{"id":20910,"date":"2022-11-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=20910"},"modified":"2022-11-21T10:14:23","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T09:14:23","slug":"all-in-the-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2022\/11\/16\/all-in-the-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"All in the planning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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All in the planning<\/h2>\n\n
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”For the past few years, I have finally begun to realise that much of the true joy of Christmas comes in the preparation and anticipation. Working out the menus, trying new recipes, plotting excellent presents and foraging for decorations (and Ellie is right, you can\u2019t go wrong with natural greenery<\/a>). Then there\u2019s a carol service or two and various parties to build the festive feeling. It all culminates in Christmas Eve \u2013 for our family, a day of carols on the radio, veg peeling and chopping, baking and then a walk along the river. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

So this whole issue is all about that delicious planning phase. We have walks in and around some of our merriest market towns, new recipes to try and a celebration of the homely county of Oxfordshire<\/a>, where you can discover a few surprises from history and the natural world. Plus, author Patrick Galbraith joins us to explore the world of the grey partridge<\/a> \u2013 a bird of Christmas, if not pear trees. And then there\u2019s the impish John Wright and his guide to finding elves<\/a> in the countryside. <\/p>\n\n

But most of all \u2013 as Rekha Mistry agrees in her gardening column<\/a> \u2013 Christmas is a time to slow down, reflect, recharge and find peace. Especially in these challenging times. A walk in the countryside among nature is the best present you can give yourself. Happy Christmas! <\/p>\n\n

Fergus Collins<\/strong>, editor@countryfile.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss our nature and countryside Plodcast \u2013 available on all podcast providers <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

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HOW TO CONTACT US<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

To subscribe or for subs enquiries<\/strong>:
Domestic telephone:<\/strong> 03330 162112
Overseas telephone: <\/strong>01604 973720
Contact<\/strong>: www.buysubscriptions.com\/contacts
Post:<\/strong> BBC Countryfile Magazine, <\/em>PO BOX 3320, 3 Queensbridge, The Lakes, Northampton NN4 7BF<\/p>\n\n\n\n


To talk to the editorial team:<\/strong>
Email: <\/strong>editor@countryfile.com<\/a>
Telephone:<\/strong> 0117 300 8580 (answerphone; please email rather than call)
Post:<\/strong> BBC Countryfile Magazine, <\/em>Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST Advertising enquiries: 0117 300 8815 App support: http:\/\/apps.immediate.co.uk\/support<\/a> Syndication and licensing enquiries (UK and international): richard.bentley@immediate.co.uk<\/a> +44 (0)207 150 5168<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Follow us on Twitter: @countryfilemag <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow us on Instagram: @Countryfilemagazine <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com\/countryfilemagazine <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find us online for lots of bonus content: www.countryfile.com<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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THIS MONTH\u2019S CONTRIBUTORS <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Claire Thomson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the radio on and a cup of tea on the go, time is well spent wrapping parcels of biscuits and bottling home-infused spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patrick Galbraith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA grey partridge in a pear tree would be an oddity. Partridges tend to be found under hedges, in meadows and scratching around field margins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ellie Harrison<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile crafts can vary greatly, handiwork using evergreens never fails. Real nature brought indoors, in fact, improves every surface.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

Photo: BBC Archives\/Alamy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All in the planning ”For the past few years, I have finally begun to realise that much of the true joy of Christmas comes in the preparation and anticipation. Working out the menus, trying new recipes, plotting excellent presents and foraging for decorations (and Ellie is right, you can\u2019t go wrong with natural greenery). Then […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":20898,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"3","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"3","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_3-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_3-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"December-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"December-2022","purple_external_id":"December-2022-3-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"December-2022-3-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000084063||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000084063||","purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.197","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.197","purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.197","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.197","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"91da22fd-9e7f-40d1-a93f-fc46e9516d91","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-11-16T11:28:21Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"e4764b36-a9c4-4808-ad02-7020f92f6db1","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-11-16T11:28:21Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A5HZLNqnESAitAnAg-S9tsQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[23],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b.jpg",1325,794,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b-300x180.jpg",300,180,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b-768x460.jpg",768,460,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b-1024x614.jpg",800,480,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b.jpg",1325,794,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/11\/ee8eb5a6-602d-419a-a127-8ae484939b0b.jpg",1325,794,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"All in the planning ”For the past few years, I have finally begun to realise that much of the true joy of Christmas comes in the preparation and anticipation. Working out the menus, trying new recipes, plotting excellent presents and foraging for decorations (and Ellie is right, you can\u2019t go wrong with natural greenery). Then…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20910"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20910"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23454,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20910\/revisions\/23454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}