Monday and the last big push for the Toys & Tins Appeal for Christmas cheer to those who need it. Left, David Woodrow from the Salvation Army sorts the piles of paperwork that ensure that all the cartons are filled with the proper stuff and labelled with the right name of the recipient. Centre, the weekends donations from the Forum arrive at the sorting room. Right, volunteer Eric begins putting the toys into the right categories ready for the packers to make up the parcels with the right stuff for the right children. It's a big operation and thanks to you they're nearly there! Any last minute toy donations still very welcome at QD stores, the Drugstore, our Reception at the Forum and of course at any Salvation Army Citadel or charity shop.
Tuesday and the radio car is away for repair so it's thinking caps on to meet the advent calendar challenge today. The door reveals the words "10 sleeps to Christmas". This is where I land. The new YMCA building by the new bus station. It was quite an insight to play act a visitor coming to the city with little or no money and nowhere to stay. OK - so I had to pretend that I was under 25 but for people in that age group who might otherwise be vulnerable, it's an amazing place and consider this. They even supply tooth brush and paste!
Wednesday Advent Calendar challenge proves more inventive as the calendar has now resorted to counting down the days to Christmas. The [icture revealed behind the chocolate however is of a Christmas tree and the question is asked - who's got a real tree in their garden from a Christmas past. Answer - Diane in Elsing near Dereham. Look at this beauty over fifty feet tall and forty-one years old!
Then to Magdalen Road in Norwich where a sign mysteriously appeared at a new pedestrian crossing. It brought the church and the pub together. Standing by the sign owner of the Whalebone Pub Mike Lorenz and Associate Priest at Christ Church the reverend Margaret Whittaker. A carol service will be held by the congregation in the pub!
First visit Thursday is the Cancer Research charity shop on London Street Norwich where Ashley Perks and Sally Chandler tell me that they're short of good quality items to sell. Yes, business is good but they need more stock in the run up to Christmas. They've also instigated a scheme whereby you can ask your work colleagues to bring stuff in to your workplace and then Ashley will arrange for it all to be picked up!
Advent calendar challenge today was to find a log cabin. What better place than the award winning Clippesby Hall. In the office I'm lucky to chance across the owner John Lindsay - charming man - who says bookings have been up this year and even at this time of year there are people in the cabins. Snuggling up to a wood burner no doubt!
The overnight snow although not deep was enough to cause disruption for early morning motorists. Tim Edmunds joined me at the Ketteringham depot to ex-plain the gritting operation. The A11 was a sheet of ice in some places but motorists generally coped well. On the right, the A11 junction with the Southern Bypass. The slip road was icy and the A47 was the worst affected around the city. Elsewhere, the side roads were treacherous and there were many homes without power. We await more snow today but then it should improve over the weekend.
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