Thursday 14 December 2023

Advent Calendar Blog Hop

It's my turn in the annual Advent Calendar Blog Hop organised by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching. If you visit Jo's blog you can follow the Advent Blog each day and read everyone's Santa stories, this year the theme.

As a youngster my Grandparents always took me to the Co-op to see Father Christmas and when our children were younger we took them too. Sadly it's been many years since they had a Father Christmas Grotto in fact the store is now closed and the area being redeveloped. 

I remember one year when our children were young we had to enter a small room made out like a sleigh. We all sat tight as the 'sleigh' bumped along and moving pictures on the wall gave the impression of us travelling to the North Pole. At the end of our journey the front of the sleigh opened to reveal Father Christmas in his Grotto ... all the children squealed with delight. One of the TV adverts this year is exactly this ... timeless.

We don't have a chimney so Father Christmas used to land on the roof and click his fingers to appear in the house, but only if no-one was peeping ๐Ÿ˜‚ A traditional glass of sherry and mince pie was always left out for Father Christmas along with a carrot for Rudolph, I'm not sure if the other reindeer ever got any!

My Christmas stitchy photo is the Christmas ornament I have just made for Christine for the Needlecraft Haven Christmas Exchange which we opened on 1st December. 


Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

8 comments:

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Thanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year. Lovely story about your sleigh ride to Santa and it's given me a great idea for my next Santa Story too.
Lovely exchange ornament, I'm sure Christine loved it.

mylene said...

Such a cute ornament you made for Christine❤️and a lovely Santa story.

Denise :) said...

I really enjoy reading all the different stories and experiences and memories that bloggers have ... thank you for sharing yours! Such fun! Your stitchery is really beautiful!! Merry Christmas!! :)

jocondine said...

Lovely snowman and there's no risk of this one melting! Joyeuses fรชtes de Noรซl ! xxx

Leonore Winterer said...

That snowman is so cute, and your story of "traveling" to meet Santa is just precious! Thank you for sharing.

Faith... said...

What a cute idea that was for the children to "travel" to the North Pole! YOu stitched a cute Snowman for your exchange. I hope your Mom is on the mend.

Shelly said...

The 'ride' sounded like fun! Your ornament is really cute! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿผ‍๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ‰

Astrids dragon said...

I've heard about places that do that, but have never seen or heard anything like that here. I'm sure they were thrilled!
Such a sweet snowman, it looks lovely.