Tag: #DevonLive

Festive Lights

Blood Gift Chronicles Book 3 is well underway. I look forward to giving a writing update in the new year, but for now I thought I would take a pause in my working day to share some local festive cheer. It was just a quick trip this year, tagged on to a shopping day, but it’s always a treat to soak up the ambience of Exeter Xmas market, complete with the cathedral looming in the background providing a wonderfully gothic feel.

Then on to spot the decorated trees on-route, since no trip would be complete without a visit to the annual charity tree display – a wonderful reminder of the great work of our local charities.

For the Xmas light display we went further afield with a trip to Powderham castle, armed with mugs of peppermint tea and chocolate brownies to snack on. With the whole castle and gardens lit up like a Xmas tree, it was an impressive display.

But perhaps the star of the show were three orphaned lambs wearing Xmas jumpers, tucked away in the grounds of the secret garden, unfazed by ogling visitors looking to catch that perfect Xmas card shot.

For now it’s back to work, but in the meantime…

Wishing everyone a very Merry Xmas

Happy Holidays, and a

Happy, Healthy, Peaceful New Year 

xxx

 

Exeter Lights 2020

For Exeter’s annual Charity Christmas Tree Festival, it’s business as usual. This year sees 30 real Christmas trees decorated by local charities, on display at Princesshay’s Roman Walk to help raise awareness during the festive period. It was a treat to catch a break in the downpours, for a socially distanced meet up with friends, to take in the sights of Exeter’s lights, and admire the handcrafted decorations of the charity trees. A reminder to think of others, and to appreciate what we have.

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Loving the Place you Live

In the run up to Christmas, ‘Shop Local’ is the mantra. It’s a noble sentiment. After a year of lockdowns closing high streets and causing businesses to suffer, support local is a welcome gesture. Personally, I include writers and artists in that, local or not; after all, books, art and crafts make wonderful gifts, and go a long way in bringing a smile to the face of the creator.

It seems to have been a year of mantras. I do hope some of them stick around when the pandemic eventually recedes. Like appreciating your local surrounds. A couple of months back, I took a wander around Exeter’s city centre, reminding myself of all my favourite places nestled in this hillside town, edged by the river Exe.

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