It’s officially THAT time of year. We’ve passed the one month to Christmas mark, and most people have already put their advent calendars out in anticipation for December 1st.
Like I mentioned in last week’s Unwind, I’m still not quite there with the Christmas spirit this year. Maybe it’s the fact that the year has just gone by too quickly for me and, despite the cold, it just doesn’t feel like it should be winter yet.
Perhaps living alone also has something to do with it. My flat isn’t big enough for lavish decorations and the novelty of donning a Christmas tree up in tinsel and baubles while belting out Mariah Carey doesn’t quite have the same appeal when it’s just a small desktop creation that is so artificial it smells of cheap plastic.
But, perhaps, just perhaps, when December 1st hits, everything will change. I’ll suddenly start feasting on mince pies by the hour as I settle down to watch Lindsay Lohan’s Netflix Christmas movie on loop.
I may even avoid partaking in Whamageddon this year in a bid to try and truly get behind the season. Held from December 1st, the game involves people attempting to get to the end of Christmas Eve without hearing Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’. It’s daring and almost impossible to beat, but maybe the dulcet tones of George Michael are just what I need this year. Maybe...
However, it seems that many are well and truly making up for my lack of festivities. For those in Manchester that celebrate Christmas, there’s the ever-popular markets, festive treats at McDonald’s and decorations galore throughout town to relish in.
In fact, the decorations at Rosso have caused quite a stir this week because they have been so popular. The festive display at the popular restaurant on King Street features a 30ft Christmas tree, 'massive glistening' baubles and thousands of twinkling bulbs which have been described as 'absolutely stunning' and 'next level'. With people posing for selfies outside the venue, it’s led to a bit of frustration from drivers who have had to beep them out of the way of the road.
Sticking to the theme of Christmas trees, it’s where we head for the first story on this week’s MEN Unwind…
Fir once and fir all
My grandma always insisted on having a real Christmas tree in her living room, despite calls from everyone else in the family for her to get an artificial one because the clean up was easier.
Being in the same room as the balsam fir would ALWAYS send me into hayfever overdrive, but I’ll never forget the lovely spicy and festive scent that filled the entire house. It's something that will still, without fail, transport me back to her house and how I'd always need to wrestle tree needles out of my jumper for what felt like the next five weeks after visiting.
For those looking for a similar festive experience this year, Emma Gill has looked at the always-popular Christmas tree farm that will be hosting a winter market for the first time ever.
Lowton's Grange Farm, near Wigan, has been selling Christmas trees for the last 22 years and will be hosting a Christmas market for the next three weeks, featuring products and goodies from local businesses.
Leanne Lester and Andrew Burman, who run the family-operated business, said: "We have been selling real Christmas trees from the farm for over 20 years, but this is the first time of doing a Christmas market and we're really looking forward to it.
"People can bring the whole family down and handpick their very own real Christmas tree. They don't need to worry if they don’t want it too early as we can keep it here at the farm for a day that's more convenient.”
Superstition Street
Would you live next door to a cemetery if it meant saving a bit of pennies? I’m pretty sure opinion will vary, and I’m not convinced I’d be up for the move myself, but those living on an avenue right next to the historic Blackley Jewish Cemetery say it’s not actually that bad.
Mark O’Brien, who has lived on Colindale Avenue for 22 years, says he enjoys his home because of the quiet it provides. “You’re not backing onto anything and you don’t get any noisy neighbours,” he explained to Paige Oldfield. “I suppose it spooks some people, but it doesn’t bother me.”
But, that’s not to say he’s not experienced the odd spook here and there. “There’s an old lady who haunts this house,” Mark added. “I’m not a big believer in that, but I have seen a few things.”
You’ll have to read Paige’s piece to find out more about life on Colindale Avenue.
The tapas cave of Cheadle
When life gets you down, sometimes you just want to find yourself tucked away in a salt cave eating paella, right? Or is that just me…
Stockport’s La Cueva restaurant is, quite literally, hidden away in a cave in Cheadle village - as wild as that might initially sound. The M.E.N’s What’s On editor Jenna Campbell went down to visit the ‘cracking tapas’ establishment and was left grinning from ear to ear after experiencing their Spanish-style delights.
In her review Jenna notes that ‘the quality of the ingredients and home cooking really shone through’ in her visit, with her top recommendations including lamb stew, creamy prawns and, of course, a ‘steaming pot’ of chicken paella.
Jenna notes: “You can find many things in caves - bears, prehistoric paintings, the perfect backdrop for a claustrophobic horror movie, and, if you happen to be in the Cheadle Village, a cracking tapas restaurant too.”
That’s me sold.
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