Mollys Guide - Winter 2019

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NEWSDesperate DadBaby’s First Christmas...I sincerely hope Santa has access togift vouchers and online credit servicesthis Christmas. That seems to be whatboth my ‘older’ boys want this year.Gone are the longing lists for the latest toy craze,inappropriate board games and action figures.Replaced now with cool trainer requests, gamingtokens and brazen ‘non-earned’ cash - no shamethem two.How on earth did this happen?It feels like yesterday when Christmas morningmeant boxes under the tree as far as the eyecould see. I suspect a sea of envelopes andnothing at all for the cat to play with this year.Christmases have evolved and begun to feelrather different for the last couple of years, Santacertainly has his work cut out these days.It doesn’t dampen any real sprints though - thefestive season is still welcomed willingly in thishouse from early doors in December.We usually get the tree up on the last weekendof November by which time the Christmas tuneshave already had a damned good airing.4Winter 2019
Have I told you about my collection of everysingle UK Christmas No.1 single since 1952?Another time perhaps...?It’s probably all my fault - Christmas is still oneof my favourite times of the year.Christmas Eve is the best day of the year in mybook. Family visits, party food, final prep andmore salted peanuts than a KP factory - is thereanything better?And this year we have an extra special gift toenjoy and someone new to introduce to themagic.My daughter will be almost 10 months old onChristmas Day - mostly oblivious this year ofcourse - but just think of the magic that willunfold in the coming years?More Santa letters, mince pie offerings, carrotsfor reindeers and school nativities to lookforward to - all those wonderful magical firstsfalling again.As my boys grow out of Christmas, the baby willgrow into them. Like passing the most magicalof batons, childhoods will practically bookend,from one to another with a knowing Santa winkand a grin.The parcels will return in the next couple of yearsI’m sure. The ribboned bicycle in the diningroom, the fever pitch bath before bedtime onChristmas Eve and the incredulous 5am festivewake -up calls. I really can’t wait.The little moments I thought had now beenresigned to the magical memory bank - I’ll get toexperience once more.Wake-up calls aside, I can’t wait to get back intothe spirit again, I’d miss it too much if was todisappear completely over the next few years.So this year I don’t have a wish list for FatherChristmas, no begging letter to the North Polewill be sent from me.In its place I think I’ll send a thank you letter.A thank you for allowing me to experience myChristmases anew.And when my daughter runs into the bedroomat some ungodly hour to tell me ‘Santa’s been’, Iknow who’ll really be feeling like a little kid again.#MerryChristmas everyone.Barry Wood is an ex journalist now workingfor the NHS in Lincolnshire. A father of twoboys and one girl and husband to onePortuguese wife, he blogs regularly asDesperate Dad.Read more adventures:barrylwood.wordpress.comFacebook: Desperate DadTwitter: @Dad_DesperateInstagram: @daddesperatewww.mollysguide.co.uk5
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Page 6 and 7: NEWSFamily FunChristmas parent -whi
Page 8 and 9: EDUCATIONLincoln Minster SchoolVisi
Page 10: ENTERTAINMENTLPACThe Lion, The Witc
Page 14 and 15: DAYS OUTDoddington HallAn enchanted
Page 16 and 17: DAYS OUTLincoln BIGSOAK-UP LINCOLN
Page 18 and 19: HOBBIES & ACTIVITIESScaman’s Eggs
Page 20 and 21: HOBBIES & ACTIVITIESFillingham Tree
Page 22 and 23: ACTIVITIES & HOBBIESLincolnshire Wi
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Page 27 and 28: Thursday 5th-Sunday 8th DecemberLin
Page 29 and 30: Join Macmillan and celebrate theliv

Mollys Guide - Winter 2019

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