Theme Day - Waiting

Its the 1st of the month and here in CDP blogland its Theme Day. The theme for December is Waiting. I wasn't very inspired by this months choice but then it suddenly hit me. What are we all waiting for? Christmas! Whether you are waiting for it to arrive because you love it or are waiting for it to arrive because you want to get it out of the way as you hate it, we are all waiting. And how to capture that waiting? An advent calender of course! Some are a candle that you burn each day, some are traditional calenders and have a religious picture, others are chocolate filled. No surprise as to what mine is! Now I'm going to open the first little door and get my chocolatey reward!

Now, no more waiting. See what other inspired ideas people have come up with for this theme by clicking here.

Foodies Heaven

As I mentioned yesterday we visited the Tewkesbury Food Festival on Saturday. The event is in its 5th year and took place in the shadow of the towns famous Abbey. If you like food (and who doesn't?!) then this was the place to be. There were over 70 stalls in the main Food Hall selling any food you could imagine, with the majority being locally produced.


There were plenty of samples to taste to help to get you to part with your cash and lots to see and do - celebrity chefs, craft tent, music, champagne bar, pig roast, a theatre where demonstrations were taking place, to name but a few.


We bought a few things like the chocolate covered ginger below, which is now just a memory. Delicious!

Easter Bunny

Its Easter Sunday, the day the fluffy bunny leaves Easter eggs, its also the day to do with something religious but that has gone the same way as Christmas. Anyway, this rather overdressed rabbit is in the shop window (excuse my obsession) of Vinegar Hill. The shop at the end of the Prom opened at the end of last year and sells overpriced accessorise (notice the price in the basket) for the home and garden, though their Christmas stock was nice their Easter goods are a bit OTT!

Enjoy Easter day and don't eat too many chocolate eggs!

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Chick

Its Good Friday, time for all things Easter related! These little yellow chicks make an annual appearance at this time of year, decorating cakes and shop displays. I don't actually know anyone who has one apart from me, and I didn't until yesterday ( I 'borrowed' this one from a display where I work!) Here in the UK we don't tend to go in for lots of Easter decorations, its all about the chocolate eggs! Yummy!

More Easter related photos over the weekend.

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Cookie Monster

All the treat seeking shoppers are testament to the success of the newly opened Millie's Cookies. The shop opened last week at the main entrance of the Regent Arcade Shopping Centre and has been an instant hit. Millie's Cookies have over a hundred branches, the first one opening just over 20 years ago at Selfridges in Oxford Street, London. Millie's bake a tasty selection of different cookies including double chocolate, raspberry and white choc, and orange chocolate. They also offer muffins, hot drinks, ice cream and gift boxes. I didn't have time to queue to buy a cookie or two. I'm going to go back tomorrow to sample Millie's Cookies! Now, what flavour....?

Egg-cited About Easter

I'm not a religious person so Easter for me is about chocolate eggs and a nice roast dinner. The photo today is from the window display of Cavendish House (department store) on the Promenade. I'm hoping to get a nice big chocolate egg, like the one shown! (hint, hint!)

Here are five egg-traordinary facts about Easter Eggs -

1. The egg is recognised as a symbol for resurrection, first used in Ancient Egyptian times.
2. The first chocolate Easter Egg was made in 1873 by Fry's.
3. Around 80 million Easter Eggs are purchased in the UK.
4. The most popular Easter Egg is Cadbury's Creme Egg, with 300 million produced worldwide each year.
5. The UK spends £500 million on Easter Eggs every year.

Happy Easter everyone!

Keeping Mum

Today in the UK its Mothering Sunday. The day to spoil your mum, thank her for all she does for you and tell her that you love her. These Gerberas and Orchids are part of the flower arrangement that I've got for my mum, I hope she likes them! If you've forgotten about today its not to late to get to the shops and buy a box of choccies or pick up some flowers. Go on, spoil your mum - she deserves it!

Market Day

The Promenade plays host to the award winning Cheltenham Farmers Market on the second and last Friday of each month. It is open from 9am until 3pm and with around 30 stalls, selling everything from the usual fruit & veg to sausages and chocolate desserts, it's a big hit with Cheltonians. The market is an excellent opportunity to buy quality food and support local farmers and food producers. When visiting the stalls you can ask questions and try before you buy, something you can't do at the supermarket (they don't tend to like it when you open a packet and start nibbling!). I was a little disappointed when I visited yesterday as my favourite local vineyard wasn't there. I had to make up for it by buying lots of naughty sweet treats instead. The chocolate mousse was delicious!