Doctor Who Christmas Special (2023): The Church on Ruby Road

Given my recent (typing) hand injury on the Friday before Christmas, I think I’m probably the last Whovian to watch this episode and then review it. It’s Saturday, the 30th – almost a week later, and I’ve managed to avoid any Reviews, anywhere. Phew! 😕. Forgive the odd typo – this took about four hours …
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Salvation Army Carol Concert (2023)

Off into town this evening to enjoy this year’s Salvation Army Carol Concert at the Salvation Army Citadel. Jo, Janet & Helen together with David & Valerie were there, as usual, and we also saw Derek & Lydia. We’ve been coming to these for quite a few years now as it represents another ‘sign’ that …
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Christmas TV Listings (2023)

We’ve all got different ‘triggers’ for when ‘Christmas’ officially begins. For many, it’s probably when the Supermarkets start displaying their Christmas lines! But that’s obscenely early isn’t it? So how about… …that first Christmas meal? (this year, I was up to FOUR, two weeks before the big day! 😋😃) …or when the John Lewis Christmas …
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Christmas Catchup – Steve and Helen

Unbelievable! It’s only the 10th of December and this is already our FOURTH Christmas meal! Tough life, ehh?!? 😁 At this rate, I’m sure there must be a real danger that we’ll both turn into Turkeys before the 25th! Gobble, gobble! 🦃🍗 Today’s venue of choice? The very popular (and very nicely appointed) The George …
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Our Third Christmas Meal of 2023

We headed round to John and Trish’s tonight for their legendary Christmas Meal. It’s usually our first of the festive period, but this year, we’d had the Northants Nutters round at ours last Sunday for an early Christmas get-together, and then met up with Dennis & Sandra on Thursday for more festive fare – so …
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Christmas Catchup – Ralph & Karen

Here we are at the Quorndon Fox in Loughborough. We were last here on New Year’s day in 2021 with Jo, Janet and Carol. Today, more of the same – ‘a get together with mates’ – with a long overdue catchup with Ralph and Karen. Getting there was another frustrating experience, where the M1 came …
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The Late, Late Christmas Dinner!

We don’t need much of an excuse to catch up with friends (as many of these Posts here will confirm!). “The Late, Late Christmas Dinner!” put a convenient label on today’s proceedings, brought about because we weren’t able to see Nicki over Christmas last year. Jo, Janet and Carol joined us, making it six for …
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A Chilly Christmas at Kilworth (2022)

We’re really getting into the Christmas Spirit now, helped along the way by browsing through this year’s TV Times and Radio Times; carol singing at last night’s Salvation Army Carol Concert – and now about to enjoy ‘That’s what Kilworth Calls Christmas’ at Kilworth House (where we spent our honeymoon night, back in 2011). Kilworth …
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Salvation Army Carol Concert (2022)

On a chilly Saturday evening, we headed to the Salvation Army Citadel in town for 7pm and their annual Carol Service. Due to COVID and other commitments, we haven’t done this for quite a few years! I can’t think why we didn’t go to this event back in December 2019 (their last one before you-know-what). …
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Christmas TV Listings (2022)

We’ve all got different ‘triggers’ for when ‘Christmas’ officially begins. For many, it’s probably when the Supermarkets start displaying their Christmas lines! But that’s obscenely early isn’t it? So how about… …that first Christmas lunch? …when the John Lewis Christmas TV Ad first appears? …or receiving your first Christmas Card? 🙄. Speaking of cards, this …
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Christmas 2021

How was your Christmas? For us, as I begin penning this during the week leading up to the big day, I really didn’t think we would STILL be worrying about Coronavirus! Why worry? The dreaded Omicron variant was spreading and there was the potential for the Government to lock us all down again! Almost ‘right …
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The Costello Christmas Meal (2021)

What with our 10th Anniversary Party still ringing in our ears from last Saturday, tonight we headed off to John & Trish’s for their annual Christmas meal! As usual, most of our close neighbourly friends were invited – and we all had a great time! Sean & Kellie and Conor were also able to join …
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Christmas TV Listings (2021)

We’ve all got different ‘triggers’ for when ‘Christmas’ officially begins. For many, it’s probably when the Supermarkets start displaying their Christmas lines! But that’s obscenely early, so how about… …that first Christmas lunch? …when the John Lewis Christmas Ad first appears? …or receiving your first Christmas Card? (actually, we’d had TWO by the beginning of …
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John Lewis Christmas Advert (2021)

Yes, it’s that time of year again! John Lewis officially released its Christmas TV advert at 8am this morning. It’s a tad earlier than previous years by about a week. This year’s festive treat is called “Unexpected Guest” and for many, this now signals the official beginning of the Christmas shopping period! 🎅🎄🤶 According to …
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Nicki’s Here! 😍

Nicki (sans Richard) joined us for the weekend. We haven’t seen her (properly) since October last year and it was great to catch-up. Saturday Today was all about celebrating (last) Christmas where we would have got together under normal circumstances, but didn’t, because of you-know-what! Ann planned a full Christmas Dinner and we invited Jo …
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Christmas TV Listings (2020)

We’ve all got different ‘triggers’ for when ‘Christmas’ officially begins. For many, it’s probably when the Supermarkets start displaying their Christmas lines! But that’s obscenely early, so how about……that first Christmas lunch?…when the John Lewis Christmas Ad appears?…or receiving your first Christmas Card? 😁 For TV lovers obsessives like me, it’s probably when the BBC …
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John Lewis Christmas Advert (2020)

It’s 8am on Friday, November 13, 2020 and if the rumours are true, the John Lewis Christmas Advert for 2020 has just been released. They ARE true! 😁 This year’s production is called “A Little Love” and its release officially signals the beginning of the Christmas Shopping season. The advert is being used to promote …
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Christmas 2019

As with many of our past Christmas celebrations, this year is mostly a family affair. It’s also a busy one (perhaps even more manic than normal for this time of year) with our festive and new-year celebrations almost blurring into one continuous festive family/friends/food/film-fest! (it’s a tough life!) As a result, this is probably the …
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Four Seasons in a Day

To complete our musical-themed weekend that began last night in Warwick, we’re off to Kilworth House this lunchtime, to enjoy a meal and listen to the winners of the National Tribute Music Awards 2016:- ‘Walk Like a Man‘ (aka ‘Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons‘). More information about them HERE. Kilworth’s Christmas decorations were their …
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Rick Wakeman on Tour (2019)

Entitled Rick’s Grumpy Old Christmas Show, we joined our friends, Ian and Ann, for an evening of superb piano playing punctuated by Rick’s unique sense of humour. This was the last of his twelve-date tour around the UK. The venue wasn’t one we’ve it visited before — Warwick Arts Centre — and the surrounding University …
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Christmas TV (2019)

We’ve all got different ‘triggers’ for when ‘Christmas’ officially begins — for many, the first reminder is when the Supermarkets start displaying their Christmas lines! But that’s obscenely early, so how about……your first Christmas lunch?…maybe it’s when the John Lewis Christmas Ad appears?…or receiving your first Christmas Card? For TV lovers, it’s probably when the …
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Oliver – Live in Concert

We drove down to Roger, Jane and Oliver’s this afternoon. The weather was horrendous, but it was well worth it as we were going to see Oliver playing flute in the East Herts Concert Band at their Christmas Concert. The venue was the delightful St Mary’s Church in the village of Standon, a Grade 1 …
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