Surviving Christmas when you’ve lost someone

Liz Nicholls

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Christmas

Liz Nicholls

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Grief can feel especially acute at this time of year. Celebrant and founder of Abingdon Compassionate Café Fiona Mac shares her tips to help you be kind to yourself

As Oxfordshire author Clare Mackintosh shares in her best-selling novel I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This, “Grief is universal. Our experiences of death are different, so, too, are the emotions that follow. Your grief is as unique as you are – as unique as your relationship was, with the person you’ve lost. We all grieve in our own way.”

This is no more apparent than during the festive season. Experience has taught me that everyone’s grief is unique, there is no right way or wrong way to feel. It can be a daily challenge, so when the festive season comes along, emotions can run high and we can experience different and difficult feelings, feelings out of sync with everyone else.

In Clare’s book she also writes: “Some people draw comfort from turning anniversary days into something positive. I don’t think this can be forced, and you shouldn’t put pressure on to celebrate someone’s life when you are still struggling with their death, but you might be able to think of small ways to bring colour to these difficult days.”

Here are some thoughts and ideas that may help this upcoming festive season:

It’s OK not to be feeling OK, it is important to prioritise your needs, both emotionally, practically and physically.

I want to be alone: and that’s OK too. Just make sure you try and make time and plan for regular meals and movement (some much-needed self-care). Last Christmas after losing her parent, one friend treated herself to her favourite meal (she had cooked the week before), got up early and walked with the dog for three hours, returned home, got into her PJs, had her meal and got cosy for the rest of the day. Indulge in a bit of self-love.

Being in nature: A walk in the fresh air can do wonders.

Plan a comfortable Christmas: Rather than do what you and others think you should be doing, make sure you plan what you want to do. You can still embrace some traditions if that feels right, step away from them for this year, or create your own.

A time for heightened emotions, so avoid overdoing it: All emotions use up valuable energy, so try not to ‘overdo’ things and get over tired.

Take a social media/TV break: If you’re finding things difficult, take a break from TV, social media, or Christmas films.

If you are with family or friends: Talk about your loved one often, think of a way of talking about them, lighting a candle at mealtimes, making a toast to them, watching old videos, or preparing a photo book to look through photos together after the festive lunch or dinner.

Spend the day volunteering – many charities are calling out for help over the festive season, and it can fill the day and leave you with a sense of wellbeing.

Ditch the turkey – one friend shared their first Christmas without her Dad. They ate his favourite meal instead! La Loop (soup of the day) and spaghetti on your knees (Spaghetti Bolognaise) finished off with roly poly and custard!! They shared stories, laughed, cried and said how much he would have loved it! Followed by of course a toast… with Scotch Whisky.

Personally, we light a candle Christmas Eve and light it every meal we share together over the festive season and think of our loved ones. Inspired by these words from Howard Thurman: “I will light a candle this Christmas, Candles of joy despite the sadness:

Candles of hope, where despair keeps watch, Candles of courage for fears ever present: 

Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days; candles of grace to ease heavy burdens, 

Candles of love to inspire all my living, Candles that will burn all year long.” 

And lastly, reach out for support: You can call Samaritans for free, call 116123, Shout text “SHOUT” to 85258  or “YM” if you are under 19. Child Bereavement UK (up to 25 years) call 0800 02 888 40. 

Join us at the Abingdon Compassionate Café, 10am to 12 noon on 20th December at St Ethelwold’s House and leave a memory label for your loved one on our Christmas Memory Tree.  

For more details please email fiona@fionamaccelebrant.co.uk or visit Partners | Fiona Mac Celebrant

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Port of call: Christmas Port recommendations!

Round & About

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Round & About

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Giles Luckett recommends the best fortified wines to enjoy this Christmas 

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly, it’s Christmas, pass the Port and let’s get jolly.” OK, those lyrics didn’t make Thomas Oliphant’s final version, but its message of festive cheer still rings true.

Christmas and fortified wines go together like crackers and bad jokes, re-runs of Harry Potter films, and trips to the vet as the dog’s eaten another chocolate off the tree, or is that just us…? Anyway, if you’re considering indulging in some fortified wines this holiday season, the following are guaranteed to bring a warm smile to your lips.

I’ll start in the country which is widely regarded as the spiritual home of fortified wines… Argentina. Hmm, not sure that’s right, but I am sure that the Zuccardi Malamado Fortified Malbec NV (Taurus Wines £16.99) is a brilliant wine that will be on show at my house again this year. Inky purple, the nose is pure Malbec and offers plums, chocolate, a touch of peppermint and a lovely floral note. At first taste, you wouldn’t know the Malamado was fortified. There’s the rush of the blueberries, cherries, chocolate, and cassis you’d expect from a fine Malbec and it’s only as you get toward the warming finish that the delicate sweetness and power come through. I’ve had this on its own, with cheese, chocolate puddings, and roasted red meats and it’s worked splendidly with all of them.

Next, an example of the most underrated fine wine on Earth, a Madeira. Madeira has long had an image problem being seen as an old lady’s drink. Well, if that’s the case, call me Gertrude and take me to the day centre. This extraordinary wine ranges in style from bone to dry to sweet and offers complexity, versatility, and a wonderful moreishness as Blandy’s 5-Year-Old Reserva Madeira (Waitrose £15.99) shows. Packed with dried fruits bordered by citrus, caramel, and warm spices, with honeyed grapefruit to the smoky finish, it’s warming yet fresh, sweet but tangy, and goes wonderfully well either chilled as an aperitif or at room temperature with fruit, cheese or nuts.

Sherry is another massively underappreciated wine, especially when you get into the realms of fine wines like the Barbadillo Pastora Manzanilla Pasada (Flagship Wines £11.99). Crushed nuts, yellow fruits and savoury yeast on the nose are followed by a nutty, clean, dry palate offering hazelnut paste, camomile tea and creamy yeast flavours with red apples, pears, and apricots. Vibrant with a satisfying blend of fruitiness and savouriness, serve this chilled with pâte or salty hors d’oeuvres.

If you like your wines dark, rich, and heady, then try the Apostoles 30-Year-Old Palo Cortado from Gonzalez Byass (Majestic £29.99). This magnificent wine starts life as a pale, dry sherry, a Palo Cortado (think of a Fino sherry such as Tio Pepe but with a tan), but after three decades of ageing, it’s transformed into this unique, unctuous, and immensely complex delight. Christmas cake richness populates the nose with extra interest added by salted caramel and grapefruit. On the palate, it’s wonderfully soft and full, with dried brown fruits, spices, treacle and vintage marmalade all held to account by a dry finish and cleansing acidity. Savour this on its own or with fine white and blue cheeses.

I can’t talk about fortified wines and not mention a few Ports. For many, Port is the ultimate fortified wine, and with its range of styles from off-dry white Port to nutty oak-aged tawny Port, to the delightful bottle-aged vintage Ports, there’s a Port for every occasion.  I’m a signed-up member of the ‘Port is for life, not just for Christmas’ society, but if you are looking for some Port for Christmas try one or two of these sensational sippers.

First up, a wine that’s liquid Christmas, the Adnams Finest Reserve Port (£15.99).  This gloriously indulgent Port has a nose packed with dried black fruits, festive spices, and a herby/medicinal edge.  Deep purple with a mouthcoating, luscious body, you’ll find everything from prunes to cloves, blackcurrant jam to fresh mint on show.  As well as being delicious, this is also cracking value and makes for a fine aperitif or the perfect partner to puddings or the cheeseboard. 

The Kopke Colheita 2001 (Secret Bottle Shop £46.95) offers a different take on Port.  This wood Port was aged in barrel for many, many years, giving it a beautiful ruby robe and a bouquet combining cherries, almonds, raisins and coffee.  In the mouth, it’s noticeably drier than the Adnams, with a fresher feel that delivers strawberry, citrus, sweet and sour cherries and nuts before the warming spirit comes in at the end bringing notes of coffee and almonds.  Serve this stunner lightly chilled with roasted nuts, cheese or cold brown turkey. 

As it’s Christmas I’ll finish with a couple of rare treats, in the shape of vintage Ports.  Vintage Port – ones made from a single year’s harvest and aged in bottle rather than barrel – make up just 2% of Port production.  The finest examples balance power with generosity, intensity with delicacy, and immediacy with an almost endless lifespan.  This year, I’ll be decanting a couple of bottles of the Dow 1985 Vintage Port (MWH Wines £72).  1985 was an outstanding year for Port and the Dow 1985 is now drinking beautifully.  Inky purple with a hint of tawny to the rim, the bouquet is a decadent mix of figs, prunes, chocolate, spices and herbs, with notes of mint and charcoal.  Marvellously full-bodied and silkily textured, it offers black figs, damsons, blood oranges and cherries in a harmonious fashion.  The finish brings minerals, drying tannins and the promise of even more to come.  Pair this with berry-based puddings or full-flavoured cheeses. 

If you’re looking to push the boat out, right out, so far out that you’ll need to take a ferry to get it back, then I recommend the Taylor’s 1955 (MWH Wine £480).  Like ’85, ’55 was an exemplary year Port vintage and this being from Taylor’s, it’s had the power, extract, and fruit to age magnificently.  I drank this last year, and it was in show-stopping form.  Chocolate brown with just a hint of ruby at the rim, the bouquet was lively and intense, lifting notes of preserved figs, caramel, dark honey, cherries, raspberries, dried leaves, and mint to the rim of the glass.  While it may be nigh-on 70 years old, it’s wearing well.  Medium-bodied, it’s now a mosaic of dried fruits, candied peel, coffee, milk chocolate and apricots with a spicy, firm finish.  An absolute tour-de-force, it’s still got time on its side.  Savour this on its own for a memorable wine experience. 

A quick note on buying old wines.  Always buy from a specialist merchant that you can trust.  Old wines, even robust ones like vintage Port or Madeira, need careful storage and handling if they are to show their best.  MWH Wine, for example, is known in the trade as Port specialists and has been described by Jancis Robinson MW in the Financial Times as, ‘An excellent source of mature Ports’.  So, if you’re thinking of treating yourself this Christmas or are looking for an anniversary wine for 2025, these guys or one of the other big name online merchants are the place to look. 

Right, well I’ve got a fizz tasting to attend for my next column, so I’ll be away.  More soon…  

Giles 

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Pantomime japes, jeers & jokes

Karen Neville

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Christmas

Karen Neville

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Love them or loathe them, pantomimes are most people’s first introduction to the theatre, the tales of good triumphing over evil are as old as time but that doesn’t stop their enduring allure. So book your tickets and take your seat…

Boo, hiss or sealed with a kiss, if it’s December then it must be panto month so start practising your jeering and cheering and tuck into those sweets as you enjoy Robin Hood and Maid Marion as they right wrongs, sing songs and sort out the wicked Sheriff in the swashbuckling panto at the Yvonne Arnaud, Nov 30th-Jan 5th. Starring Lucy Benjamin as the Sherriff of Nottingham who is making residents’ lives a misery raising taxes. Will Robin and his gang of merry men come to the rescue and help them fight back. Also stars Guildford favourite Peter Gordon and Guildford Shakespeare Company’s Matt Pinches. Book at Robin Hood | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Panto just wouldn’t be the same without a famous face gracing the stage and Woking’s New Victoria is welcoming Christopher Biggins and Steps’ Faye Tozer among its cast of Sleeping Beauty. Once upon a time in a land far away, Princess Aurora is given a 21st birthday present by her evil aunt Carabosse (Tozer). By pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel she is placed under a cruel curse and forced to sleep for 100 years. Expect magic, music, comedy and special effects from Dec 6th-Jan 5th. Tickets: Sleeping Beauty Tickets | New Victoria Theatre, Woking in Woking | ATG Tickets

Get ready for a spellbinding pantomime like no other at Camberley Theatre this Christmas, Dec 7th-31st. Join Snow White and her lively band of friends in a fun-filled adventure packed with unforgettable songs, hilarious moments, and stunning scenery. With a few twists on the classic story, this is Snow White as you’ve never seen before and will have you laughing, smiling, cheering and booing all the way through. Buy tickets at Snow White | Camberley Theatre

Godalming Borough Hall is hosting Jack as he climbs that beanstalk in search of riches trying to evade the giant. The professional show – featuring a talented cast with top West End credits – promises spectacular song and dance, colourful costumes and lots of fun and laughs for the whole family, Dec 14th-28th. For the 6th year running, the Pay What You Can scheme will return to the venue’s popular panto, with the producers doing their best to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy a family pantomime. Book tickets for the giant of a pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk by calling 01483 361101 or visit Godalming Panto | Jack & The Beanstalk 2024

Magic spells, glittering costumes and a few modern surprises await at Prior’s Field School theatre where you’ll find Godalming Theatre Group presenting Cinderella, Dec 18th-22nd. Tickets at Musicals | Godalming Theatre Group | Godalming

Pantos aren’t just for Christmas, many local theatre groups will be entertaining audiences in the new year, like the Ewhurst Players who are on stage at the village hall with Cinderella in February. Visit HOME | Ewhurstplayers nearer the time for dates & more. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be hi-ho-ing at The Arbuthnot Hall, Shamley Green thanks to SHADES on Jan 23rd-25th, more at shamleygreenshades.co.uk. Red Riding Hood will be trying to evade the wolf at Compton Little Theatre, Jan 16th-18th. Buy tickets at Compton Little Theatre event tickets from TicketSource. There’s fun for all with the mischievous puppet Pinocchio in Churt Amateur Dramatic Society’s panto in the village hall, Jan 28th-Feb 3rd, Churt Amateur Dramatic Society event tickets from TicketSource.

Enjoy all you could wish for with Byfleet Players’ Aladdin at the village hall, Jan 9th-11th. Book tickets at The Byfleet Players – Amateur drama group based in Byfleet, Surrey

Embark on an uproarious adventure with Peter Pan & the Lusty Boys the Adult Panto, the latest masterpiece from the Guildford Fringe team! Brace yourselves for an hour of non-stop hilarity with no dull moments, as this rib-tickling spectacle takes centre stage until Jan 4th at The Back Room of The Star Inn. Indulge in naughty, smutty, and downright silly humour that’s sure to leave you in stitches. Book at Peter Pan & the Lusty Boys at The Back Room of The Star Inn event tickets from TicketSource

There are more than pantos to enjoy with the magical musical Santa’s Wish at G Live, Dec 18th-24th. Snowflake the magical elf is in a tricky spot, Santa’s sleigh has crashed and now he is lost. Can Snowflake help Santa and save Christmas? The heart-warming adventure is full of colour and fun and a sprinkling of circus magic. Tickets at Book Santa’s Wish tickets | G Live Guildford

Enjoy a family show fit to burst with festive fun at Farnham Maltings. Diana Hendry and John Lawrence’s joyous tale, Christmas in Exeter Street, is being brought to life in the Maltings’ second annual Christmas show from Dec 13th – 24th. With 37 characters, seven animals, 10 instruments, and an abundance of Christmas magic, Cordelia O’Neill’s new adaptation conjures the beautiful chaos and heart-warming generosity of the festive season.Tickets are available from £10-£22 at Christmas in Exeter Street | Farnham Maltings

WAOS Musical Theatre are staging the moving and powerful Evita at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Dec 10th-14th. The story portrays Eva’s rise alongside her husband, President Juan Perón, her advocacy for the poor, and her battle with illness. The musical is renowned for its emotional depth, Latin-infused score, and the iconic ballad Don’t Cry for Me Argentina. Book tickets at WAOS Musical Theatre presents Evita Tickets | Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking in Woking | ATG Tickets

Enjoy these traditional treats & more, KN 

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The gift of care

Karen Neville

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Christmas

Karen Neville

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Your presence can mean just as much as a present for an older person this Christmas

“All I want for Christmas is you,” goes the song and for many older people, the only gift they crave is one of companionship.

The chance to get together with our loved ones is very special but for some, Christmas gatherings are about more than deciding where to spend Christmas Day or whose turn it is to do the cooking! If a loved one is receiving care, a harmonious festive period with the family altogether may not be without its challenges. Maintaining care routines over Christmas can be complicated and disrupting.

If you are the carer, juggling between your usual care responsibilities and get-together may seem impossible and having sole responsibility for caring for your relative may mean you are bound to your home making visiting other family and friends tough.

You may need some extra support at this hectic time of year. There are plenty of care companies and agencies who can provide a helping hand. Perhaps you just need someone to pay your relative a visit, as little or as often can be arranged? A live-in carer will help in the home, offering round-the-clock care for them and peace of mind for you. Respite care offers short-term support. Christmas has many demands on everyone’s time and if you’re going away this may be an option.

Choosing a care home for respite for your relative over Christmas can offer some much-needed respite time for you too to enjoy a break from the demands of caring. It can provide the perfect break to allow you to continue caring refreshed and ready to go again afterwards.

With the help of a respite carer, you can feel like you have everything under control, even during this hectic time. The person receiving care will certainly benefit from this as well. Thanks to their respite carer, they’ll be able to stick to their routine, and can enjoy your company more than if you were juggling caring responsibilities and stressful last-minute Christmas tasks.

You’ll be able to make home a peaceful, safe and quiet place to be, and your relative will be able to spend Christmas in the place they know best, well looked after and close to the people they love.

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I spy Christmas

Karen Neville

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Christmas

Karen Neville

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Author and journalist Michael Smith introduces us to a Danish naval officer who was content with very ‘conventional’ inducements for passing on secrets

Trying to find a spy appropriate to the season, I thought it might be a good moment to write about the first agent ever run by MI6. Captain Walter Christmas, a former Danish naval officer who travelled in and out of Germany to collect intelligence on what the German navy was doing. MI6, then known as the foreign section of the Secret Service Bureau, was set up in 1909, amid fears of a German invasion. Its first boss was Mansfield Cumming, who was known only by the initial letter of his surname, C, which is still used by heads of MI6 today as an abbreviation for Chief.

Christmas was designated WK, perhaps because it was mistakenly assumed that his name began with a K, or that using the initials WC would lead to his reports being ridiculed in Whitehill. The first time Christmas met Cumming he stressed how keen he was to spy for MI6 having “always looked upon myself as at least half English”. Cumming concluded in his diary that Christmas “seemed straightforward”.

The Dane was in fact very straightforward indeed. He was willing to spy for what were already the standard inducements of sex and cash and went on to provide Cumming with a regular supply of the Danish navy’s ship-watching reports of German vessels passing through the channels joining the North Sea to the Baltic. As well as reports on new German equipment obtained by visits to the naval dockyards in Kiel, Hamburg and Breman. The 48-year-old insisted that the go-between who collected his intelligence should always be a ‘pretty’ young woman who was to meet him in a hotel in Skagen, the town at the northernmost tip of Denmark. The women concerned were prostitutes procured and paid for the purpose. The close links between what are alleged to be the world’s two oldest professions were to be repeated persistently throughout the Service’s early history. Sex and money often represented far better inducements to spy than Patriotic or moral beliefs.

When a few years later, the Germans got too close to Christmas and Cumming had to have him exfiltrated to London, he was lodged in the notorious Shepherd Market area of Mayfair, where there were plenty of pretty young women, all pursuing the same business as the go-betweens who used to collect his intelligence from the Skagen hotel.

But that was not his last job for MI6, Christmas was a close personal friend of King Constantine. So in an early form of the ‘parallel diplomacy’ practised by MI6 in a number of different situations over the years, most notably at the start of the Northern Ireland peace process, Cumming sent him to Athens, in the hope that he might persuade Constantine that Greece should join the war against Germany. Compton Mackenzie, then the MI6 man in Greece, seemingly unaware that Christmas was operating under the direction of his bosses in London, was furious at this intervention on his patch by “this irresponsible old man of the sea” and stymied the operation.

Frank Stagg, a senior MI6 officer, recalled that what Christmas had to say about Mackenzie on his return to Whitehall Court was “unrepeatable”. Stagg decided to take Christmas out as recompense for Mackenzie’s behaviour. “I took that most lovable man to the Hippodrome where Fay Compton was singing a song in which the last line of each verse was ‘I’ll take a little more off’. Christmas was getting more and more excited and clapping roundly. When at the height of his enthusiasm, I asked him if he knew she was Compton Mackenzie’s sister, he looked tragic and said, ‘I’ll take back everything I said about him. If only I had known he had a sister so lovely I should have made friends with him instead’.” 

Christmas was not only the first MI6 agent, he was the first of a long line of officers and agents to venture into spy fiction, a tradition that included Mackenzie himself and many  others, most famously John le Carre. Christmas wrote the first spy novel by an MI6 agent ̶   Svend Spejder (Svend the Scout), in which a young boy hunts down German spies in Denmark ̶   in 1911, relatively early in his MI6 career. 

Michael Smith’s spy novel, Ritter: No Man Dies Twice is published by Safe House books. 

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Yattendon Winter Market 23rd&24th November 

Liz Nicholls

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Christmas

Liz Nicholls

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Yattendon Winter Market, a celebration of slow craftsmanship, is back on 23rd & 24th November at the village hall, RG18 0UE 

Yattendon is the perfect village for a festive market, being home to the beloved local Christmas tree farm!  

Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift or a special treat for yourself, The Modern Makers Collective invite you to find a diverse and vibrant selection of handmade treasures to choose from, including jewellery, ceramics, textiles, glass, printmaking, basket weaving, and much more. 

Modern Makers Collective are a group of skilled makers, designers, artists and craftspeople committed to promoting high quality craftsmanship, sustainability and community engagement through the Winter Market and programme of workshops in the local area.  

This year the team are excited to showcase the incredible talents of 24 artists, designers and craftspeople. Among them will be several new faces, bringing a wave of fresh creativity alongside more seasoned Collective members.  

The highlight aims to foster a deeper connection and understanding between makers and visitors, highlighting the time, effort, and skill that go into handmade artworks. The makers pour everything into creating exceptional pieces with care, attention to detail, a respect for materials, and traditional techniques, often fused with modern design. Visitors can meet the makers, learn about their processes and buy one-of-a-kind items that embody the essence of slow craft. 

The picturesque estate village of Yattendon, renowned for being largely owned by Lord and Lady Iliffe, is the perfect setting for the Winter Market, with its award-winning pubs and beautiful scenery, providing visitors with a lovely opportunity to enjoy a day of mindful shopping and delicious food. 

“We’re thrilled to host an event that not only showcases the incredible talent of our Collective, but also encourages mindful shopping,” says co-founder Aimée Alice Payton. “The popularity of our Winter Market reflects a growing appreciation for unique, quality products that tell a story, and reflect a commitment to thoughtful, sustainable purchases over mass-produced items.” 

Visit Home | modern makers uk

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Sparkle at Stourhead This Christmas

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Dazzling new artworks are set to light up the trail in Wiltshire this festive season

Excitement is building as Christmas at Stourhead returns from 29th November to 1st January – promising to be bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever before.

This year’s illuminated after-dark trail, created by Culture Creative and produced in partnership with Sony Music and the National Trust, will feature an array of dazzling new light installations guaranteed to enchant visitors of all ages.

This year’s trail is set to sparkle with new artistic innovations from internationally renowned creators, ensuring a festive experience like no other.

Among the new must-see features are:

Sea of Light by ITHACA Studio: An awe-inspiring large-scale display, where thousands of individually controlled LED light balls animate in harmony with a bespoke soundtrack, creating a mesmerizing and immersive experience.

Light a Wish by OGE Design Group: Capturing the whimsy of dandelion seeds floating through the air, this piece symbolises wishes taking flight, adding a touch of wonder to the trail. This playful and emotion-evoking installation by artists Merav Eitan and Gaston Zahr has captivated audiences worldwide.

Snowflake Show by Scot Gianelli: Huge snowflakes, up to five metres tall, will light up in time with festive music, casting a magical glow across the grounds. Designed by Scot Gianelli, a Los-Angeles-based lighting designer known for his work across theatre, fine art, and architecture, this display is sure to wow visitors.

These dazzling new artworks will join Stourhead’s already beloved illuminated trail, featuring a spectacular array of twinkling lights, sparkling tunnels, and vibrant woodland and lakeside displays.

The historic landscape will be filled with the scents and sounds of Christmas, offering visitors the chance to step into a winter wonderland like no other.

Whether you’re exploring with family, friends, or loved ones, this festive trail promises to create new memories against the breathtaking backdrop of one of the UK’s most iconic gardens.

There’s even a chance to catch a magical glimpse of Father Christmas as you stroll through the sparkling grounds.

With over a million twinkling lights transforming Stourhead’s stunning grounds, this is an unmissable event for your festive calendar.

For more information and to book tickets online please visit Christmas at Stourhead 2024 | My Christmas Trails

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Woodland wonders at Windsor Illuminated

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Image: Mike Will

Follow the all-new trail design at this year’s Windsor Illuminated for the perfect evening out with family and friends, making festive memories

Discover a forest trail full of music and light where woodland creatures come to life and a whole host of festive moments will get you in the seasonal spirit at this year’s Windsor Illuminated.

Windsor Great Park illuminated returns for the fourth year with another magical trail, bringing the woodland to life with dazzling lights, breath-taking projections and flood-lit fountain shows.

Image: Eric Aydin Barberini

Image: Giles Smith

With a generous sparkle of new installations and a sprinkling of favourites returning, this year’s illuminations promise to be more magical than ever.

Follow a path through woodland awash with colour as sparkles of fireflies, luminous beacons and dancing fairies blaze the way, the lake alive with flood-lit fountains and glimmering reflections.

At a cosy rest spot, enjoy mouth-watering good food, mulled wine and hot chocolate or toast marshmallows at one of the fire pits. Top your evening off with a traditional fairground ride, fun for kids of all ages in the Festive Village. Slide down the epic Helter Skelter, take a turn on the Super Carousel or younger guests will enjoy a spin on the Mini Carousel and how about going up and around on the Big Wheel. Enjoy each ride for one token per person, per ride. Book in advance to save.

Everyone is welcome, the trail is dog friendly and every effort has been made to make the trail as inclusive as possible. As the trail is presented in the natural landscape some of the terrain through natural woodland is not suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or buggies. This terrain will be particularly challenging in wet weather. The Trail is 2.2km long and will take approximately 1½ – 2 hours to walk, accounting for stops and refreshments along the way. If you would like to shorten your walk, please speak to event staff in a Hi Vis jacket an they will advise the alternative route/s. Please note that if you take a shorter path, you will miss some of the light displays.

Windsor Great Park Illuminated runs from Friday, 15th November until Saturday, 4th January.

Book at windsorilluminated.com/tickets 

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Christmas magic at Blenheim Palace

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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The much-loved Christmas experience returns to Blenheim Palace, November 15th – January 1st, with the ever-popular illuminated trail, a magical adventure in the palace and the new Great Skate ice rink

Blenheim Palace will sparkle brighter than ever this winter, with a series of dazzling new illuminated artworks set to enchant visitors in the garden and Neverland® in the Palace.

The illuminated outdoor Christmas Trail in the grounds is one of the highlights of the festive calendar. Wander the picture-perfect gardens filled with Christmas cheer to discover a place where new memories are made as a multitude of glowing lights and Christmassy sounds fill the air with the festive fun.

These stunning installations, inspired by the natural world and festive themes, have been created by internationally renowned artists and are guaranteed to add extra magic to the festive season.

Created by Culture Creative and produced in partnership with Sony Music, Christmas at Blenheim is a magical, after-dark trail for visitors of all ages featuring thousands of twinkling lights, seasonal scents, sparkling baubles, shimmering tunnels of light and vibrant woodland lakeside displays. 

The illuminated trail has everything you need for an unforgettable time with friends and family, including a magical glimpse of Father Christmas along the way. 

Inside the house, embark on a swashbuckling adventure in Neverland, a place bursting with magic and make believe. Follow Tinkerbell through the State rooms as she sprinkles fairy dust over baubles and Christmas trees, wander through a moonlit London skyline and onto the Mermaid Lagoon. The enchanting new experience based on JM Barrie’s Peter Pan is in association with the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. 

Visit the Orangery Restaurant and delve into a world of delight with a Neverland themed afternoon tea. Tinkerbell Blackberry Ganache Tart anyone? 

Also new this Christmas is The Great Skate. Go along to skate with family and friends in the Palace’s stunning Great Court on a spectacular, covered ice rink. Surrounded by breathtaking beauty and festive decor, enjoy a luxurious hot chocolate or tasty treats at rink-side seats. Capture the perfect festive family photo in this unique setting. 

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the traditional wooden chalets showcasing a range of festive treats from designer-makers and artisan food and drink producers. Stock up on festive goodies, and if you’ve worked up an appetite indulge in the treats on offer at the street food stalls. This will run from Friday, 15th November to Sunday, 22nd December.   

For more details on all the Christmas magic at Blenheim Palace this year and to book tickets (essential), please visit Christmas at Blenheim | Festive Light Trail & Christmas Market

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Step Into Christmas at Wycombe Swan!

Liz Nicholls

Posted on

Christmas

Liz Nicholls

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This Christmas feelgood show brings all the magic of the season to life with all your favourite songs, so book your tickets for 28th November now!

Step Into Christmas is a festive, feel-good show that brings all the magic of the season to life, with all your favourite Christmas songs including All I Want for Christmas Is You, Last Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Stay Another Day, Let it Snow, White Christmas, Do They Know it’s Christmas, A Winter’s Tale, Merry Xmas Everybody, and many, many more!

The show is produced by entertainers, one of the UK’s leading entertainment producers. Entertainers is run by father and son team, Michael and James Taylor who were recently listed in The Stage Top 100, a list of the most influential people in the theatre industry. They have over 30 other productions in their portfolio including The Magic of Motown, Cirque: The Greatest Show, The Rocket Man, Fastlove, and The Makings of a Murderer all of which are touring the UK throughout the year.

For more information visit entertainers.

Tickets can be purchased from Book Show Tickets | Wycombe Swan Theatre (trafalgartickets.com)

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