Nottingham - A Christmas Wonderland
w/e 14 December 2014
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
So what constitutes a Christmas Wonderland? Well
in Nottingham it means the Old Market Square is taken over by
a number of stalls and entertainments but it also stretches beyond
the square into the surrounding streets in the city centre.
The Council House decorated with coloured lights provides the
backdrop to this entrance to the Wonderland which features a
large Christmas Tree in the middle of the Old Market Square.
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A row of decorated and "snow" covered cabins selling
a variety of Christmas wares lines one side of the square.
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Most of the central part of the Old Market Square is taken up
by an ice rink where skaters can waltz around the Christmas Tree,
some aided by thigh-high penguins for support. I think I would
need stabilisers as well!
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  Hot chocolate
drinks (left) are on sale from one of the cabins and no doubt
they help warm up the skaters after their session on the ice.
Two giant snowmen (right) stand sentinel at the entrance to more
(and stronger) refreshments and another cabin in front of the
Council House is decorated with large candy canes. Notice too
the small shed on the extreme right of the image above.
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The shed contains a nativity scene but the doors were closed
and the only views were through the windows. Although in a prominent
position in front of the Council House, it looks just like a
garden shed and could easily be missed. The mannequins representing
the various figures were dressed in robes so that it was easy
to distinguish who they represented but why the doll in the crib
was wearing a modern babygrow is beyond my comprehension. The
organisers of Nottingham's Christmas Wonderland have in the most,
done an excellent job but what should be at the centre of all
Christmas celebrations seemed to me to be an embarrassment and
a bit of an afterthought here.
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Under the Council House in The Exchange the decorations as usual
have been very tastefully done and the quiet arcade offers a
relatively peaceful recluse from all the excitement and bustle
outside.
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Parallel to the The Exchange outside the Council House the hustle
and bustle is apparent as shoppers and merry-makers go about
their business among the fairground rides and more cabins selling
Christmassy goods.
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It is not only from the cabins that goods are being offered and
regular street traders also have a selection on offer. This one
had a number of bags on display to aid with the wrapping of presents.
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Not far away another stall had a large selection of Christmas
jumpers with various Christmas and winter themes and yes, the
gentleman with the dog did have a live owl perched on his shoulder.
The bear on the novelty hat worn by another stall holder he was
talking to however was not real!
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Many more events are taking place in Nottingham in the lead up
to Christmas including exhibitions, carol singing, lights on
the trees in the Arboretum, a Vintage Fair, informative talks
and you can add a pantomime at the Theatre Royal to that. Other
pantomimes and venues are available. I'm not sure the sky was
as blue as it appears here as the light was probably being filtered
through the bus window as we left the city but taken as a whole
then, this is what passes for a Christmas Wonderland in Nottingham.
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