As usual there is a great deal going on this weekend – Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 – as a welcome break from the Christmas shopping. Or just do a bit more Christmas shopping!
● On Saturday , the environmental charity Groundwork South unveils its new shop in Violet Avenue, Yiewsley.
The first charity shop the group has opened, it will be a flagship for training and volunteering and, Groundwork hopes, the first of many to come.
The Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Catherine Dann, will perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10am, and there will be mulled drinks and mince pies all day long.
Why not pop along and find out more?
● Northwood’s Christmas Craft Market on Saturday is a must for anyone looking to pick up a ‘crafty’ gift or even trying to make their own.
There will be plenty of stalls groaning with jewellery, decorations, clothing, greetings cards, soaps and lots more.
Santa Claus will be there, and you can refuel on home made cakes, washed down with a tea or coffee.
The market is in Northwood Methodist Church Hall in Oaklands Gate, from 10am-3pm.
● Santa comes to Yiewsley on Saturday in his usual unconventional style.
Giving Prancer, Dancer and the others a day off, he will tie up the Elsdale II floating classroom at the new, funky, illuminated Colham Bridge, and make his way to his High Street grotto.
The Yiewsley and West Drayton Town Centre Action Group Christmas Fair starts in the High Street at 1pm, with stalls and plenty going on before Santa’s arrival at about 4pm.
● Forget the tinkle of sleigh bells: how about the clunk of a cell door?
It might not sound very festive, but there will be plenty of laughing policemen and a fat and jolly Santa Claus at the Ruislip police station open day on Saturday .
There will be sniffer dogs to pet and a tour of the station, in The Oaks, Ruislip.
The open day is from 10am-4pm. Last year it was a roaring success with long queues, so get there early!
● Hillingdon’s ice rink is up and running – or skating at any rate – and is likely to be popular on this, its first weekend.
Situated on the piazza of Hillingdon Civic Centre, the rink has a canopy this year to protect skaters from the elements.
Saturdays and Sundays are counted as peak times all day, so a skate will cost £7 for adults, £5.50 for under-16s and concessions, and a family ticket is £20.
Book at http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/icerink to avoid disappointment, and check Ts and Cs.
● Blow away the cobwebs with the latest in the series of led bicycle rides – with a Christmas theme.
Saddle up and meet at Uxbridge station in the High Street at 10am on Sunday , for a three-hour ride.
● Ruislip’s popular Duck Pond Market will be at the Manor Farm Complex on Sunday for a double-header with a festive feel.
The ‘Foodies’ Christmas Market’ is from 10am-2pm, then from 3-7pm in The Great Barn there will be street food, a bar, mulled wine and mince pies plus a fancy-dress making competition, lantern making and parade, plus Christmas comedy and singing, as part of the popular Sunday Sessions.
● TV star Carol Smillie will be at intu Uxbridge on Sunday , leading a Light Up A Life ceremony for Michael Sobell Hospice of Northwood.
The former Changing Rooms presenter will give readings as part of the memorial event for loved ones.
Light Up A Life starts at 3pm in the shopping centre in the High Street.
● And if you still have any energy left, there are plenty of covers bands playing the local pubs on Saturday night.
Undersound at The Six Bells, Station Road, West Drayton; Jason Stretch at The General Eliott, St John’s Road, Uxbridge; Big Al and the Blistering Buicks at The Dolphin, Rockingham Road, Uxbridge; and The Skammers at The 3 Steps, Cowley Road, Cowley.
Have a great weekend!
