Getting in the festive spirit

Feeling festive yet?

Friday (3 Dec) was Poulton-le-Fylde’s Annual Christmas Festival and Lights Switch On. As our offices are just down the road I decided to go and take a look at the special Christmas market while on my lunch break (I made sure I left some extra room after my dinner for a Friday Christmas treat!).

It was a really chilly afternoon and, as I made my way to the square, I thought about all those brave stall holders standing out in the cold! I was pleasantly surprised to see a variety of stalls selling Christmas gift ideas and tasty treats. From nuts and Belgium chocolate to smoked fish and local meats, there was a lovely buzz about the place. After having a good nosey around (and delving into the free samples on offer), I opted to treat myself to a delicious home-made mince pie (a great afternoon treat back at the office), as well as a few stocking fillers from the Belgium chocolate stand – think I might need to hide them from myself so they actually make it into the stockings!

Unfortunately I missed Santa arriving on his sleigh and the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony. Think I might have to ask around my colleagues to see if anybody else was lucky enough to see them.

Kate

My foodie heaven

Picking up goodies at the Barton Grange Food Festival

One of the perks of working in the tourism department is you get to hear all about the great events happening across Wyre. This weekend it was Barton Grange Garden Centre’s Food Festival, so I took my partner along on Saturday morning to see what goodies we could get our hands on.

They had laid the festival out round the sides of the garden centre, so we slowly made our way round the many stalls, perusing all the fab local produce on offer. Impressive looking pasties and pies, tasty Lancashire cheese, delicious ice cream, scrumptious cakes and tangy chutneys – we were spoilt for choice! I was really impressed with the amount of tasters the producers were giving out too – I certainly didn’t need to have any lunch anyway! After careful consideration we opted to buy a creamy Blacksticks cheese (which went great with our garlic chicken salad later), a pot of Westmoorland Relish and my partner John’s personal favourite – a sticky toffee pud!

It was great to see so many of the local producers in one place, as it really made me think about all the brilliant produce we have on our doorstep – something I don’t ever think about when I’m pushing the trolley round the supermarket…

 Kate