It’s official! Christmas is coming!

My village, in the north-east of Scotland, had its official ‘Christmas light-up’ on Sat. 3^rd. Dec and a merry time was had by all. The village ‘square’ around our Townhouse, built in 1747, was thronged with people waiting for the momentous event-Santa was coming to visit.

He must like us in Kintore since he visits like this EVERY YEAR- is that not amazing?

‘Jingle Bells’ music played loudly drowning out the hearty chatter of the townspeople. Burgers were chomped on; adults sipped at the totally delicious piping hot mulled wine, bits of fruit a-floating the top of the polystyrene cups: the food and drink intended to keep Jack Frost from nipping at the toes and fingers, although it wasn’t actually too bad temperature wise-just a little bite in the air. All the food and drinks cooked and served by willing volunteers.

(Different story, of course, for the organisers who had been outside for hours and who must have felt the cold a bit more keenly-though their happy smiles belied all that!)

A backwards countdown from ten heralded the imminent arrival of Santa; a resounding cheer went up for all the village children…Santa’s coming!

And sure enough there was Santa chugging along the main street on his sleigh, flanked by two beautiful village elves all bedecked in green and red and looking…quite warm! (Here’s the big secret… the local fire station is only about twenty yards away and …that’s our Santa sleigh stop!)

Were Rudolf and the reindeer warm too….?

Ah, well.

Rudolf’s a bit too busy getting himself stocked up at this time of year to make an appearance in my village but DO YOU KNOW WHAT? The tractor pulling the sleigh was so CLEAN it was the greatest substitute! Do the kids bother? I don’t think so….

The ‘chosen’ child helped Santa to switch on the Lights of the Village Christmas tree and it was full steam ahead.

The next hours were spent with Santa in his little booth-a fabulously decked out sitting room-having his photograph taken with village children who paid a very small nominal fee. (I’m guessing Santa wasn’t so warm after all that!)

The whole event was very well attended and went as smooth as pie. My congratulations go out to all the people who helped make the event happen. There would be no village switch on if the Community Council did not do the organising and the fundraising to make it transpire. Fundraising that doesn’t only happen at this event as people pop money in the collection boxes-fundraising that goes on all year.

SO I GIVE A HEARTY THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.