Christmas celebrations in Little Totham - On Christmas Eve children are invited to bring parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts to the Christingle and Crib service in All Saints.

Starting at 4pm this annual event is a wonderful start to the final countdown to Christmas Day as well as raising money for the work of the Children's Society.

Each youngster receives a decorated orange - signifying the world - topped with a candle representing the coming of Jesus bringing light and love.

As each Christingle is lit the darkened church fills with light - always a magical moment. The service is also the time for the children to fill the crib with all the characters who took part in the Nativity.

The building will again take on a warm, candlelit glow for the service to usher in the start of Christmas Day.

From 11:15pm sing carols in readiness for the traditional midnight service to begin at 11:30. On Christmas Day the Rector, the Rev Jonathan Pearce, will lead Parish Communion at 10am.

VILLAGE CAROL SINGING

Each year this event goes from strength to strength - and so does the support the village gives to Colchester Night Shelter for the homeless.

Make a note in your diaries either to meet in the Swan car park at 6:30pm on Monday, December 17, or to turn down the telly so that you can appreciate the singers' efforts.

Everyone is welcome to join in.

No need to be a world-class singer to support a worthy cause.

Bring a torch or a lantern. All Saints provides the carol sheets and we finish in the pub.

Children are especially welcome - even if they can only lah lah - and can give up when they're too tired to continue!

CHRISTMAS POST

No need to rely on Royal Mail to deliver your local Christmas cards. The Scouts and their parents will do this for you.

They have plenty of experience, as this is the 26th year that the Scout Post has been licensed to enable funds to be raised for local youth work.

Deliveries are made once or twice weekly by the Wickham Bishops-based 1st Beacon Hill group.

Stamps cost just 15p and are available from local shops and the Swan where there will also be a post box.

The delivery area is wider than the immediate villages and is listed on the front of the box.

For more information contact Alison on 891701.

GIFTS

If you're still struggling with ideas for Christmas gifts with a difference here are some possibilities.

To enchant adults and children alike the six-room Tudor dolls' house handcrafted by Peter Simpson from Post Office Lane is for sale at offers around £100.

Contact him on 892171.

The book Little Totham, The Story of a Small Village provides a fascinating snapshot of local life seen through the eyes of the people who lived here and their families.

Even if you have only just moved into the area it will give you an idea of the kind of place you have chosen to settle.

Copies, priced at £5.50, are available from Lorna Key (891667) and Vivienne Smith (891660).

Sets of notelets with a painting of All Saints are also available from Vivienne at £4.50 for six.

I f yo u we r e t h i n k i n g o f giving gifts to members of All Saints why not contribute towards the cost of removing the rendering instead?

They could have a lump of cement as a reminder of your generosity

THE SWAN

Christmas meals will be available from December 4th. Please book early - a menu is available to look at.

December 23, from 4pm bring your own cheese - the pub will have mulled wine and mince pies.

On Christmas Eve from 4pm Becky and Gavin thank their customers with cheese and biscuits.

Open until 1am.

Opening hours on Christmas Day and Boxing Day are noon to 2:30pm. The Swan will be closed all day on December 27.

On New Year's Eve opening times are 11am to 4pm and 8pm till late.