gilpin25 | Christmas Fayre

It's the start of the Victorian Christmas Fayre in Worcester tonight, and they were setting things up when I went shopping this morning. Coaches come from miles around and about 100,000 people turn up in the four days it's on. They pretend it's all about buying gifts, but really everyone goes to eat as much as possible with stalls of pies, baked potatoes, cheeses, old fashioned sweets, and cups of mulled wine, along with a few unknown and dubious beverages, which are available everywhere you turn. After all that, suddenly the less than exciting gift stalls are a whole lot more appealing.

And it's quite a spectacle with the market stalls all down the High Street, and all round the cobbled back streets (Worcester has some very old parts); whilst everything is lit with lanterns and fires burn in grates to keep people warm. All the stallholders dress up, and you wander amongst stiltwalkers, gravediggers, singing chimney sweeps and organ grinders (which isn't actually that different from Worcester on a normal day;)) As I was stood behind a Victorian gent in M & S, it did feel very much like a Harry Potter Christmas. We just need some of

mrstater's Texan snow.

The gentleman in my icon will give you some idea of the effort people put into their outfits. Of course, he could just have asked David Thewlis if he could borrow something... ;)

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Oh, I wondered if you were going to go to that - I was going to ask if it was worth the trip over - but with the mention of jacket potatoes and grave diggers, I think the idea's won me over already ;).

As long as you don't expect to do any shopping - the craft stalls aren't very exciting, and you'll be lucky if you get near anyway - and be prepared to lose your temper trying to park, it's great fun. Last year it rained, but the year before was freezing, and everyone was gathered round the fires eating jacket potatoes. It did make me think 'I must put this in an Advent Fic' - then I remembered they're off sledding. ;)

Sounds fun ;). There's one in Stratford, too, which I thought we might drive over to one night - if not, we'll just have to make do with the massive German one in Birmingham, I suppose.

Don't say I told you so, but the Stratford one's nicer - at least it was when I went four or five years ago. Being smaller everything's closer together, and it's lovely by the river and Royal Shakespeare Theatre when it's all lit up. And you get the same baked potato choice. ;)

And now you've made me want baked potatoes for dinner, and I forgot to buy potatoes! How wrong is this?

If only David Thewlis would lend out the Remustache, then we wouldn't have to look at it in the OotP movie...

These helpful ladies would probably have something for you. There's usually a wonderful smell of food, though that might be the effect of all the mulled wine as well, LOL.

Do you know, I even find it hard to joke about the Remustache. I'm sure JKR didn't expect him to be wearing his furry little problem on his lip.

I can only imagine how David Thewlis must feel about it. His whole costume. Could they flatter the man less?

Isn't it ironic how Snape has ended up with one of the more attractive looks? I think Michael Gambon as Dumbledore is positively scary.

Thanks for a more Victorian-friendly icon.

Forgot to say I'm not sure your new mood theme blends with a Victorian Christmas... ;)

Is that a little better? I'd hate for you to sick the tan army on me.

Hallo! :)

I had an odd Christmas question: here in the States, many people have pickle ornaments on their trees - is that a Brit custom, too, or are we just really into bizarre Christmas stuff? I asked for ideas for ornaments and

molly_coddles reminded me of the pickle thing, and I reaaaaally want to use it, but I'm not sure if it's feasible.

Yo!

I'm sorry, but we're obviously too boring to have pickles on our trees here - I think it's a Bavarian custom originally? It's a shame because I love the idea, but there again I'm sure Remus and Tonks wouldn't necessarily have the usual things, so why not? You could always give her a pickle fetish... ;)

Just had a look at your ornament post. I've got the tiniest little musical box with a revolving fairy on it. Pinching someone else's suggestion, I've also got a minature snow shaker with a cottage, garden and rainbow. When you shake it, it goes through the four seasons, and all the colours change accordingly.

People do stick minature shoes on their trees (perhaps Tonks would like a small reminder of her favourite boots); we also put small fir cones. Gold chocolate coins. Musical instruments.

I've also got a tiny photo frame, about two inches by two inches, which, when I was given it, I thought was completely useless. But it's been great and it's got the loveliest little frame, like a Celtic knot pattern, which I'm sure you'd approve of. Perhaps a special tiny wizard photo to go in a bag or something.

I'll shut up now. Just remembered you only asked me about a pickle! ;)

Tonks with a pickle fetish - oh, my mind is going in baaad directions right now. :P

Hmm, I really like the music box idea - better than the one I had for a record. Maybe he could enchant it to play her favourite song? Which would mean, of course, that he knew her favourite song...

Do you call them snow shakers as opposed to snow globes? I love the image of the changing seasons - I'll try to work that in somehow. And the combat boot suggestion is hilarious.

A photo...that's an idea. But what photo? One of himself? Maybe a funny one of herself that she'd never realized that he had (an implication in and of itself...)

I did just ask about a pickle, but your glorious abundance of ideas shows me that I should pick your brain more often when I'm stumped. ;)

I'm now trying to eat my breakfast while thinking of Tonks with a thing about gherkins... It's not easy!

Don't think it matters whether you call them globes or shakers - children tend to call them shakers, but we know what they are either way.

There's lots of opportunities with a photo, isn't there? I like the idea of one he took of her that she was unaware of, which would really make her wonder... ;)

Christmas Fayre

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