I never quite understand what it is about Holt that makes it so enticing.
Apparently The Times newspaper has named it one of the best seven places in the UK to do Christmas shopping.
I'm not quite sure about that. There are an awful lot of towns in the UK and I like Holt but have never found it as stunning as some others find it. Same with Burnham Market which is pretty but doesn't leave me salivating.
Perhaps I'm unusual. We have visited all seven places on the list and I can't say I find any of them sensational although we did only have fleeting stops in Narberth in Pembrokeshire and Melrose in Scotland.
Chester is named, but surely that's a city. Shrewsbury is named but left me cold. If you are in that sort of area a visit to Ludlow is much more rewarding.
I think Winchester was another mentioned which is fair enough.
I got this list from our local newspaper but when I Googled it I got an entirely different list which included Cambridge, Ludlow and Lewes in Sussex- all three of which we are very attracted to. So what are your favourite places for Christmas shopping?
Our latest sojourn in North Norfolk is drawing to a close but first we went in search of some late Autumn colour with a visit to Sheringham Park. They promised a bright sunny day but it was rather grey and dull when we set off.
I say set off as if that suggests a long journey. Our journey was only a handful of miles. We could have walked but time was of the essence and so we took the car.
The mythical they said it would be sunny and so it was towards the end of the walk after a rather grey start. So I've included it in my picture gallery today along with a few from the Christmas lights switch on at Holt which was well organised but just too many people.
Before going I was going through my Facebook feed and came across one of Norwich's Christmas Fair from 1956. That's fair as in fair with rides and sideshows and not fair as in selling things. The place was heaving and so was Holt.
It wasn't so bad when we got there. We had paid for parking at Holt Rugby Club which was running a shuttle bus into the town. We went to our favourite fish shop just off the main street and then had a look round the shops. A cup of tea and then there was a band by the name of the Austin Beats who played sixties covers and were actually pretty good.
There was a pipe band that weaved it's way down the main road hoping that the crowds would part like the Red Sea. The following tractor with a strange man dressed in a red robe with a long white beard almost got stuck.
The lights were switched on before the countdown which made a nonsense of the countdown and then the fireworks lasted for about three minutes and were rather underwhelming. We had been standing close to the main stage and so struggled to see the fireworks which came from somewhere behind the stage.
We then wandered down to the parish church where they had mulled wine and mince pies. There was also a rather low key concert with a lady singing I Could Have Danced All Night, a man playing the flute and a man singing Flanders and Swann. It was all a little strange.
We crammed on the shuttle back. Taking photos was difficult with what seemed like thousands around but I did my best. I would just like to point out that it really is still the middle of November. For those who like maths it's still 37 days to Christmas Day and that's a lot of sleeps.