A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: CHRISTMAS BEGINS!

22nd December 2025

Arguably my favourite day of the Christmas period, today saw Liz and I pop over to Shrewsbury to see my son, his girlfriend and my beautiful granddaughter, and then have lunch in one of our favourite places, the Lion & Pheasant.

As we don’t see everyone on Christmas Day, today was our chance to touch base and exchange gifts. It was also a chance to open those gifts, something that Ivy, my granddaughter was very happy about. It’s just such a wonderful time that gives us a chance to have two days when gifts are opened. That, I have to say, makes me very happy!

Now normally I wouldn’t mention a present I’d been bought unless it was related to my work, but the one that my son bought me was so cool I have to reveal it here, so I’ll just post an image and move on!

And then it was on to the Lion & Pheasant. Situated very close to the English Bridge that spans the River Severn, this old hotel is absolutely one of our go-to places in town. It now just happens to be a venue we seem to be gravitating to as part of our little Christmas traditions. We love it!

The food that we ordered today was spectacular. Mine, a turkey and bacon pie with pomme puree and winter greens, is as fine a meal as I’ve eaten in years. Small it might have been, rich and filling it most certainly was. It was one of those meals that you eat that you simply don’t want to finish!

So you would think that having had such a relaxing day, that would have been it. Err, no. You see, because I build models for a living it is assumed that I can also build toys. So for a few years, I’ve been asked to build the toys for another of my grandkids, so that they are ready for Christmas morning.

Though often time consuming, I find the job rather relaxing, even when the instructions in these toys are often absolute rubbish. Seriously, how are stressed parents supposed to follow such crap under the kind of pressure only experienced on Christmas morning?

So they are done now and all that remains is a little shopping and that’s it. Tomorrow we are off to the Severn Valley with our great-nephew. I won’t be riding the trains, but will be sitting on the platform in Bridgnorth, coffee and sandwich in hand. I can’t wait!

See you tomorrow.