Season's Greetings from Small Worlds...

This post follows so hard upon the last, which featured the opening of Gosthwaites Emporium, because I wanted to wish everyone a joyous Christmas and peaceful New Year from Small Worlds....

Preparations have been going on apace to get ready for the seasonal celebrations.   The carol singers who are about to perform in front of the Walmer Victorian are having a lie-down first to gather their strength.

But those with their carol books in their hands are of course having a final practice at the same time....






In the kitchen, Cook is just clearing the decks before making fresh batches of mince pies and boiling up the puddings. 






Mrs Davies the housekeeper is choosing a tablecloth for the servants' Christmas repast.....










Miss Tilbury, the governess, is practising her accompaniments whilst Charlotte is about to clear the schoolroom desks out of the way.... 



....and in the dining room the maid is rearranging the chairs so that everyone will fit around the festive board.









Meanwhile, the carol singers are jostling at the front door, giggling and trying to decide who should ring the bell. 












Finally, one is brave enough and Kitty the maid scurries to open the door; unfortunately young Tom, in charge of the collecting bucket, is so excited at his responsible role that he nearly falls into the hall!

Kitty has laid the table, complete with crackers, all the time fending off Cook, who is demanding her help in the kitchen.

In the end, she joins Cook in assembling trays of mince pies and puddings ready for the feast - note the plethora of puddings, one for the adult members of the family, one for the nursery, and one of course for the staff. 

The schoolroom has been cleared; the family have assembled for the "Bescherung".......


Cue short digression: this useful German word means "handing out of presents, usually at Christmas".   We have nothing as snappy in English.....





Charlotte and Robin are hastening downstairs with the last of the wrapped presents 

  







Grandmama has come prepared to read the traditional Christmas story to the gathered family.....

Miss Tilbury and Harriet are performing the duet they have been practising for weeks (the whole family knows it by heart!) and Oliver is hiding behind the tree and occasionally tapping his drum when Miss Tilbury glances in his direction.

Kitty has laid out her dress upstairs in the hope that she will be allowed a little time off to visit her family and see her young man.






Meanwhile, outside the carolling is getting louder.









The hot chestnut man is doing a brisk trade..... 














And one of the singers is truanting to post a last minute card.








Maybe it's this one?

A Joyous Christmas 

and a Peaceful New Year to Everyone