This year, the group hasn't met since lockdown restrictions were first imposed. Sir Edward was keen to keep the tradition of giving a tree going and an appeal was put on Facebook for anyone to come forward who could display a tree where it could be seen by the largest number of people. Step forward Annabelle Rose who obviously has a hotline to the North Pole. She contacted Santa who agreed to come along for the ride as the tree did a turn round the village starting from and ending up at the King's Head.
Santa’s tour of Hethersett will start at 4 pm from the King's and it is expected the tour will take about two hours with the route as follows: Norwich Road before turning right into New Road and then onto Mill Road, West Croft, Park Drive, Mill Road (again), Natterer’s Road, Barbastelle Crescent, Horseshoe Road, Serotine Road, Great Melton Road, Henstead Road, Lynch Green, Myrtle Road, Campion Way, Briar Way, Myrtle Way and back through Lynch Green to Henstead Road, Back Lane, Churchfields, Deacon Drive, Admirals Way, Heather Gardens, Burnthouse Lane, Harnessmaker Way, Frederick Grove, Coachmaker Way, Tailor Place, Baker Drive, Miller Close, and then back via Queen’s Road.
It is hoped as many people as possible will pop out to say hello. Meanwhile the village bauble and advent window trails are still attracting plenty of interest.
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The problem with writing a blog is trying to include something of interest to all my lovely and very patient readers.
I know the above will have little interest to anybody who doesn't live in Hethersett, but I hope my musings on the village are of some vague interest in illustrating just what can and does go on in an English village. Perhaps friends who live outside Hethersett will tell me if I have succeeded or not.
So on another matter. Yesterday I took my car to Busseys on Whiffler Road to have a minor repair which, thankfully was covered under warranty. Once again I walked into Norwich - about three miles. Decided on a different route to that of last week. This one took me past numerous car showrooms. It made me wonder just how many cars are being sold at the present time. Not many I suggest but I might be wrong.
On the way back (another three miles) I listened to the new Paul McCartney album - rather unimaginatively entitled McCartney III. That's a rather strange title as he has released numerous solo albums since the demise of the Beatles, but has only called three of them after his surname (spookily McCartney, McCartney II and now McCartney III).
McCartney came out in 1970, McCartney II in 1980 and now McCartney III in 2020 - all years with a 0 at the end but nothing much else in common.
I don't have to say that over the years McCartney has written some absolute classics - that is something that is a given. But each time it is announced that a new album is coming out my mouth starts to water in anticipation.
But then just as quickly that anticipation is dashed by what I feel is a sub standard collection of very average songs where McCartney tries to belie the fact that he is almost 80 years of age by proving he can still produce upbeat trendy music.
Of course this new collection has been heralded as "fantastic." I believe that Zoe Ball on Radio Two described it as a "thing of wonder." It's almost as if Sir Paul's music is above criticism. But I just struggled with this as I have with his last few offerings. The anticipation was not matched by the reality. I will give it another couple of listens, but I can't see this one staying on my playlist very far into the New Year.
CDs are things of the past and this is reflected by the fact that a number of local charity shops are now selling them at 25p each or five for a pound. I must admit I now listen to virtually all my music via download. So I didn't feel the urge to buy any but I did get a biography of Benjamin Britten and that will keep me quiet for a considerable amount of time.
I can't walk past a good musical biography. It has to have depth to it though and be a serious tome. Recently I got an autobiography written by Charles Aznavour who is one of my guilty pleasures. I have any number of books on David Bowie to read and a couple on Pink Floyd.
I would say that Floyd are my go to group when I can't think of what to listen to. Meddle and Atom Heart Mother are two of my favourite albums, although Animals has always left me cold.
I was reading an article in the latest edition of Mojo music magazine about the bad vibes between Roger Waters and David Gilmore. Not to put too fine a point on it, they seem to hate each other. Waters in particular sounds a rather complex, ego-driven character. It's a shame they just can't get on because new Floyd music would be very welcome and transcend personal spats, particularly as drummer Nick Mason is also still around and touring with his own band playing early Floyd-based material.
I think that's enough for today. Tomorrow I'm going to get really boring. I have been revisiting an autobiography I wrote many years ago and will be sharing it with you over the next weeks and months - a bit at a time. If that doesn't make you run for the hills I'm not sure what will.
I have called the whole thing "Story of a Life" after a song of that name by my favourite all-time singer-songwriter, Harry Chapin. I will explain more tomorrow.