The new goalpost seemed to be miles away from the old one which got steadied by some workmen a little later. We thought that was it. However, this very morning I noticed that the old goalpost has disappeared, so are we getting a second new one after all?
Anyway, December has started and with it came the first Advent Sunday. In Germany we traditionally have wreaths on our tables with four candles, one more being lighted every Advent Sunday, until all four are lighted together on the last Sunday. This is a great way for the children to count down the weeks until Christmas. As I found a decent wreath on the Saturday beforehand, here is my first ever attempt at making one for our house:
Slightly earlier that week we had the Winchester lantern parade (the Hampshire Chronicle article has great pictures but here is a fantastic one!) which also ties in with the Advent period.
Another German custom is Nikolaus! On the evening of 5 December (today!) children take their cleanest pair of shoes and put them onto the window sill in their bedroom. Over night Nikolaus (=Santa Claus - who is different from Father Christmas!) will arrive and leave some fruit and sweets and if the children are lucky also some small presents. So on the morning of 6 December there is a lot of excitement in the house when the children discover what Nikolaus has left for them. In a way this custom is quite close to what is done over here at Christmas time, with the stockings waiting to be filled over night. Only that the children in Germany get both, as the Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) is also going to pay them a visit on the evening of 24 December.
Oh yes, if you should be short of ideas for Christmas presents: Instead of buying your child a boring old iPad for Christmas, get them a stick!
Riverpark Leisure Centre
The consultation period for the Leisure Centre plans has now finished, I hope many people have used the opportunity to let the council know their opinion on the presented options.
Here is one more article that was published about the open Save the Rec meeting: Winchester meeting hears leisure centre options withheld from public consultation
And another one: Leisure park alternatives not revealed
There were a number of interesting tweets from Save the Parks:
"Council admits that the 'strip' of lost green space shown in footprint drawings for Option 2 is LOWEST ESTIMATE. No architect work done yet!"
"… 'To get anything decent', they said, 'you'd need to take up much more space'. How much? 'We don't know. We haven't got drawings.'"
"Overheard at the Guildhall: Winchester resident: 'I don't know which to choose!' Council officer: 'Well, Option 2 seems best… Here's a pen.'"
If you haven't had a chance to have your say, I'd say there is nothing stopping you from still writing in.
Council activities
On Monday I spotted that a notice had been put up at a sign post at Nun's Walk, so work will be done there, the question is just when...
You might have been wondering when the annual bin calendar is going to arrive, well, it seems it's not - unless you call and request it to be sent to you! Alternatively you will be able to download a version from the the Working Together website. (WCC press release / Hampshire Chronicle article)
Supported by WCC and HCC: Warm up Winchester offers local people new heating systems at low or no cost!
Good news: Winnall roadworks due to end this weekend.
Hampshire County Council offer this: "Take part in our consultation on young people's emotional wellbeing and mental health services"
And here is a whole bunch of Hampshire Chronicle articles:
Environment
Hampshire chalk streams under threat from household products - this includes the Itchen.
'Government plan to cut energy efficiency scheme "unforgivably perverse"', says govt's own fuel poverty advisor: Britain's damp, leaky homes among Europe's most costly to heat.
Here in Winchester: Lib Dems attack fracking report!
Something to consider: Tell your MP: No more UK coal!
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust: "We need to double our membership to replace cuts in funding. Can you help?"
Safety
For the latest information on recalled products, keep this link on your favourites list: Product recalls - Trading Standards Institute.
Community
Have you ever heard of the Winchester Residents Association? I'm sure people who lived here longer must have but during the last years there wasn't much about them and now they seem to be ready to break up: Winchester residents' group set to close.
Things to do
Why not go for a walk on the newly named Viaduct Way and check out the new features there? There is a great set of photos of the new benches on the WCC page on Facebook.
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Oh, yes, today we have December's Councillor's Surgery! Anybody going? :)
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