A bit of a break from the norm...

Yes, I know, there has been a scarcity of blog posts recently, for the simple reason that by the time I get back to my computer after a day out doing things, there's a stack of email related stuff to do and updating the blog is always the thing that is next on the list to do at the point when I decide to call it a day and get some sleep.

BUT... this video I got sent prompted me to a quick blog - and a break from the political norm, since we're all going to be getting so much politics over the next few weeks.

It's my mum. She's 60 ( and won't thank me for advertising that fact) but has taken up Street Dancing. I'm not sure what our generation is going to be like when we get to that age, but the Baby Boomers just seem to keep on going! See if you can spot her. ( Hint, she's in the dark t-shirt in the middle and knocks someone in the face by accident at the end. Well done, mum. )

Wassailing to save the Daisy Field

One thing's certain. I don't have a future in Morris Dancing. The Rag Morris troupe had volunteered to help out with a peaceful ( though noisy) protest-Wassail to help save the Daisy Field. After leading a procession of around 150 people down from Shirehampton Green to the Daisy Field, the Morris Dancers toasted the trees, and gave volunteers the chance to join in one of the dances - which I couldn't resist. It was more tiring than it looks, and I developed a knack for bumping into other dancers.

The entire event was organised by local residents Caroline and Jim Penny, as part of our ongoing campaign to prevent the Council from including the Daisy Field in its list of land at risk of sale and development, in its Parks and Green Spaces consultation document. The Document was due to be published in January this year, but has now been postponed until after the elections in June.



The turn out was huge, and a tangible demonstration of how much the community values this green space. I've said it once, I'll say it again - Council - if you really are listening to the people as you say you are, the message is clear: Please - Hands off Shirehampton's Daisy Field.

Henbury pulls off a Cracker

Despite the rain and cold, Henbury's Christmas Crackers event on Crow Lane yesterday was a resounding success.

I'm not yet sure how much money was raised, but an array of snowmen, reindeer, christmas trees a- and a Christmas pudding ( seen here with Chris Windows, our Henbury Councillor, looking charming in a hat) , were out shaking buckets and people were giving generously.

Well done and thanks to everyone who braved numb fingers and toes and the damp to put on a really lovely event - which is a reminder again that Crow Lane gets a lot of bad press, but that the huge majority of people are incredibly community minded and put themselves out to make events like this come together.

Bringing Christmas to the elderly with the Southmead Carol Bus

The snow may have been fake, but it was pretty cold, which is why this photographer's hands were shaking so much, no doubt. The picture shows me, Santa and "Santa's Little Helper" , in the hat, towering over Santa.

This evening, I was invited to join Cliff Howell on his Southmead Carol Bus as it visited elderly people's homes in North West Bristol. It really was an honour. Every year Cliff drives the carol bus to a number of homes, and Father Christmas goes in and visits the elderly residents personally.

Although the aim of the evening was simply to bring some Christmas to those who may otherwise not have much in the way of festivities, I was also holding the collecting tin. All money raised tonight and on Friday night's Southmead Tour will go to local community projects and charities.

I've said before that pictures speak 1000 words. I'm not sure in that case how many words videos speak, but I suspect it's a lot more. So since I'm now obsessed with embedding youtube videos into everything, I'll let these do the talking, and leave you with a very fine picture of the Carol Bus's very own Santa's Little Helper. ( sorry, SLH, I couldn't resist!)

Brailsford Brothers Christmas Lights finally switched on!

I've got a feeling this isn't the last Christmassy themed post I'm going to write - and it's only the 1st December...

Brentry marked the beginning of advent with the now legendary switch-on of the Brailsford Brothers' Christmas Lights display. This blog has tracked their progress, from when I first came across Lee, taking down the lights one chilly January morning, to putting them back up again on a scorching September day, to the switch-on this evening. Getting anywhere near the house this evening was something of a challenge, due to the crowds of people who had assembled.

I had written to EDF Energy to ask whether they would be able to give the brothers a discount on their electricity bill. They pay for all the lights themselves, out of their own pocket, and this year with the credit crunch, it has been harder for them. Sadly, I was unable to get EDF to help, despite some trenchant pestering, but that didn't stop Lee and Paul from putting on a display bigger and better than ever before, this year.

Wallace and Gromit were there, along with Father Christmas, shaking buckets and raising money for Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal for the Royal Hospital for Children - and the collecting boxes are out throughout the Christmas period for donations from passers-by who enjoy the lights display.

So go along and see what is perhaps Bristol's brightest house on Oakbourne Road, in Brentry. And check out their website at www.brailsfordlights.co.uk, HERE