Posted on by Janice

Festivities and Hackney Festive Light Switch On!

Sunday, 2nd December, 2018

If November was dark and rainy, December is starting off very mild and even sunny sometimes. And it’s getting pretty Christmassy!

On upper Well Street, the florists are bringing out their Christmas best
At St Paul's church, the yellowed leaves are a nice mix with the trees on the tree lot.
At St Paul’s church, the yellowed leaves are a nice mix with the trees on the tree lot.
And this Turkish kebab place is accidentally festive!
And this Turkish kebab place on Kingsland Road is accidentally festive!

Check these daylight hours, though! By 3pm twilight creeps in and between 4 and 4:30 it’s just like night time. Yesterday I was thinking that, if I were working, it would be properly dark by the time I headed home. I’m not sure if other years have been so dark but they must have been. There’s just more cloud this year…?

Is it really December?
Is it really December?

However, December has lots of promise. I started jotting things down on one of my quickly drawn up calendars – I like to do this on paper and revise it almost daily. And this week there will be two workshops (one a serious mental health one, and one a fun Christmassy one) two family visits and there’s company coming over for dinner, if Susanne doesn’t succumb to her threatening cold. And Hackney is having a Festive Lights event, marking the first night of Chanukah and turning on the lights of the Christmas tree. I love lights and candles so I’m in!

Hackney's invitation!
Hackney’s invitation!


A busy day for me but a nice interlude at midday so time for the now regular dim sum feast to clear out the freezer before Susanne comes over.

 

The remaining dim sum, augmented with broccoli, totsoi, and a bowl of sweet apple slices
The remaining dim sum, augmented with broccoli, totsoi, and a bowl of sweet apple slices

The 276 bus route is turning into a nightmare. I can now expect the bus times to be incorrect and the expected time of arrival to change every twenty seconds or so. Yesterday it was expected to arrive in 5 minutes, this then changed to 4, then 3, then 6, then 8…it did arrive of course, bursting with adults and children headed to the Town Hall for the festivities, but I arrived too late for the lighting of the menorah. But lit it was!

The menorah right next to the palm tree and the bus stop. A pretty sight!
The menorah right next to the palm tree and the bus stop. A pretty sight!
The major was there, chatting with his constituents and looking very relaxed
The major was there, chatting with his constituents and looking very relaxed
The older Hackney citizens taking a turn at holding the handmade lanterns
The older Hackney citizens taking a turn at holding the handmade lanterns
And not too far away, one of the youngest, also holding a lantern
And not too far away, one of the youngest, also holding a lantern
After the steel band, the choir started up and people gathered around
After the steel band, the choir started up and people gathered around
And the requisite children's carolling
And the requisite children’s carolling
The cast of the Hackney Empire panto turned on the tree lights in style
The cast of the Hackney Empire panto turned on the tree lights in style
The lights are all on!
The lights are all on!
Then a Festival crew turned on the lights on their costumes and paraded around the crowd
Then a Festival crew turned on the lights on their costumes and paraded around the crowd

I headed home for another busy evening and to light my own menorah but really glad I went. Next time we need some mulled wine, hot chocolate and junk food, please Mr Mayor!