Scribbles, jots and musings: Triple Seasonal Saturday

Warning - photo overload

On Saturday, Beatrice and I abandoned poor, poorly Daddy and headed out for a Christmas adventure. We parked in Victoria Square and so marvelled at the GIGANTIC Christmas tree, which Beatrice conceded was larger than the huge tree at Willowfield last week.

Beside the Christmas tree, we stumbled upon a little festive delight. A gingerbread village. I suspect it was some sort of competition, but for us, it was an enchanting confectionary hamlet to enjoy.

We finally reached the continental market, where we agreed it was time for breakfast. Crepes (one with nutella and one with sugar and lemon, merci) and a chocolate chaud.

(Can you tell who had the nutella pancake)

A wander around the market yielded many, many delights.

Amazing buns....

Such enticing rivers of liquorice that we had to partake.

The patisserie also seduced us and for supper today we thoroughly enjoyed our strawberry tarts....

A wonka wonderland....

More sweets!....

Too many things to look at!

On our return to the car park, Beatrice holding tightly to my hand stopped dead in her tracks by the window of a very expensive jewellers.

She tugged at my hand and then pointed....

Look Mummy, an amulet just like Sophia's!

If you haven't seen Sophia the First this will mean little to you, but I did tell her that if her daddy was as rich as a king he would certainly buy her it, but unfortunately, she wasn't a princess, but we could take a photo of it and keep that instead.

The morning was made even more magical as we walked back through Victoria Square. A brass band - OK they were from the Belfast school of music and I think were the brass section of the orchestra, but we'll just stick with "band" - had set up and were playing Christmas carols. We stopped and listened for a spell. Just as Bea approached to drop some money in their tuba case they started to play "See amid the winter snow" ...only MY FAVOURITE CAROL. I'll be honest, there were tears at this point.

We then appeared on the Fisher's doorstep, carrying bottles of wine which they generously swapped for food and then sent us on our way to the Ark Farm, where we met Melissa and Thomas.

Outside the farm was a large sign advertising "Santa's reindeers" so despite the drizzle we ventured inside.

There was a live nativity scene.

King Thomas, Angel Beatrice and a photo bombing donkey. So we fed the donkeys, the sheep, the lambs and the Shetland ponies around the manger and moved on to meet the alpaca.

Having her hand slobbered over by the alpaca filled Mels with courage enough to feed the cow too.

The calf is called Holly, a most appropriate name as she was only two days old!

We swapped our cup of animal feed for chicken feed and led the hens around the hatchery. We stood watching the incubator of eggs, but no cracks appeared, so we just enjoyed watching the fluffy yellow chicks.

Honestly, there were LOTS of chicks, but I suspect they were vampire chicks as my flash seems to have made them all disappear!

We then braved "goat alley" to find our way to the big barn.

I call it goat alley because you walk in the first door. Immediately to your right, and to your left are pens of goats. They know you're carrying animal food, so they all jump up to try to get some. The big black goat had his front hooves on my shoulder. This alley was terrifying for little people, so we opened both doors and they ran straight through.

One daring, acrobatic goat followed. Honestly, he seemed to have vertical take off as he sprang out of his pen and followed us round the big barn. Here he is politely asking Mels for some food.

Now he is teaching her to dance....really!

There was a reward waiting for those brave enough to run the gauntlet of goat alley. Thomas got to meet real reindeer. Here he is having a very serious conversation with Rudolph.*

*Yes it is Rudolph, his nose only glows on Christmas Eve!

This is Prancer. They were taking things pretty easy waiting for Christmas Eve.

Bea enjoyed the reindeer, but was enchanted by the puppies.

She really, really, really, really wanted to buy one for Granny Gina's Christmas present.

We then discovered another barn, with a big slide...

And some ride ons.

Each selected their vehicle of choice, but were prematurely distracted by a Santa sighting. Tractors abandoned, Thomas and Bea chased Santa to the cafe (where he was given a ham and cheese bap) and as he ate his lunch, Thomas was magnetically drawn back to the reindeer again.

Then a bell rang.

It rang again.

Two five year olds sprinted into the farm yard to discover Santa was calling children to join him for a walk.

He was a little like the pied piper!

He told his little group of ~~elves~~ followers, that he was going to his "wee hous" and invited them to join him.

He asked if any of the children would like to hold his hand. Simultaneously, Bea and Thomas both volunteered, and so the odd little line set off with them each holding firmly onto Santa's hand.

Santa said he was tired, he actually said he had "no nenergy"*

*he talked funny

But as soon as they started walking down the path he burst into song.

and dance.

Bea dissolved into giggles

"You said you had no energy!"

So swapping children and singing songs he finally completed the 3000 mile walk to his wee hous and we all took a seat, snug and warm inside.*

* The adults all noticed the gale force winds and rain, but when I asked Thomas later if he minded the rain he replied "but it wasn't raining, it was a beautiful sunny day"....and THAT my friends is why the summer of your childhood was always warmer!

As soon as he sat down, Santa promptly fell asleep and dreamt of chicken nuggets and lasagne and chips. In giggles, Thomas and Bea stood up and started poking his knees until he finally woke up again. When he did, he had a great chat with us all. He told the children that he has little fairy spies in their houses; they hide in the lights and that's why they are called "Fairy lights". He seemed to know an awful lot about the children. He knew who had messy bedrooms and he knew I had a HUGE pile of clean washing that was waiting to be ironed. (Fingers crossed, he'll bring me a bag of coal this year) Then he called each child up, sat them on his knee and had a good chat with them.

FYI - Thomas wants an nintendo from Santa. Bea wants a toy horse and a toy pig. The elves needn't worry too much about those, as that ebay elf has already sorted that.

There was time then for some photos with Santa.

(I think Melissa has over enthusiastically pulled Thomas' hat down - I'm sure he's not doing elf ears deliberately!)

Then it was back to the barn to see the puppies (and the reindeer) again.

We even got to cuddle a puppy.

Then we crashed a birthday party so that we could stroke the bunny too!

By this stage we were able to pull Thomas and Bea away from the barn and head to the cafe for some chicken nuggets. There was an animated, singing Santa behind us and as we had our food, Thomas pondered the authenticity of the Santa he had just met. He concluded, "I don't think he was the real Santa....he didn't have Santa boots." We agreed that there were indeed "pretend Santas" who were endorsed by the North Pole - they really are ambassadors for the Santa Cause.

We waved goodbye to Melissa and Thomas and headed home to replenish Daddy's supply of Beechams Flu plus capsules *

*other brands are available.

In the car on our journey, Beatrice pondered the authenticity of the Santa she had just met. (GB Santa was pretend, but that Santa might have been real, but she didn't think so because when he yawned the top AND bottom of his beard didn't move and they should if it were a real beard....but then he did know about Mummy's ironing....) She was content to remain suspicious.

Then, realising Daddy couldn't use his ticket to the pantomime, we adopted an Evie for the evening.