Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays

Dear reader, however you spend the festive season I hope it will be full of cheer.

  

🎄 Be warm and well 🎄 

Polly x

My Great Mince Pie Survey

Here we are again, my excuse to eat lots of mince pies in the disguise of a survey 😄 I would like to add that I don't eat all of them, my family eat them too.

Aldi's Holly Lane Iced Mince Pies in a shortcrust pastry topped with sweet icing.

I had one of these at a friends house, I'm not a fan of iced mince pies, but it was ok. I wouldn't buy them for myself though.

Mr Kipling Deep Filled Mince Pies in a rich buttery pastry case.

Very nice for a basic pie, and I didn't get indigestion!

Marks & Spencer spiced mincemeat encased in all butter shortcrust pastry.

Very nice

Marks & Spencer Brown Butter. Cookie dough pastry filled with spiced mincemeat. Very nice but not as nice as Waitrose ones which I managed to get this year, but that might be because the Waitrose ones have cognac in them.

Waitrose Rich Brown Butter pastry filled with glacé Amarena cherry, almond and apricot mincemeat laced with cognac. Absolutely delicious, packed full of tasty fruit.

Waitrose Frangipane with Caramelised Almonds are gorgeous

Greggs, very nice. I went in for a sausage roll and bought just one because I already had others at home. 

co-op Irresistible All Butter filled with rich spiced fruit and brandy mincemeat, delicious.

 Be safe and well 

Polly x

A Fairly Nice Day Out

Last week my U3a bus pass group had a day out to Thaxted, a small country town with a recorded history which dates back to before the Domesday Book. We boarded a bus from Chelmsford to the lovely little market town of Great Dunmow where there was just enough time for a cup of coffee before continuing on to Thaxted. The town has some very nice medieval and Georgian architecture. 

Guildhall

John Webb's Windmill

In 1804 John Webb's Windmill was built to satisfy a growing demand for flour at a time of agricultural expansion. A gallery at first floor level surrounded the mill and was used for easy loading and unloading from carts and wagons. By 1907 the mill was uneconomical and when offered for auction it failed to sell. For years it was a playground for local children until in the 1930s some repairs were carried out so that it could be used as a scout and youth centre. By the late 1950s it was again derelict and in need of repair, and so it remained until 1970 when a Trust was formed to restore the building and open it to the public as a rural museum. Restoration work has been carried out in stages, and in 1991 the sails were re-erected and turned for the first time in almost 85 years. In 1996 one set of stones were restored and once again it claimed to be a working mill capable of grinding grain into flour. The Parish took over ownership, funds were raised and a museum was created. Sadly it is now unsafe to be used.

Thaxted church

is impressive

  

The Red Vicar, so called because he was a communist.

Conrad Noel, Vicar of Thaxted 1910 - 1942.

He loved justice and hated oppression.

Bronze head by Gertrude Hermes.

 

It's said that Dick Turpin stayed at this house

  

                                                                                                                        I love the skates

"There is no town in north Essex – and very few in England – to equal in beauty, compactness and juxtaposition of medieval and Georgian architecture, the town of Thaxted". Sir John Betjeman.

Websites say "Thaxted has a variety of shops, restaurants, pubs and other businesses which serve the needs of residents and visitors alike. In spring and summer you can see colourful Morris dancers with their musicians and fools, dancing their way through the town". That may be the case, but on a damp miserable December day there weren't many interesting shops, not one cafe, a fish 'n' chip shop for takeaway only, and the same for a bakery. Two pubs were fully booked with Christmas parties. We were thinking of returning to Gt Dunmow when we found a pub that only did bar snacks, but that was fine, we just wanted somewhere warm and dry, and we found something on the menu. Despite the difficulties we all enjoyed the day out.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

A Good Read

A Dangerous Education by Megan Chance
  
Our protagonist Rosemary is not one to be told what she can or cannot do, she prefers to follow her own mind. But in the oppressive McCarthy-era of America that can be dangerous.
  
Rosemary Chivers is haunted by the choices she made as a teenager, and by those made for her by a controlling mother. Now, in the Cold War era of conformity and suspicion, Rosemary is a modern reformist teacher at a school for troubled girls, where she challenges the narrow curriculum meant to tame restless young minds. She also has a devastating secret. She knows one of the students is the child she gave up. But which one?
  
Ignoring warnings, Rosemary forms an impenetrable bond with the three girls who are the right age: shrewd runaway Maisie, alcohol-indulging Sandra, and overly flirtatious Jean. But these are no ordinary girls, and what begins as an effort to bring closure to her own rebellious youth soon spirals dangerously out of control. Rosemary is prepared to do anything to find her daughter. What she isn’t prepared for are the deadly consequences that come with discovery, or just how wicked wayward girls can be.

    
I enjoyed this but became frustrated with Rosemary’s behaviour, she made bad decisions and I often felt like shaking her and say "Don't do it!" occasionally her behaviour was just silly.
  
I was frustrated with the injustice of being an intelligent woman in that era.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Christmas Tree Festival

It doesn't seem five minutes since I was doing this last year! The Christmas Tree Festival hosted by the church in the village down the road. Local groups, shops and individuals enter their trees. Join me as we enjoy more lovely trees.

Festive Warmth by Highwood Knitters

Holly Jolly by the village pre-school   Tree Prepared by the 1st Scout Group

Hi-Wood by Highwood Primary School

The Chequers, my village tree. The squares have images on them of paint tins, paper strippers, hammers and plastering. The tree is a tribute to everyone who has contributed to refurbishing the pub. Volunteers have scraped, filled, painted, built, upcycled and scrubbed to bring the Chequers back to life.

Hats Off for Christmas by Writtle WI

Flowers by Writtle College

Christmas Countdown by the village infant and junior schools.

The children wrote advent promises on the back of the cards.

Let It Snow

Angel Delight by Writtle Craft and Sewing Club

Toiletree by Farleigh Hospice Shop. I think it should probably have been Toiletries Tree

Forest Tree by The Brownies, how sweet is this. That little sign at the front says 'The 1st Brownies Cottage'

The Gift of Giving by Writtle Parish Council.

This year the council are donating to the Chelmsford food bank

Luvvly Jubbly by Writtle Butcher

WI Jam and Jerusalem by Marconi Belles WI

A Skandi Inspired Christmas Tree

Poetree by Writtle Library

Christmas Tree(ts) by 3rd Writtle Guides

A Christmas Card

Chelmsford Morris Dancers

Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled

The tree is made from 180 photos from RDA photos showing all aspects of Barrow Farm. Riders, carriage drivers, parents, carers, volunteers, coaches, staff and trustees chose their favourite photo and drew around their hands to create the tree,

Food to Spare, Food to Share

Catch-up Cafe, Highwood

Ebe-tree-zer Scrooge by Writtle Cards

Milliner

The Button Tree    Zig Zag Tree

I like the simplicity of these

I hope you have enjoyed the Christmas Tree Festival

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x