
Last week’s post in Santa Rita was a hard act to follow. For me it embodied all the joy of an Algarve Christmas, but it doesn’t seem right to say goodbye to an old, dog-eared year without first taking you for a stroll around Tavira, in all her sparkly finery.


From our house, it’s a short walk into town, passing the Fonte Salgada roundabout. Most years this is lit quite simply with a ‘Boas Festas’ sign- ‘good parties!’ The crib scene was a nice surprise. Over the level crossing I vary my route, seeking out lighted windows, balconies draped with fairy lights and Christmas window displays. I think the wedding gown might need a warm bolero!






Across the river all eyes are drawn to the tree, standing proud in Praca da Liberdade. As we watch, a ripple of colour spreads upwards and the tree changes from electric blue, through turquoise, green and red. Behind the arches of the council buildings, solemn, slightly spooky kings carry their presents to the holy infant. I play hide and seek with the kings, watching the light sparkle on the fountains.





We wait for our turn and then take a twirl inside the tree, looking up as the colours flow all around us. Christmas magic!





Eventually we tear ourselves away and walk through the riverside gardens to the twinkling bandstand. I wonder if the terrapins who live there mind the unaccustomed night light. A very low key Christmas market is being set up and, for the first time ever, a small ice skating rink. Santa sits in a riverside cabin, bemused at being ignored by the tots, who laboriously push a penguin and a polar bear across the ice. I can’t help but think that padded suits might be more use. It’s a good thing that little ones bounce!




Inside the old market, a more traditional scene, with camels and traders, occupies one corner. Back on the quayside, we walk towards the shiny bow outside the new market. The lights of home beckon, from across the water.

Can you see the conflict? Homespun or manufactured? Heartfelt or adopted? Traditional or modern? None of it really matters. The important thing is to give and receive love, and to make this a time of peace in our turbulent, worrisome world.
‘Imagine all the people living life in peace, You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…’ I’m singing along with Lennon again.
……………………………………………………..
Sharing the Christmas theme, here’s what Melbourne has to offer. Thanks, Teresa!
I Chose to Visit the City last Weekend
And from the warmth of her beloved Philippines :
A bit strenuous for me these days, but what a terrific reward! Christie could certainly lead me here :
White River suspension bridge Trail – Pukaskwa National Park
And by way of complete contrast, stroll with Rupali :
Gaudi’s Work: Nature, Religion and Geometry
The word Fashion always has me thinking of Bowie. Sing along, Drake!
Sarah takes us to Plovdiv, to see some wonderful street art :
Gallery: a walk in colourful Kapana
And just to round it all off, Jude is sharing another garden with me. One day, in real life, hon?
Garden Portrait: Barrington Court Garden
And so I see out a year in which I’ve changed blogs, but not really left the old Restlessjo behind. I’m doing a quick sprint to the UK for Christmas, and won’t be posting a Monday walk next week. Wish me luck! Much love to you all. I’m so happy to share our world.
Beautiful
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Thank you!
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Beautiful light display Jo. How wonderful to live so close to such beauty. Hope you had a wonderful holiday celebration.
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We just walked through the town again tonight, after supper, Alegria. Looking pretty! Thank you π€π
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What wonderful lights! (I do love Christmas lights!). I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. All the best for 2022!
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It was a special Christmas, Nikki. Wishing you a healthy, happy new year π€π
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thank you for sharing Christmas lights at Tavira, Jo! truly magical. hope you and yours had a wonderful and happy Christmas! wishing you both a happy and healthy New Year! π
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I made it back to the UK, LolaWi. Very briefly, but long enough for those Christmas hugs. Now they just have to last me a while…. Thank you!
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So beautiful photographs dear Johanna, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Thank you, Love, nia
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Thanks so much, Nia! I hope Christmas has been kind to you and that the year ahead will be filled with peace and joy.
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What wonderful Christmas decorations Jo. Love the nativity scene. I have yet to visit the city centre to see the Christmas lights, which I’m hoping will happen before the end of the year, but been just too busy.
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you a great 2022!
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I hope it was good busy, Sami. We don’t have far to go to see our lights, but will probably pop to Faro and Olhao to check theirs out while it still feels Christmassy./ Very best wishes to you and yours. Hope 2022 is all you could wish for.
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Simply beautiful!
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I’m lucky to live here, Pit. I arrived back this afternoon from a cold and snowy Leeds, but it was wonderful to see my youngsters. Hope you had a good Christmas.
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Do hope you have had a lovely Christmas with the family, guessing it cannot be long now before you return to this delight
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On the platform at Faro station. Overnight snow in Leeds so we had to be de-iced. Never a dull moment π€£βοΈπ Happy Boxing Day!
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Beautiful photos Jo! Wishing you a very merry Christmas and hope your trip to the UK has gone well! xx π π
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After lunch and we’re watching Logan playing video games while waiting to WhatsApp with Lisa. Hope you had a great Christmas, Rosemay π π²πππ₯π
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Yes thanks Jo we had a lovely Christmas though it’s rather too hot! It seems there is trough sitting just off shore which is preventing the normal cooling south westerlies coming in during the afternoons. No relief till Wednesday afternoon π¦ So glad you managed to get over to the UK, take care xx π
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Another magical, festive walk – thank you for the dose of lovely lovely lights (especially right now when it’s grey & raining hard in Singapore).
I love your reflection which I embrace 100%: “The important thing is to give and receive love, and to make this a time of peace in our turbulent, worrisome world.”
“
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Hope your Christmas was wonderful, darlin. It’s grey and damp in Leeds too but I’m so happy to be here π€πππ₯π
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When weβre with family, the weather ceases to matter, right?
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Yep π€£π
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Thanks for spreading so much seasonal joy with your festive walks. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year and a safe and happy trip. My sweetheart and I are snuggled up on the settee as I write, so all’s well here.
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Sounds like a good place to be, Susan. We’re in a Leeds hotel awaiting test results and with the possibility that our grandson may have Covid too. Not going quite to plan so far. Got everything crossed ππ Merry Christmas π πππ
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I hope your grandson turns out to be OK. I felt worried about your tests when you said you were coming over. Use Twitter if you need to chase, even if it’s not your style. That’s what we eventually did – nothing else drew a response. My fingers are crossed for you!
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No worries darlin. We’ve just had a fit to fly and got the results. π€£π Logan ok so far so we’re going to go and see them now π
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Hurray!
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That tree is fabulous, especially being able to go inside it. Fun! I love this phrase: old, dog-eared year. That just about sums it up.
Happy Holidays Jo. Wishing you all the best for 2022. May it be better!
Alison
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Thanks Alison π€π It has to get better, don’t you think? Wishing you and Don good times ahead βοΈπππ₯π
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This is so lovely and festive Jo π It’s wonderful to see the effort Tavira goes to at Christmas! My favourite has to be that tree, I could watch it for ages, and photograph it too π I hope your Christmas visit here goes off OK. I don’t think you’ll have any problems travelling over (apart from a load of extra paperwork and testing) but I hope you’re prepared to stay a while if Boris makes a last minute call to shut down after the big day?!
My final Monday Walk of the year isn’t quite so festive but I wanted to share more of our Seville trip while still fresh in the memory: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/a-walk-in-the-gardens-of-sevilles-real-alcazar/
Have a wonderful Christmas and I’ll ‘see’ you in 2022 for more walks πππ π
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Our flight home leaves at 9.35am on Sunday, Sarah. Keeping everything crossed but I’m so excited! I have warned my daughter that if all goes wrong I’ll turn up on her doorstep in Nottingham. She has space but always likes a private Christmas, just her and Leo. Wishing you a lovely festive season and thanks for all the great company. π πβοΈβπ
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A lovely post, Jo: Sorry it’s taken me so long to get round to it. Team Spain is to blame …. Happy Christmas to you, and all your family x
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I knew you had family staying, Margaret, so I wasn’t really expecting you. Have they gone back to London? Mick has just battled through locater forms and check in. 1st test this afternoon and a PCR tomorrow when we arrive. Everything crossed it goes ok. Merry Christmas, hon π€π πβπ
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Some classy decorations there Jo! Have a merry and healthy Christmas! β€οΈ
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Thanks so much, Denzil! The same to you and yours. It feels a little bit like you need to be armour plated to venture into the the world these days, but I’ll give it my best!
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I love that tree! Hope your trip goes well and you have a lovely Christmas.
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Thanks, Anabel. A quiet Christmas for you? Mum will be with you in spirit, but happy with Dad. Wishing you good health and happiness π€πβπ
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Thanks Jo. Weβre not really doing Christmas this year, just the two of us getting away from it all.
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Such a lovely walk Jo! So well said: The important thing is to give and receive love, and to make this a time of peace in our turbulent, worrisome world. If only we could do this the whole year aroundπ
Thank you for including me on your walksπ
Merry Christmas to you and to your dear ones, and safe travels!!
Christie, xx
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Thanks Christie π€π There always seems to be so much goodwill around at this time of year but it seldom lasts through January. Wishing you good health and happiness, and joyful walking π πββοΈπ
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thank you! xoxo
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A very fine collection.
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The town is quite deserted on a night, Andrew, so you have the lights pretty much to yourself. A quiet Christmas here. Hoping Leeds is not TOO boisterous but looking forward to it. Merry Christmas, hon!
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Jo, what a wonderful walk! Your commentary as usual was delightful and so were the photographs. My favourite turned out to be the spooky kings! They were really cool. Well, almost as cool as twirling inside that lighted tree.
Merry Christmas, Jo. Happy holidays too. Have a great trip!
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Thanks a lot, sweetheart! I smile at those kings every time I walk past. They never smile back! Wishing you health and happiness in the year ahead. Merry Christmas!
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Another delightful and beautiful Christmas walk. Thanks for that. I pray you have safe travels and a wonderful time. β€
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Thanks, Janet! I’m starting to get excited now. ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year….’ Wishing you good health and happiness, now and in the year to come. Merry Christmas, darlin!
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Right back at you, Jo, and praying you have a safe and wonderful time during your trip.
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Wow, this village is simply magical. I wouldβve loved to walk on those streets personally.
Have a great Christmas, Jo and blessings to you and your family!
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First day of winter today, Teresa, and it started with rain, but we’re back to blue skies. Nothing is permanent, love, and we have to make the most of all we’ve got. Thanks so much for keeping me company. Wish you a happy year ahead!
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Thanks my friend. Have a great Christmas and New Year!
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Those are some serious lights and decorations for what I imagined is a small town! I love the cheer that holiday lights bring! Thanks for sharing.
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Lighting up the darkness when we need it, Lexie. The streets are very quiet right now. Anticipation! Hope you have a wonderful Chrismas, and a healthy, happy new year, darlin! Many thanks for your company.
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Very happy holidays to you, too, Jo!
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π πβππ
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Hahaha, an old dog-eared year, that’s funny Jo! Tavira is truly magical and would work for my Sunday Stills theme (Light the Night)! How I wish I could take a real walk here with you, but the virtual walk is awesome! And the combination of styles really does work. Enjoy your beautiful Christmas and a blessed (and safe!) 2022!
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Thanks so much, Terri! We were supposed to have a Christmas jumpers croquet morning today, but it’s been cancelled due to the long-awaited rain arriving. As someone pointed out, that will be good for the shops. Always a bright side, hon, and I’m always happy to share it. Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas and good health and fortune in the new year!
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Love the light show. I wouldn’t mind poking inside that lit up tree. Looks like fun. Have a great time in the old country and safe travels, Jo.
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Thanks a lot, Graham! Getting excited now! Hopefully Santa will come. I’ve been quite good…. Merry Christmas, hon!
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Best wishes to you and Mick for safe travels, a lovely Christmas with your family and a wonderful 2022.
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Thanks, Carol! A healthy, happy Christmas to you and yours too!
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They really do go all out, don’t they. Puts the UK villages to shame – well, it does in my area. you would hardly know it’s Christmas here! Still, in my house the candles are burning in every widow, the tree is well lit and hung with enough baubles to start a shop, and the booze is nicely arranged on the drinks trolley in the hopes that someone will call! I think there may be one or two visitors but some have called off as they are a bit scared. I’m spending Christmas with my god daughter and her family (Italian) and I know it will be good. Have a great time in the UK and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that nothing disrupts your travel plans.
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It’s good to know that you have good company this Christmas, Mari. It sounds like just the boost you need. Enjoy it to the full, hon. Merry Christmas to you all!
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Good choice, the Lennon classic – next to another classic “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all”.
Why do we not treat each other the other 11 months as we treat each other in the last month of the year.? π π
Wonderful captures, really adores rhe modern christmas trees – look like the stars are spotlights. π
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It’s a good question, Drake. Could we manage it for 6 months or more, do you think? Christmas comes but once a year, and when it does it brings good cheer. I’m always happy to share it with you π€πβοΈβπ
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Six months in a row would probably be too confusing for us humans – maybe every second day, every third day or every fourth day, would make us less stressed.? π π π
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How utterly lovely!
In case I donβt get back to blogging this next week, Iβd like to wish you and your friends and family a very warm, safe, happy and healthy holiday!!! ππ
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Thanks, darlin! I could wish the same for you. Merry Christmas and a joyful 22. π€πβοΈβπ
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Beautiful tree, stunning pictures, you never disappoint. Joe, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
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Thanks so much, Bridget! That’s nice of you. Wishing you peace and happiness, now and in the year to come π€πβοΈβπ
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I have really enjoyed this walk Jo!
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That’s nice to know, Aletta.
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Lovely walk with in festive mood. Merry Christmas Jo.
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The town is looking lovely, Rupali/ Thanks a lot!
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The tree is amazing, Merry Christmas to you and yours
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Many thanks and a merry Christmas, Alice!
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That is a very modern tree, but impressive nonetheless and fits perfectly into my December month of kaleidoscopic colours! I’m sitting here watching literally thousands of starlings flying by, they are by far the biggest flocks I have seen, but very difficult to photograph as they appear suddenly and fly so fast! I hope your Christmas visit goes off OK. Could even be some snow on Thursday or Friday in your area! Safe travels Jo π€Άπ»πβ¨
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I’m a little bit nervous but a lot excited about it, Jude. You know my viewpoint and I’m really looking forward to Temple Newsam on Christmas Eve, but if it all goes wrong, so be it! I will have tried. π€π πβπΎπ Ooooh, snow! πβοΈβοΈ
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Ah, you’ll have a fab time Jo! Eat, drink and be merry! We only have one life.
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Thanks for the virtual wander, Jo!
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Cheers, lovely Sue! Merry Christmas π€πβπ
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And you javelin a good Christmas, Jo
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You go inside the tree!?
How cool is that!?
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Good, isn’t it? Merry Christmas, Dawn! Feeling better?π€ πβπ
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Yes. So much better, thank you for asking. Merry Christmas Jo.
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Magical walk
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I love Christmas lights, Indra π€πβπ
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That tree may be a modern representation, but it is stunning and fitting for the season. However, you stole the show with this comment: “The important thing is to give and receive love, and to make this a time of peace in our turbulent, worrisome world.” Cheers to that, Jo!
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If we could only make it happen, for everyone, Frank. Not just us lucky ones! I very much appreciate your company and your thoughts π€πβπ
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Gorgeous photographs, Jo! That tree is amazing. Thanks so much for sharing. Merry Christmas!
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Wishing you and your family much joy this Christmas, Jill. Thanks for spending time with me π πβοΈβπ
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Beautiful. I would love to be inside that tree too π
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It’s nice down there at the moment, Brian. There’s piped music drifting into the streets and the roast chestnut man on the corner. I forgot to mention the big nativity scene in the fire station. Merry Christmas, darlin!
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That is a treat. Merry Christmas my sweet Jo π€π
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π πβπ
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Great photos as always Jo, I love the little village scene and the colours of the Christmas tree but my favourite is the bandstand. I hope you have a good trip back here and manage it without too much hassle – have a good one π
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Starting to get butterflies thinking about it all, Eunice, but I really am looking forward to a couple of days in Leeds. You won’t recognise me under all the jumpers and scarves! Merry Christmsa, hon!
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Tavira looks quite magical during the festive season especially the colour changing tree. Peace and joy to you and your family this holiday season Aiva
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Many thanks to you, Aiva! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas with your little family. Sending hugs!
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