Christmas in Parkham

Only a fleeting visit to The Granary at the end of November to check the plumbing and complete a few minor but important jobs like putting up a wine rack, as we were required to be available for baby-sitting in Didsbury for the arrival of grandchild number two in the middle of the month.

With Charlotte well settled in at home in Didsbury we were able to spend last week in the village and take part in some of the pre-Christmas activities.  We arrived on Sunday to find that there was a village Carol Service with the Appledore Brass Band that evening.  We got to church as usual just a couple of minutes before the start of the service ( the Church operates on Devon time which seems to be about 10 minutes behind GMT) to find it bulging at the seams and were lucky to find seats together.
It was a lovely service led by the excellent band and was followed by mince pies whilst we viewed all the trees decorated by local organisations for the Christmas Tree Festival.

There more carols to be sung in the pub on Wednesday evening followed by more mince pies and mulled wine on the house -  thanks to the Bell.

We also entered the Christmas Draw in the pub for a free Sunday Lunch, once a month for 2 people which would be very nice to win - I felt really part of the village  when Sam the barmaid said just put John 'Next Door' on the ticket -  that's who they know me as, as opposed to Big John, a local farmer!.

Returned home today to participate in Christmas festivities in Stourbridge and Didsbury with family and friends.