The Tree Pipsie first arrived one winters night in the late 70s, when my father bought a box of random items at auction, and in the bottom of the box, there sat a rather dusty, and dirty and motheaten pixie. His outfit shabby and faded, his head a little loose, his wire body a little twisted, but my young heart only saw his magic and beauty. He took pride of place by the tree that year and for every one of the 46 Christmases since in my parents home....
There is something very nostalgic about lifting the tin lid of a Quality Street and getting that heady waft of chocolate which almost assaults the olfactory senses. Looking at the brightly wrapped cellophane sweets in gorgeous jewel colours, a feast for the eyes, and we haven't even started eating them yet!
In our home, one day that signifies the start of the Christmas festivities is not putting up the decorations, but the weekly watching of a children’s television series. In 1984 the BBC broadcast an adaptation of John Masefields Box Of Delights starting on 21st of November and culminating on Christmas Eve.
If you’ve stumbled upon this blog, I am assuming that you may have watched an episode of the hit BBC afternoon antiques show, hosted by Nigel Havers, entitled The Bidding Room (week days 4.30pm, BBC1).