Good Old Days

What I love most about Kingston is that it is a modern town steeped in history.

All Saints Church is ancient beyond imagining, and yet manages to be a functioning, modern church in a modern functioning town. Contemporary festivals like IYAF and Surbiton’s King’s Soup echo our historical fathers’ ability to celebrate anything at the drop of a hat. Our markets stretch back hundreds of years. I like to think of our antecedents shopping and buying gifts for their loved ones just as you and I will be doing in the run up to Christmas. I am sure they watch over us, probably tutting at our arrogance as we think that all our hurrying and scurrying will make the tiniest difference in the very grand scheme of history.

So this month I took time out from the rush of Christmas to look back at just one year in the history of the local area – and you will find my reflections, and lovely accompanying pictures sent in by readers at my request, on page 10 of this month’s magazine. Possibly we need a little bit more thinking out side the giftwrapped box when it comes to Christmas gifts too. In the pages of this magazine not only will you find some brilliant objects that are perfect as gifts but also an astonishing range of activities that might make perfect presents too. Many people are now giving activity presents: they have a knock-on effect in that they too keep the wheels of commerce turning, to some extent reward those who provide entertainment – either professional or amateur – and provide delight to the recipient in the form of encouraging them to do something perhaps they had not thought of, that they can share with a friend.

It is possible to actively enjoy shopping for your friends and family – it does not have to be done in a huge rush with a dictatorial list governing your every moment. The gift of membership of a club, a fee for an evening class, of a manicure/pedicure treat or of becoming a Friend of a theatre or a festival are just some suggestions. The list is endless; it just needs a little thought which, I suppose, is the point of Christmas.

I hope you have a very peaceful Christmas and will look forward to a gentle New Year.

Sarah Hodgson is a regular at local theatres, and Editor-in-Chief at Time & Leisure Media Group.