Our little market town, Thirsk, is the best place in the whole wide world, and as it is Christmas it is all lit up and spirits are high. So as per usual I will get the 9.40 bus into town and have a whizz around – have I really enough for the grands? After five minutes, yes, I have, so quick, into The Golden Fleece Hotel which overlooks the Market Place and is, at this time of day, the meeting place for many of us.
‘Hi Jim, (or Louise, or Holly)’ I call having pushed open the doors, not sure who is behind the Christmas tree. ‘How are you,’ they call back.Then into the lounge heading for Table 23, to the right of the picture below. This table is MINE. I like the armchair, you see and from here I can check through the window, which opens onto the hall, just who is coming into the Fleece. I bagsy my table with my hessian bag. Sometimes I am a bit late and Sue grabs it as it is fine for dogs under the table and she has Tilly.
‘Whaat?’ say I, horror stricken (but not really for I can head instead for the other lounge). We hiss at one another, then laugh and laugh:
‘Hello, hello,’ to everyone and into the bar to order coffee and have the loyalty card stamped. There is no looking at the cake stall, especially today, for Maltesers have been changed to little mince pies – it is Christmas month after all. Oh yes it is.
Our lounge has been decorated with foliage and lights. Oh lovely. Yesterday Dick and the dogs came. Polly and Rosie know that Meghan, Kim, Izzy, Jordan or Holly, will bring them a treat along with our coffee. The lounge has comfortable chairs, lovely jubbly carpets, a sense of people sitting here, like all of us, for decades and decades, and there are pictures of sheeps on the wall, because sheeps have Fleeces. The food is pretty fabulous too. Try the Brunch, or… Oh okey doke – have a look at everything.
Yesterday when Dick came, I took a photo of our coffees and mince pies. Then Carol came and gave the dogs extra treats. Carol comes for coffee and loves dogs, and they love her. Anyway, back to me… I drink my coffee, eat my mince pie, chat to others, the time flies, then it is time for the bus. So off I head: ‘Bye, bye.’ Lots of goodbyes back, and as it is a hotel there are strangers who have chatted too, and have needed to be told to have a nice day, once one of us has told them where to walk their dogs, and perhaps nip to the Herriot Museum, or Thirsk Museum, or a toddle to the beck… Safe journey home, too.
Quick quick to the bus, not a lot of shopping done, there never seems to be time… Too much shopping does get in the way of chat chat in the Fleece, and there is, you see, only an hour before the bus comes to take me, well us, back home. I know, I know, I am talking too much. On the way to the Market Place bus stop I pass the Christmas Yarn Bombers’ offerings in the market place. Wonderful wondeful.
Tomorrow I might be strong and not go for a coffee, and mince pie, but instead do a bit more shopping, but I know I won’t be strong, because life is short, and a trip to Thirsk and The Golden Fleece is just a moment of sheer pleasure, so calm, and – well – all right,,, chatty. All that remains is to wish you all a Merry Merry Christmas from all of us in Thirsk. If you are staying at The Golden Fleece for Christmas, or any time we might see you there. Best not to sit at Table 23 – just saying. https://goldenfleecehotel.com/