ComYooNitty

I've always thought 'a sense of community' was a very wishy-washy phrase. What did it actually mean? What did it actually feel like? Was it a feeling I was meant to get when I watched the Witney carnival floats go through town? Was it a feeling I was meant to create myself by becoming a Brown Owl or something? I loved (still do!) my friends in Witney, but I always felt at odds with the population as a whole.

Now, I think I get it. The community here scooped me up here before my feet had even touched the ground. It started with cards through the letterbox and invites to come over for a 'brew' from neighbours, peaked with the Advent Window plan (still smiling about that!), continued with a Halloween party in our street for kids.....



and grown-ups.....



and a neighbourhood Trick or Treating gang with pumpkins - and more - aglow in people's front gardens.



Even the pet shop round the corner stayed open and joined in the fun with real snakes and tarantulas on the loose in the dark!

But then it spread wider. The whole town turned out cheerfully and chattily for Light Up Lancaster, a yearly event of light installations all over town.....



including a story projected gigantically onto the castle accompanied by a live choir.....



Though my favourite bit was the library, in darkness, lit only by tangles of fairy lights along the bookshelves.



It was a real mix of very professional and very amateur - which added to the home-grown feel - culminating in a fireworks display over the castle for Bonfire Night.

So what does this sense of community thing feel like then?

Warm, with mushy bits.