Christmas Markets

I have wanted to go to a Christmas Market for a while.

When I lived in Tunbridge Wells, I lived just off Camden Road.  I loved it.  With the mix of charity shops, record stores, photographers and tattoo artists - I was, without realising it, part of a people in my future too....
The winter before I left, Claque Theatre group decided to perform The Vanishing Elephant.  The play was a play in-the-round about generations of people that lived in the area.  It was fascinating but sadly, one that I went to alone, as I didn't have many like-minded friends then!
As part of this new "festival" with the play, they invited the community to make lanterns for a procession through the area to celebrate the eclectic mix.  My roommate Laura and I went along to the local school one Saturday and made our lanterns.  We joined the procession on the day/evening along with carnival drums and hoards of people.  It was such fun and we danced as we went with the crowd to end at the school near our house.

So today - 3 years later.  I see that the Lantern Festival has progressed further to a Christmas Market.  There were stalls of crafty goods, similar to those I have in my mind for future projects.
And then, there they were - the carnival drums with the costumes of red and gold.  For old times sake, I tapped my feet to the beats only to see my Dad not enjoying it at all!  He said it was hurting his head.  I was quite frowny at that but kept walking with him.
We came upon another sound of music and my Dad sped up.  As I caught up he said "now this is more like it... banjos!"  It made me smile.  He really would love the Bluegrass in North Carolina.  He refuses to believe he would love life there..... Oh to win that lottery and whisk him away!!

Anyway!  We were also there to see my friend Olivia play ukulele with her band of friends.  It was fun and I sang along with their take on popular "hits".  A little cheesy at times and an occasional loss of timing but they gathered quite the audience and appealed to a great mix of ages.  I have heard how much fun the group are and have been invited to join them for their bi-weekly meet ups.  It sounds like fun.

Well done to Claque Theatre and Jon Oram for the development in the past few years.

http://www.claquetheatre.com/2011/12/16/camden-road-this-christmas/