We’ve all been getting ready for Christmas and the season ahead here at Hippersons. We’ve been giving a lot of thought to our winter maintenance programme. We have also been upgrading the exterior look of Swallows and Coot Club by remodelling the windows with double glazed UPVC windows and putting new cladding up where it’s needed. We still have a way to go on this project, the first stages have been tremendous and we are really impressed with the way they are looking. We almost can’t wait for the first guests to see what they make of them, although we still have plenty to do!
Boats have come out of the water for the winter, and the winterising of most is complete now. The car park looks extremely full of boats all wrapped snugly under nautically coloured tarpaulin. They all look like they are hibernating for winter and really don’t want to be disturbed as they rest up ready for another season on the river.
The yard is looking a little festive with the addition of Simon’s light Christmas tree, always looks warm and welcoming, and the Christmas cards, being written and arriving. Thank you to everyone who sent one, I love a card at Christmas.
Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Gift giving at Christmas is said to come from the gifts given by the three kings to the baby Jesus, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. They were welcoming him as the new saviour and showering him with presents fit for a king. It is said we give gifts to loved ones to show them how much we care, and the gift represents our love for them
Personally I have been thinking about how to give gifts that show I care. It is always difficult and very tempting to get into a lot of debt at this time of year, so many expensive new gadgets, tricks and toys children (young and old) feel they really need to have. I have tried making some of my gifts this year, and although I am pleased with the result, for some reason I feel as though I am cheating because I am not spending money on ready made. That is a bit daft, as when I think about it, the resources needed to make the gifts that were purchased, and a lot more time and thought has gone into what I have made. I have tried hard to match the materials to the personality of the individual so they can see the thought that has gone in.
The other gift I love to give is a memory maker. I love to buy an experience for us to do as a family, these have included attending the Ed Sheehan concert, an overnight stay at The Pigs and tickets to Classic Le Mans. I guess my recent brushes with cancer have taught me the one thing I love the most is the memories we have, roasting marshmallows on fires at Christmas, biking on a family adventure to the beach and back, sailing a boat around the Broads and canoeing up the river. This quality time spent with ones I love, is worth more than the latest gadget (often quickly discarded) but the memory is talked about forever. I think this Christmas I am going to give homemade gifts and memories.
I hope you enjoyed reading the first of the Hippersons monthly blogs. Look out for more news and information about the boatyard and our nautical adventures, and also a few more of my own reflections in January. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous 2020.
Mary