Christmas Shopping - 13th Window

The Card stall in St. Lawrence's Church, Ludlow

Department Stores? Crowds pushing and shoving? Mischief and mayhem? Panic buying?
Not in Ludlow on Saturday, and I can prove it by taking you by the hand and leading you through part of the way of my shopping day.

We started out in the Church to buy Charity Christmas Cards.

There was plenty of time to linger over the many boxes filled with cards on behalf of dozens of worthy charities and to choose the right card sold by your favourite charities, the one or two closest to your heart. The choice is great.

The volunteer lady cashiers had plenty of time to chat with a lone male purchaser who was telling them about a recent tragedy in his family. Both ladies were very supportive.

The second stop was at a dress shop
where we bought a pretty party frock for
a granddaughter who is mad about
clothes. I don't want to show the frock here,
it might spoil the surprise.

The cheese stall in the market came next. Dozens of delectable cheeses are for sale here from  Europe
and the UK, each creamier, tastier, smellier and richer than the last. As you can see, there was plenty of time to consult the very knowledgeable stall holder, who will, by the way, find you any cheese you care to order. The lady in red and the cheese expert had come to a mutually very satisfactory conclusion.

Jams, marmalade, pickles, chutneys, preserves, anyone? all home-made, without artificial preservatives and prettily presented. Very reasonably priced, ideal gifts.

stalls selling christmas 

wreaths and table decorations,

for those who can't be bothered, or don't have the time

 to make them

the Deli on the Square

inviting you in to sample mouth-watering treats,

sweet and savoury.

 The brave souls concerned  for their waistlines

at this self-indulgent time of year come here

to calm their consciences and buy

fruit and vegetables from the aptly named

Fruit Basket.

Going shopping on a cold day always gives me an appetite,

which the many hostelries in Ludlow are keen to satisfy.

A goodly portion of venison casserole with vegetables

at The Unicorn Pub soon filled me up.

  

Afterwards we completed a full programme of stopping off at 

the bookstore, the chocolate shop, 

the health food store and the chemist's;

there was still time and leisure to take Benno 

for a walk along the river bank. 

Although snow and ice have gone from the hillside and the paths,

the waterfall is still partly frozen.

Now that's what I call a Christmas Shopping Day!

Mission Accomplished.