by Steve Tanham
If your Christmas is shaping up to be less than that idyllic cameo on the TV adverts… come with me … and join us for the most unexpected Christmas evening we’ve ever had.
The first of December, 2022. The last day of our winter holiday.
It had not been a good day for my ego. Thrashed 6-3 by my wife, Bernie, at crazy golf, I was consoling myself with the thought of my final two pints of Devon Dreamer, an ale produced by one of the local micro-breweries that I had come to love during the course of the week of our winter break on the south Devon coast.
This was to be our last night in Marldon, a village just inland from Torquay, set in one of the rolling Coombes (valleys) that define this idyllic landscape.
One of the delights of the small cottage we had booked was its closeness to the local pub: The Church House Inn – a mere five minutes’ walk downhill, past the park and up the stone steps to where the carriages used to discharge their passengers.
Hearing from the people who owned our cottage (and lived next door) that the Church House Inn was both good and busy, we had booked three meals out over the course of our week. The first two had been excellent. This was the final treat.
Arriving at the inn, we found ourselves on the edge of growing crowd, with more families arriving by the minute. It turned out that the local Christingle parade of the first day of December ended with a gathering in the space outside the pub – where Santa Claus would give token presents to all the children.
We watched and waited for a while, being warmly included by the locals. Then we turned to to enter and find our table, as there were tight time-slots for dinner.
The meal was lovely. Washed down, in my case, by two pints of the fine Devon ale. We didn’t really want to leave. Many of the diners had retired to the bar. We thought about it, but wanted to get back to the cottage and pack, as we had to check out by 09:00 the following morning.
Outside, again, we gave Tess a moonlight walk into the park, then walked the short distance back up the hill to our cottage.
Thank you, Devon. Thank you, Marldon. You were a warm and hospital home for a much- needed break before the busyness of Christmas.
I’ll be taking a break after this Thursday’s blog… back in the New Year with batteries recharged for 2023.
©Stephen Tanham 2022
Stephen Tanham is a Director of the Silent Eye, a journey through the forest of personality to the dawn of Being.
http://www.thesilenteye.co.uk and http://www.suningemini.blog
Sun in Gemini 
A beautiful end to your break…. Happy Christmas and New Year. Peace and Light 💜💜
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Thank you, Willow… Our love and best wishes to you and your family ❤️
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Thank you. 💜💜
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What a great start to the Christmas season. Straight from a novel! Happy Christmas to you and yours, Stephen. See you in 2023.
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It was like that, Darlene! I kept looking around so see if Richard Curtiss was directing it… Have a great Christmas and may we all find peace in 2023🎄
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A wonderful break and start to Christmas, Steve wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year x
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Thank you, Carol. Our love back to you and yours ❤️
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Perfect, Steve. What a delightful evening. Very best wishes for Christmas and the coming year, and I look forward to picking up your blog again in 2023.
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And I yours, Michael. The very best for Christmas and looking forward to your rambles on the moors in 2023 🎄
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Nice! I love a good ale. Now if it would only love me back. Fickle things, those good brews and spirits…
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I,too, have to be careful, Darcy. That’s why I stick to a ‘friendly’ ale when I find one. 😀
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What a lovely post Steve. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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Thanks for sharing this experience, Steve. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year also!
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Thank you, Audrey. The very best to you and your loved ones. 😀
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