Father Christmas has arrived … by bus, or if you
prefer by 1908 Wolseley Siddeley …
… early to Eastbourne … but as he had so many presents
to drop off … he needed more than one vehicle …
… all the up-to-date ones were out in the skies … so
he resorted to this beautiful one in the showroom window … loaded up and off he
went …
Santa was driving his special bus … with his Rudolph
the red-nose reindeer – who sang triumphantly! … he opened his mouth, set his
tongue wagging and lo and behold Christmas carols came boldly out ..
 |
here we're back in town |
… he said – well I have to go up to Meads – one of the
westerly ‘suburbs’ (now part of the main town) nestling under the Downs …
 |
… then I’ll be back in about ten minutes …. I
hot-footed it (not far, thankfully!) up to my flat, drop my shopping off and
back down to the bus stop on the other side of the road for the trip back into
town …
… as is the way while waiting I met up with some
locals – who I’d been meaning to catch up with: good connection – and back on
Santa’s bus I hopped …
… off we went – into town, round the town centre and
back to where I got off at my original stop …
… the other two routes were going a bit out of my way –
and I was quite busy … so thought that this bus day was the bus day …
 |
| Meads Street looking north to south the Downs are to the right in the picture |
… then yesterday I was walking into town past the
showrooms – where a couple of cars were on show … I couldn’t get nearer – for insurance
purposes …
 |
| Beachy Head in the foreground - recent falls; Eastbourne is just round the corner from these falls - still in the lee of the Downs |
… and I have no wish for a large bill should I have
accidentally damaged one of these precious vintage specimens … so these ‘rough’
photos will need to suffice …
That’s my life … on occasions … and though the bus
runs only once a year … I’ve been able to tell everyone – the whys and
wherefores …
It’s for a charity called You Raise Me Up: You Are Not Alone –
supporting life after the death of a child aged 16 – 25 … I will tell you more
in my next post …
Have very special Christmases, and lovely holiday
visits with family and friends … and remember those in need ...
The local charity: You Raise Me Up - You Are Not Alone ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
43 comments:
Merry Christmas. Nice photos!
www.thepulpitandthepen.com
At least you caught some of the ride.
Best wishes for the holidays, Hilary. Maybe 2020 be a year of good health and exciting happenings - and may the buses run on time.
That Santa bus - fun idea.
Merry Christmas!
A brilliant and much needed charity.
The Santa Box was great too.
I hope Christmas and the year(s) to come brings you everything you could hope for.
I hope you have a lovely time this holiday season! Thank you for another year (although it ain't over yet!) of terrific entertaining posts.
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s defiantly dapper Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
I WISH YOU A VERY WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hari OM
Oh that is such fun!!! What a wonderful cause, too. My niece passed shortly after her 24th b'day and I am not sure my sister and BIL ever really had much support (beyond family and friends, which counts for lots fo course). I look forward to your post on that. YAM xx
Thanks for the fun bus ride around town in that cool old bus. Love how it's decorated for the holidays. Nice pics. And...all of it for a wonderful cause.
I'm wishing you a happy and fun Christmas and a fantastic new year.
Love and big hugs.
What a joy to get to ride on such a bus. Happy Christmas!
Love,
Janie
Merry Christmas! I enjoyed all the photos.
Losing a parent, sibling or friend is horrible enough. Losing a child is unthinkable :(
I wish "You Raise Me Up" great strength... they have an important and difficult role ahead.
Have a happy, healthy New Year.
So good to see you speak of the charity "You Raise Me Up" here.
I personally know one of the families who lost a son/brother and I know that the support they have received has meant so much.
(Yes, I am from the USA but I my father-in-law lives in Eastbourne.)
Well, I never realised that Santa had got his PSV licence and could drive a bus - is there no end to the old boy's talents! In the late 1950s I travelled by space rocket to see Father Christmas - and all without leaving Woolworths! Have a good Christmas!
@ Jeff - glad you enjoyed my rough photos matching the post's 'prose! Thank you ...
@ Liz - it was long enough ... but I was able to take some photos without people around ...
@ David - thank you ... I hope 2020 will treat us all well ... the buses have their moments, but always run - and I thankfully can walk.
@ Alex - yes a fun bus ... for a good cause ...
@ EC - yes - it is a much needed local charity ... there seem to be more counselling services around while this one helps those who have lost a teenage to early twenties child ...
The Santa bus raises a fair amount of funds for them ...
@ Bazza - thank you for appreciating the posts ... and yes let's all have a lovely time over the festive period.
@ Sandie - many thanks ...
@ Yam - oh so you would understand so much about this bus, and how it reminds the travellers of this terrible type of loss ... a child before its parents ...
@ Lenny - so good to see you ... the bus is for a very good cause: and the driver (may be one who has lost a child ... I never found that out) was very empathetic ... I hope he raises lots of money ...
Thanks for your wishes and yes - let's all have happy times and here's to a better 2020!
@ Janie - it was fun to get on the bus ... and the driver was great ...
@ Truedessa - so glad you enjoyed my 'snaps' ...
@ Hels - yes exactly ... losing a child must be so terrible ... while the charity "You Raise Me Up" does have a very important role to play in helping those that have lost a child of whatever age ...
@ Kay - good to see you here ... I've been expecting you to contact me when you get over to see your father-in-law and are in Eastbourne. I'm sorry you or your husband has friends here who've lost a son/brother ... while it's good to know the charity helped them so much ...
@ John - yes ... Santa after all travels the world and I'm sure knows all the rules and regulations he needs to adhere to ... he may be 'pie in the sky' but he would never step out of line ... or not drive without the correct licence!
That rocket trip must have been such fun ... especially as you remember it to this day ... maybe it was escaping Woolworths - knowing what was coming for the store.
Thanks everyone - for recognising the worth, and importance of the charity ... as well as the extra relevant, personal snippets adding to the post; To you all - have a peaceful and blessed festive time ... with thoughts from me - cheers Hilary
very fun and worthwhile bus ride. Jolly! So much comes to the forefront this time of year, but you feature so many worthwhile causes throughout the year. We must all keep Christmas in our hearts year round, and care for others who hurt or are in need daily. Merry Christmas to you. Enjoy a cup of tea and the season.
Bus rides don't come much better than that! A delightful story and a worthwhile charity.
Now that's a fun bus to take.
A Santa bus is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! Hope you have the merriest of Christmases and a lovely New Year!
We have a Christmas train which runs around different parts of Canada (I think). We happened to catch it sitting on a bridge we went under. It was fascinating to see.
Love your pictures.
@ Joanne - yes it was pure luck that the bus turned up for me to jump on and then to realise what it was about - a serious and much needed charity.
Thanks so much ... I'm glad you enjoy my posts and that they are (usually!) worth reading. As you rightly confirm we must all keep care and concern in our hearts ... on each and every day. I shall enjoy that cup of tea over the holiday season ...
@ Keith - it's such a great fun ride - but with the worthwhile charity ... so essential to those parents who have lost a child.
@ Diane - yes it amused a lot of people ...
@ Elizabeth - the driver said it took 5 hours to set up - but it is highlighting this charity ...
@ Jo - how interesting to know about your Canadian Christmas train ... I'm sure it's raising funds for a few charities ...
So glad you enjoyed the pics ...
Cheers to you all and all the best for an enjoyable happy festive season ... and to a successful 2020 - Hilary
What a fun day. No surprise you met people along the way. I'd love to run into you out and about town! Kudos to the charity you mentioned. That age group seems often forgotten.
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas, and all the very best for 2020, may it be a very healthy year. Have a great weekend, Diane
Best wishes for the festive season to you too, Hilary.
I think Santa having a bus is cool, I like it
Hilary, that sounded like such fun. Glad you did it! A lovely pre-Christmas charity run. I hope your Christmas Day is special and that 2020 is an exceptional year for you.
Thank you for being such a regular at WEP. Have loved reading your entries.
@ Jacqui - it was very short ... probably half an hour or so! Well it'd certainly be great if we could meet up one day ... and yes the grieving parents who set it up - realised there was a need for bereavement counselling for this age group - and I understand it's really helped others.
@ Diane - many thanks for your wishes ... and let's hope we all have wonderful 2020 ...
@ Anabel - you too - thanks so much ...
@ Jo-Anne - it's cool, but also for a very good cause ...
@ Denise - it was a surprise to me ... and thought I can't miss out on the photo opportunity ... but I needed my phone - I rarely carry it ...
I've enjoyed most of the WEPs when I can come up with something relatively appropriate ... better get thinking where Cafe Terrace came from!?!
Thanks so much to you all ... I've enjoyed being around blogging friends and learning all sorts of things from you ... cheers for now and have very happy festive seasons - Hilary
What a beautiful story Hilary. A wonderful idea so needed at this time of year when loss can feel doubly painful. Wishing you a beautiful holidays season and look forward to the next part <3
Hi Hilary,
Losing anyone near and dear is heartbreaking. Glad you were able to be part of the very noble ride. You narrated a nice story.
Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
You have the best adventures Hilary, lol. What a pleasantly busy day.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The Santa Bus is such a great idea. Happy Holidays.
@ Debby - it's fun isn't ... but for a sad cause - yet the service the organisation provides will be so helpful to others who find themselves in a similar situation ... thank you - I'll give you the background on the 30th ...
@ Pradeep - I can imagine losing a child must be heartbreaking ... I just happened to find out about them from the bus ... but one advantage of the blog - I can write up about them ... not once, but twice ... and I needed photos - so that provided me the opportunity to contrive the 2nd journey: and a post ... thank you.
@ Donna - well it was fun and thus easy to write up - particularly as it was all for a good cause ...
@ Damyanti - it must really advertise the local charity - essential to those who need it round here ...
Thanks to you four ... all the best - cheers Hilary
Happy Christmas, Hilary.
I love the mental image of Santa arriving in a Wolseley Siddeley!
Thanks for bringing attention to such a wonderful charity.
Merry Christmas!
Reindeer are so clever, Hilary, being able to sing 'n' all... A very Merry Christmas to you - that cause sounds extremely worthwhile; I don't want to imagine going through that kind of loss. Take care.
@ Patsy - many thanks and you too ... enjoy your transit vehicle!
@ Shannon - yes ... it'd be pretty amazing if that (the Wolseley Siddeley) pulled up outside your/our house - love the vintage cars they showcase for us.
The charity definitely deserves its awareness ... I'll be writing again for #WATWB post ...
@ Mike - I know ... and we were warned by Santa that Rudolf might open his mouth and stick his tongue - as well as sing ... it was fun.
Yes - the thought of losing a child is just desperate ... so a local cause worth knowing about ...
Thanks so much for the visit - have a very happy and enjoyable day tomorrow ... and see you all 'shortly' - cheers Hilary
What a lovely story, riding for a good cause and having a bit of fun too.
It is a charity I haven't heard of, but one worth its weight in gold, I am sure.
The ride sounds fun, and even a distance glimpse of vintage is nice.
I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
What fun, Hilary! It all looks very colourful and festive. I missed Christmas but here's to wishing you a wonderful New Year!
Hope you had a brilliant Christmas, Hilary and wish you a happy end of decade and a Happy New Year 2020!
Hi Hilary, our Father Christmas arrived in the village Square in a fire engine this year - not too sure what happened to his usual sleigh but little Florence, 4 years old and watching from our office window, hates loud noises, and was not too impressed when the fire engine sounded its sirens as it toured the square! She put her hands over her ears and ran out of the room crying. Not the reaction one hoped for. Hope your Christmas was wonderful and wishing you a very Happy New year! XXX
(I would have sworn I'd left a comment here already but apparently I've managed to trick myself again!)
I'm so glad you got a chance on the bus - such fun!
And what a worthy cause... I look forward to hearing more about them.
Happy New Year!
@ Juliet - well I'd never have known about the charity otherwise ... and then because of the reminder about counselling I was able to recommend it to a friend - for stress and anxiety he's feeling for his daughter, who has just lost her husband.
@ Rosey - it seems they rang the government bereavement centre - only to find that nothing like that was offered ... so they set this one up locally - wonderful thing to do.
The bus and the cars came together for the post ...
@ Val - it was cheering and always fun to see ...
@ Nila - thank you so much ... I'm way behind again ... and to you too!
@ Deborah - oh how wonderful ... I expect his sleigh was washed out. Oh I sympathise with Florence - I too hate loud noises and still cover my ears!! But I don't run out of the room crying - that stopped a few years ago ... poor 'old' Florence ... a few more years and she won't be crying any more!!
@ Jz - thanks for popping in ... yes the bus was for a worthy cause - I meant to ask the driver if he'd suffered a loss - but forgot ... difficult when he was trying to stick to a schedule!
Thanks so much everyone - I do hope you've all had good Christmases and will be having a happy and peaceful year ahead ... and with thoughts to Australia - just too terrible for them.
Happy Christmas and a very peaceful 2020 - cheers Hilary
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