Yep. It’s getting to feel a lot like Christmas. And we’re not at all abashed about our early embracing of the festive season. We usually wait until the very end of October but this year we felt like we wanted to maximise the joy and ramp up the anticipation. Get your Christmas hat on right now.
We’re a little bit old fashioned department store (and where better than B.Altman from the marvellous The Marvellous Mrs Maisel). We’re quite a lot classic Cecil Beaton in all his My Fair Lady glory (Audrey Hepburn in her monochrome stripes for the Ascot scene might have inspired a tablecloth). We’re something of a greengrocer’s with our plentiful fresh produce and repurposed supermarket carousel. And there’s always a touch of the fun fair with our crazy, vinyl topped tables and loops of colourful satin ribbons. In essence the theme for this time of year is anything goes, as long as it’s joyous and fun and beautiful or just plain silly.
Who knew Christmas was a time for fresh fruit and veg? And we don’t just mean brussels sprouts boiled to within an inch of their lives or the acres of seasonal satsumas we just can’t help impulse buying on every supermarket trip. We’re talking the full range of fresh produce rendered as tree decorations. We have a full to overflowing fruit bowl: lemons, limes, peaches, pineapples, pomegranates and tangerines. And the crisper drawer in the festive fridge is well stocked with tomatoes, radishes, carrots and, my personal favourite, peas in their glittery pods. Definitely more, much more than your 5 a day.
Time to welcome back a couple of old favourites to the kitchen cupboard themed Christmas tree. The Stick of Butter (in a new, handy size), the Snow Cone and the Mayo jar (because nothing, but nothing, says celebrate Noel quite like a pot of mayonnaise) are back by popular demand. They’re joined by a Tin of Beanz and a Tin of Caviar because we like to cover all the demographics here at The Hambledon.
If glass decorations aren’t quite satisfying on the food front, we have proper food. Chocolate and biscuits and cake and sweets. Amatller is brand new to us from sunny Spain (we had to wait for a late October delivery so they didn’t have to use a refrigerated truck!). We’re excited about the little boxes of chocolate flowers. Classic Panettone, Dolcetti and, another blast from the past, chocolate Salami are here from Italy. And, from an England of culinary delights, a chocolate games controller.
Hands up. We confess. Mea culpa. We just can’t resist a little trash and a lot of kitsch. Please reserve judgement until you have witnessed the genius that is the Wiener Pup Hot Dog. You loved the Pack of Cigarettes before (and it’s back). Who says a Cowboy or a Merman aren’t Christmassy? And we knew you needed a Stay Fresh car air freshener as a bauble. We did. We just knew.
Noah is lining up a pretty bizarre ark from our selection. He’s favouring colder climes, and the cetaceans are making a very strong showing. Pppppick up a Penguin too. And if this all seems a little David Attenborough the kitsch bambis and the robin may not be zoologically accurate but they are very cute.
Does this all sound a bit too crazy? Are you more of a traditionalist? This way for the Nutcracker Soldiers, Gypsy Caravans and Spindle, Stripey, Pastel Coloured and Indent ornaments. Make like a Norman Rockwell painting and embrace your inner 1950s homemaker.
A Christmas shop doesn’t just put itself together. This one was hours of (very happy) labour. Step forward Miss Lucy and Miss Harriett for your seasonal bow. Step forward Mr Humby (we’re not normally great believers in the sexual division of labour but Richard is definitely our resident Mr Fixit). And for the full bouquet thrown at the stage moment of glory, step forward Mrs Grist and your trusty sewing machine. The Cecil Beaton curtains are a triumph.
This way please. The full Christmas shop is available online and instore.
