On Sunday evening I went to
Waddesdon Manor; a National
Trust property between Aylesbury and Bicester. For the past couple of years I
have gone with my family to soak up the atmosphere and this time was no
different!
Wrapped up against the cold, we braved the wind and made our
way to the little Christmas Fair behind the manor. We tucked into roasted
chestnuts and clutched cups of mulled cider while we took in all there was to
see - the manor was bathed in blue light at the back and the trees were adorned
with warm yellow lights. With Christmas music in the background, there was nothing
the rain could do to dampen my spirit!
One of the draws of Waddesdon is the light installations of Bruce
Munro who has had a three year residency there. In each of his pieces he incorporates
light, sound and colour to various effects. For his final year, Bruce used pulsing
illuminated tents, radio snippets, sections of songs and morse code to create a fun yet
intriguing installation. An immersive experience my sister and I danced our way
around parts of the path and I definitely sang along to some of the songs!
Later on I was very happy to sit, sipping hot coffee and
eating mince pies in the gorgeous outside seating area which was all dressed up
for Christmas with rugs and fairy lights.
I’ll take any excuse to immerse myself in Christmas. I’ve
managed to do this a lot at the Christmas fairs where I have had a table but it’s
also been nice to enjoy the festivities as a spectator too. On Wednesday I went
to a late night shopping event in a local village. Windows were adorned with
snowy scenes for a competition, and shops were brimming with people seeking the
perfect decorations. There were even donkeys wearing Santa hats! So much
Christmas and advent has only just begun!
I hope you’re enjoying the lead up to Christmas!
Katie
