year. Please let me know if you receive a card soon. I sent them 2nd class on Wednesday.

I put my cards in one of those vertical hanging things but hand made ones get pride of place on my sideboard as I really appreciate the effort that goes into making them :)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

These days, garden centres are as dependent as other retailers on Christmas sales.

The card arrived quickly! Glad you liked it.

I sent two parcels, first class, to my sister. She got one of them yesterday. She sent me two parcels, first class, neither has arrived! Why do we pay extra for the supposedly better service?

Update! Your card arrived this afternoon, thank you so much! Seems cards are beating parcels this year.

[gwendraith.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! It arrived quickly for 2nd class post. Obviously at Christmas it doesn't matter what stamp you put on, they just want to push the post through and get it delivered asap!

[gghost.livejournal.com]

Charming!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

It's great fun but I think the US tops us when it comes to Christmas merchandise!

[trixiebacon.livejournal.com]

I've been working in a frenzied marketing department of a retailer this week.

The banjo-playing bear is jolly, if a little baffling!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Rushed off your feet? You'll have earned your Christmas break.

Banjo-ho-ho.