Small towns like Rhuthun rely on the run up to Christmas. They particularly depend on late November and early December. For, as we approach Christmas Eve, there is a tendency, perhaps out of desperation or in search of ideas, for some people to migrate to larger shopping centres.
This year's critical pre-Christmas Saturdays have been disappointing, weather-wise. Yesterday's predicted snow came only as light rain. It was nevertheless cold, and icy underfoot. It was something of a disappointment but much busier than last Saturday that followed the previous day's heavy morning snowfall.
Conditions yesterday resulted in the cancellation of the Christmas produce market, owing to snow and ice underfoot. At least two stalls managed to squeeze in to the market hall. We look forward to the new produce market season, in the spring.
There was also all day free parking, everywhere. This was chosen by Rhuthun town council as part of its allotted five free days. While I had heard of free parking c/o the county council at Park Road during December (and elsewhere after 3 p.m.), I had not realised that the town council had set aside each of three Saturdays (4th, 11th, 18th) as all day free parking in all car parks. While the town was relatively busy from about 11 a.m., the only car park that seemed full was Tesco's. There was nevertheless something of a buzz around town yesterday and that was great to see.
Christmas this year seems very low key when compared to last (or 2008). Nothing on the Visit Ruthin website about the free parking offered and no window bills like last year. No Anrheg Rhuthun campaign or similar. No razzmatazz about the lights switch on, also yesterday. No late night shopping. Dinbych’s lights have been ablaze for a week, by the way. And they’re seemingly taking on the mantle by trying to offer something of an extravaganza earmarked for Thursday evening.
This time, unlike last, a number of local enterprises have taken out advertisements in the Denbighshire Free Press Christmas feature on Rhuthun.
Youngsters may have been somewhat confused as to why there was a Father Christmas on the Square (care of the Rotary float) and one in the Gaol (fairly empty, it has to be said, owing to no produce market).
I did chuckle, though, at the advance notice in the Free Press about the lights switch on: "The Christmas lights will be switched on my (sic) deputy major (sic) councillor Robert Owen-Ellis." What is a "deputy major councillor"? A lieutenant?
This year's critical pre-Christmas Saturdays have been disappointing, weather-wise. Yesterday's predicted snow came only as light rain. It was nevertheless cold, and icy underfoot. It was something of a disappointment but much busier than last Saturday that followed the previous day's heavy morning snowfall.
Conditions yesterday resulted in the cancellation of the Christmas produce market, owing to snow and ice underfoot. At least two stalls managed to squeeze in to the market hall. We look forward to the new produce market season, in the spring.There was also all day free parking, everywhere. This was chosen by Rhuthun town council as part of its allotted five free days. While I had heard of free parking c/o the county council at Park Road during December (and elsewhere after 3 p.m.), I had not realised that the town council had set aside each of three Saturdays (4th, 11th, 18th) as all day free parking in all car parks. While the town was relatively busy from about 11 a.m., the only car park that seemed full was Tesco's. There was nevertheless something of a buzz around town yesterday and that was great to see.
Christmas this year seems very low key when compared to last (or 2008). Nothing on the Visit Ruthin website about the free parking offered and no window bills like last year. No Anrheg Rhuthun campaign or similar. No razzmatazz about the lights switch on, also yesterday. No late night shopping. Dinbych’s lights have been ablaze for a week, by the way. And they’re seemingly taking on the mantle by trying to offer something of an extravaganza earmarked for Thursday evening.
This time, unlike last, a number of local enterprises have taken out advertisements in the Denbighshire Free Press Christmas feature on Rhuthun.
Youngsters may have been somewhat confused as to why there was a Father Christmas on the Square (care of the Rotary float) and one in the Gaol (fairly empty, it has to be said, owing to no produce market).
I did chuckle, though, at the advance notice in the Free Press about the lights switch on: "The Christmas lights will be switched on my (sic) deputy major (sic) councillor Robert Owen-Ellis." What is a "deputy major councillor"? A lieutenant?