Saturday 2 December 2023

14 of us arrived promptly at HQ in Risca on a cold and frosty morning and boarded the coach that would take us to savour the delights of the Bath Christmas market.  We were all wrapped up warmly to brave the weather around the stalls. Andrew was our driver for the day and we set off at 9.30am to collect the rest of our party from Newport station making the total of 19 travellers that day.

On arrival in Bath Andrew was able to drop us off very near the centre on Terrace Walk and arranged to pick us up from the same location at 6.00pm. Most of us completed a quick circuit of the adjacent stalls before finding a café for a second breakfast at the warm and cosy Courtyard Café.  Others queued to sample the delights of Sally Lunn’s Tearooms.  Extra goodies were also purchased and brought back to Newport (Yes Tim and Geraint you know who you are!).

In the market itself we were met with a cacophony of various sounds – choirs singing, street entertainers and of course shoppers and stallholders advertising their wares - as we were swept along by the crowds.  Each stall selling local produce filled the air with a mixture of Christmas smells – mulled wine, cinnamon goodies, roasting chestnuts, rolls filled with sausages and roasted meats all prepared expertly by the vendors.

After a quick march around the stalls (no good sauntering, you really had to keep moving as the temperature did not rise above 10 degrees all day but it stayed dry).  

At 13.00, to get us into the Christmas spirit, Sue Sullivan, Linda Hughes, Sandra Price and myself amongst others poured into the Abbey to attend the Bath Abbey Shoppers’ Carol service. We were lucky to get in as the Abbey filled with visitors enjoying the Bath market.  Many were seated around the sides of the Abbey as well as in the normal seating area. The music started and everyone joined the choir to sing a selection of well known carols (We Three Kings, Away in a Manager and Hark the Herald Angels sing).  The service was conducted by the Abbey Ministers.  The Abbey itself was decorated both inside and out and illuminated in colours of blue and purple which contrasted with the grey winter day.

Following the carol service we once again moved around the stalls with the crowds of shoppers before seeking out a place for lunch. Much like Mary and Joseph there was no room in many of the eating establishments which were full of visitors.  Luckily we did find warmth and a wonderful meal at “Joya” – a most pleasant Italian restaurant next to Putney Bridge.

We made our way back to rendezvous with the coach at 6.00pm as it was beginning to get dark.  To be fair the driver was already there with a few of the party already onboard.  We settled down in our seats with our purchases enveloped by the warmth produced by the coach.  Despite the delay through Bath at peak time we arrived safely in Newport and back in HQ by 7.30pm.  The cars in the car park had frosted over again but it was good to be home.  (Kevin, I know you were worried about all the cars at HQ, but Maggie soon put you right reminding you of our day in Bath!).    

Olga Tutton