There are somethings you just don't think about... until you try them!

But a team of local residents, our parish councillor, Anglican minister, and District Community Development Officer were willing to give it a go.

We dug the channel, threaded the cables, bored a hole, tipped a tree, realised it had no lights on, and un-tipped it, tied the lights to the top, re-tipped in, wedged it, wiggled it, hugged it (!), supported it, unwrapped it, danced round it with strings of lights... and tested it. 

We lifted the wires, and tested the connections, then reburied them.

We tested it again...

And we were ready!

Then, as darkness fell on Sunday evening, over 50 new residents gathered for our countdown, a rousing rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and some wonderful bring-and share mince pies and hot chocolate.

There, with the lights sparkling, community was being formed.

What a blessing to be part of it!