Uncle Paul's Christmas Party

On Friday I took the boys to the rotary Christmas Party at Groot Constantia. It is called the Uncle Paul's Christmas party. It is the 3rd year we have attended it, and it was good fun. We decided to go along with some friends this year, as the previous 2 years we have attended alone, and we thought it would be fin to have some of our own friends there. Of course once the men cuaght wind of this, they promptly opted out, figuring the girls could take the kids on their own... tsk tsk.

So the boys and I met Vicki and her boys there, and I must say this one was the best yet. The boys are all old enough now to participate fully and independently, and are no longer clingy or scared.

We walked up a farm track and waited next to the vineyards for the tractor, and had a fun and exciting tractor ride up the bumpy dirt track with vineyards on one side and a forest with ferns and vines etc on the other.
The tractor takes you up to a clearing, with a castle set back into the forest. There is an arena of hay bales laid out to sit on, and a pile of straw waiting to be played in, in the centre. We found a place to sit, and then all the children got busy with playing in the straw.

The marching band came and played some songs and carols and we all marched with them for a bit. The children then got a chance to try out the instruments (cymbals, drums, trumpets, flutes etc).

Noddy and friends then arrived in Noddy's car and entertained the children. Big Ears, Mr Plod, and Raggedy Ann were all there. After a while they make a big production out of finding ice-creams in Noddy's car boot and then share them out. From then on the food keeps coming. Trays of snacks containing whatever everyone has brought along including chips and biscuits, sandwiches, pies, mini pizzas, hot dogs, cold meats, cakes etc, and juice. Everyone ate and drank and had lots of fun

By then it was twilight and the coloured lights surrounding us had been turned on. A piano was brought in and we all sang carols. With Uncle Paul entertaining everyone with his funny actions and antics - he was especially funny when singing Old Mac Donald at the end with some animal props...


Then it was time for Father Christmas to arrive. The children had to blow all the lights out and we waited in the dark..... With a flash of red (a red flare) from Rudolf Father Christmas arrived on the roof of the Castle. We then had to wait for the Christmas fairy...From inside the forest a tinkling bell could be heard and then a shimmering sparkler made it's way along a pulley (looking like a dancing fairy) all the way to the castle, when it reached the castle the castle lit up magnificently and looked beautiful. With another big flash a fairy arrived in the Castle doorway ( a little girl in a while sparkly ballet outfit).
She danced around and 'lit' the Christmas tree lights and the star on the top. The children were enthralled. It was completely dark by then and it looked really pretty.

Father Christmas then sat down and started handing out the presents 'he' had brought for the children. Once then got their present the fairy gave each child a packet of 'fairy' sweets. We all opened presents and ate sweets etc. The boys got shark towels. It was very funny as they sat and waited patiently for their gifts, and jumped up to go collect theirs when they heard their names. Quinn dashed back with his gift and was very excited. He then felt it and could feel it was something soft, so he he said ' I hop
e it's not clothes!'. Luckilly he was very happy when he opened it and saw what it was.



Once we were done and Father Christmas had left, we had a return tractor ride back to the cars.