Phil Gillam: Three of my Great Things To Do At Christmas

Familiar black-and-white scenes from Miracle on 34th Street play out on the television as we sip coffee, nibble at mince pies and laugh at silly jokes.

The clues are all here. Yes, folks … As The Pretenders sing in their chiming, iridescent hit record, 2000 Miles – "it must be Christmas time".

For me, yuletide memories from all across this lovely old borough, my beloved hometown of Shrewsbury, happily collide in a harmless explosion of snow, stars and fairy-dust.

There is a toddler’s Christmas on Springfield estate (Watch With Mother: Rag, Tag and Bobtail), a young boy’s Christmas (Disney Time with Julie Andrews) and then a teenager’s Christmas (Slade on Top of the Pops) in Castlefields, and a grown-up’s Christmas (a feast of favourite family films) on Reabrook.

Fond recollections dance together to Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes or Sinatra’s Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas or The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York.

Like Mr Crosby, I’m forever dreaming of a white Christmas, but – what with global warming and all – we seem to have fewer and fewer of them. However, we did enjoy a spectacular winter wonderland back in January this year, and this week’s photograph, taken at Attingham Park by my wife, captures it perfectly.

This is what I really want to wake up to on Christmas morning!

But if we can’t have the snow, at least we can have lovely old films on the telly, tempting treats, cards and presents, and a favourite tipple.

And this week, I’d like to share with you three of my Great Things To Do At Christmas.

ONE: Choose a bright but cold day to go for a bracing stroll through The Quarry, the loveliest of parks and one of Shrewsbury’s jewels in the crown.

Take in the space. Take in the elegant St Chad’s Church overlooking the park. Take in the Port Hill Bridge and The Boathouse Inn across the river.

The Quarry is a gem.

And yet so many of we Shrewsbury folk often take it for granted.

Created in 1719, The Quarry comprises 29 acres of riverside parkland with – at its heart – the enchanting Dingle (a sunken garden with a pretty pond, statues and secret corners).

This was once of course a stone quarry – hence the name of the park.

History lesson alert! – Between 1324 and 1588 it was known as the Wet or Water Quarry because it frequently flooded.

Nowadays, a statue of the goddess Sabrina (presented by the Earl of Bradford in 1879) is one of the Dingle’s many features.

The Quarry is the perfect place for a stretch and some fresh air; a chance to walk off some of those mince pies and chocolates!

TWO: Snuggle up with your loved ones and watch a bunch of great Christmas films – whether they be classics from the 1940s and 1950s or whether they be more recent offerings such as The Holiday, Scrooged, Home Alone, Gremlins, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Love Actually, The Polar Express, Elf, The Man Who Invented Christmas – or of course one of the countless retellings of A Christmas Carol.

If you find yourself unmoved, pop and see your doctor and check that you actually have a heart!

THREE: Be good. Simple really … As Elwood P. Dowd says in the delightful 1950 film, Harvey: "In this world, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.” … Or, as our mum used to say: If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.

Or as The Beatles said: All you need is love.

Just one more thing.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.