The past two days have been extremly cold and frosty here in Dulcote.  Its now mid day and the temperature has still only reached 3 degrees

Its so nice to be warm and cosy inside, and to compensate for the freezing temperature, the views are stunning

A new Christmas market will take place in Wells this festive season, giving shoppers the ideal opportunity to pick up that last minute Christmas gift.

Titled ‘Extra Days of Christmas’, the market is being targeted at shoppers across Mendip and those further afield who fancy doing that last bit of Christmas shopping in the beautiful city of Wells.

There will be around 100 stalls run by local traders offering a range of gifts and produce, including jewellery, hats, gloves, Polish sheep skin rugs, Moroccan gifts, glass wear, flowers, shrubs, handmade wooden boxes, soaps, leather bags, children’s books and pet gifts.

A range of food and drink will also be on offer, including mulled cider and wine, cheese rounds, meat couture, organic beef, spicy sausages, a variety of breads, olives, coffee, cakes, fancy marshmallows, Scotch eggs, Christmas puddings, smoked pork, festive pies and pasties, orchard apples as well as Indian and Thai food.

There will be different food available on the different days of the market.

And if that wasn’t enough to get you in the Christmas mood, there will also be music and carols.

The market will be situated in The Market Place in the centre of Wells and operate from 9am to 4pm on Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 and Friday 23 December, as well as 9am to 2pm on Christmas Eve.

There will be free parking in Mendip’s car parks in Wells for the duration of the market (time limits will still apply).

The market has been launched by Mendip District Council, with support from Wells City Council, Wells Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace. This year’s market is a trial, and will be an extension of the existing market, but if it proves successful it is hoped that it can become an annual event which will be built on for future years.

I had planned to write about Christmas markets today but last night, Rod shared the funniest article and I just had to share it with you too . 

Taken from The Times, Wednesday 23^rd November 2016, the article is written by Will Pavia, New York, and transcribed below in full:

In a speech at Chicago’s City Hall, Howard Brookins spoke up about a terrible scourge that was blighting his constituents.  “Aggressive squirrels” were eating their way through rubbish bins, he warned.

His fellow aldermen laughed.  But Mr Brookin’s speech now looks like a brave intervention by a public servant unafraid to speak his mind, no matter the cost to his own personal safety.  For barely a fortnight later, the alderman was seriously injured in an encounter with a squirrel.   “First, I am OK and have been recovering in hospital since the accident” Mr Brookins told constituents in a message on Facebook.  “I will, however, require multiple surgeries to recover from the damage to my face and upper body.”

The alderman said he would no longer be able to attend events but would be happy to correspond by email, or over the phone, for urgent matters.  Mr Brookins is the victim of what he has described as a suicide attack by a squirrel.  While he was out riding on a cycle path, a squirrel leapt into his front wheel, becoming lodged in the spokes.  The alderman was pitched head first over the handle bars.  He broke his nose, fractured his skull and had at least five teeth knocked out.  The alderman appears to have been knocked unconscious.

“Some lady came along the trail and found me lying there next to my bicycle and called 911,” he told the Chicago  Tribune.  “I only saw the squirrel when I cam to and saw it stuck in the wheel.”

The motives of the squirrel were unknown, though long-time observers of the notoriously dirty business that is Chicago politics were not slow to join the dots.  It was payback.  The city of Al Capone now faced another band of ruffians, living outside the law, keeping secret stashes of nuts and occasionally exerting blunt force on the levers of power.

“I can think of no other reason for this squirrel’s actions than that it was like a suicide bomber, getting revenge.” He told the Tribune.  Mr Brookins believes he could easily have died in the attack.

The alderman will be staying inside, as part of a month long recovery from his injuries.  He told the paper that if any squirrels came to his home, he would call animal control.

We’ve had quite a lot of rain here over the weekend but the dawn light on Sunday morning was amazing.  It had rained heavily overnight, stopping just as morning broke and the result was the most amazingly perfect rainbow I have ever seen

We have received notification of more filming taking place in Wells, and looks like this time its a big one.

Filming will take place between midday and midnight on 21st to 24th November, with setting up from 7am each day, and prep work will begin as early as 15th November.

Stunt scenes will involve special effects smoke, imitation period firearms and small explosions and residents have been advised not to be alarmed.

Dying to know who, what and where and will keep you posted as details come out.

On Friday evening Wells will be transformed from a sedate, sleepy, tiny City to a loud, bright, strange place filled with folk from far and wide.

It’s our annual Carnival.

We first experienced the carnival two years ago, our first November in Dulcote.  Trudging across the Bishops fields in the pouring rain with our torches, welly
boots and raincoats, we left the darkness of Dulcote to a City awash with colour and sound.

I felt a strange atmosphere, despite the technology used in many of the floats and the sight of huge articulated lorries slowly meandering through the tiny cobbled streets.

It’s the thought that this carnival has been going on for so many years, to me, it had ever such a slight ‘wicker’ feel to it.

All for charity, it’s an experienced not to be missed, and if you are planning to be there, don’t forget your pennies to throw into the collection carts.

Two weeks ago we had a really lovely evening with friends celebrating Halloween.  What made the evening special, apart from excellent company, was the fact that  we ate in a giant teepee

Well for the next few days you can also experience it, as the teepee is now hosting a Christmas shopping extravaganza.

So you can forget the well known Christmas markets of Bath and Bristol, and enjoy browsing for your gifts, decorations, chocolates and festive foods right here in Dulcote.

Jane always puts on a fantastic event and I think this one just might be the best she has ever done

Open today, Friday and Saturday between 10:00 and 20:30, hopeful we will see you there

We’ve had a couple of very frosty mornings here in Ducote and the weather this weekend was fabulous – brilliant sunshine, although we are having to wrap up warmly.

Walking Bob early on Friday morning, I could have kicked myself for not having my camera with me – the sky was blue, the sun was rising and a soft breeze made it look as though it was raining leaves.  Stunning colours and just a drift of leaves fluttering to land on the paths.

A second frost on Saturday stripped the leaves off some of the trees in our garden, leaving them bare.  And while the photograph really doesnt do it justice, the gorgeous yellow of our ginkgo lying on the lawn looks stunning

The new concert Hall at Wells Cathedral School is now complete and there are a wealth of events scheduled over the Autumn.

On Saturday evening we are going to listen to Swing Machine Jazz Orchestra – a hgely poplar South West Jazz band.  Clare Teal is also singing, and we can’t wait to hear her.

Find out more at http://www.wellssomerset.com/search/entry1312_cedars_hall_concerts.html

There really is something for everyone….

On Friday evening we were intrigued to hear a story on the news of a local farmer vending fresh milk from a machine on his farm to the general public.  It was a fascinating story of  a young farmer taking the initiative to find ways to make his family farm more profitable.

We all know that farmers receive very little for their milk (around the region of only 16p per litre) and while we always make the choice to pay the higher price in supermarkets, , there has never been anything further we could do, as a consumer, to pay a fair price for our milk.

Well on Saturday, we had a chance to try the milk, when our neighbout brought a litre over for us to try.

The machine sells litres of milk for £1 – and you can take your own container or buy a traditional glass milk bottle for £1 from the machine.