Navigation Point Part 3

The last Saturday of the Navigation Point Christmas Events may not have been the busiest of the lot but those who attended had great fun.
Santa Claus handed out gifts to eager children while a few young members of the Northern School of Music provided a delightful rendition of the most popular Christmas carols.

Later, thanks to a windless evening, everyone present partook in the setting off of large Chinese lanterns. At one time, the skies above the Marina were filled with floating flickering lights.

The NSPCC Christmas Raffle is going great guns. All the Navigation Point businesses will be selling tickets until New Year's Eve. So far, our three restaurants alone have raised around £1200. Let's hope everyone else has had as much success as we have.

Best Christmas Wishes from Navigation Point...

Rice, tomato and smoked haddock...

A very simple and quick dish.
Ingredients:
1lb. fresh smoked haddock cut into chunks
1 onion, finely sliced
1 carrot, julienne
1 handful of green beans cut into tiny bits or 1 handful of peas.
1/2 green pepper, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1tbsp chopped parsley
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped.
4 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
parsley
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 pint tomato passata
1/2 pint water
1/2 Basmati rice

Method:
Fry the onion until soft.
Add the rice and turmeric and fry for 2 minutes
Add the rest of the vegetables.
Add the tomato and water.
Cook for 15 minutes then place the haddock carefully on top of the rice.
Simmer until the rice is cooked but still al dente.
Serve with a wedge of lemon

Bon appetit!

Navigation Point Christmas Event Part Two

Despite the extreme cold, the second of Navigation Point Christmas Events saw the lighting of Chinese lanterns from the Marina office and more kids visiting Santa's Grotto.

Christmas music, a cup-and-saucer children's ride and a van providing fairground games helped create a jolly festive atmosphere.

Next Saturday, 18th December, the Northern School of Music will provide the entertainment with a Christmas Choir.

Santa will still be in his Grotto dishing out presents to children.

More Chinese lanterns will be set off from the Marina.

Come along and have a fun-filled evening from 5pm till 7pm...

Navigation Point Christmas Event

The first one of Navigation Point's Christmas Events went off with a bang.
At 5.30 Santa arrived on the Marina boat Adventure and followed by two elves he proceeded to his grotto situated in the car park next to a 30ft Christmas tree kindly donated by Mandale Properties.
Under the sound of festive tunes provided by Daniel Brobbel, an orderly queue of thirty to forty children formed in front of the Grotto. For £1 the children got to meet Santa and receive a present while the parents had their names entered in the NSPCC raffle organised by the Navigation Point Business Group, one of the prizes being a boat trip in the New Year.
The Mayor, Mr. Stuart Drummond arrived at 6pm to switch on the Christmas tree lights to loud cheers from the attendance.
Boat rides, walk-on-water and a cup-and-saucer ride provided further entertainment.
Some of the restaurants and bars joined in the fun, by selling such things as banana fritters, mulled wine, mince pies, roast chestnuts and hot chocolate laced with brandy to warm up the visitors.
Each business has pledged a prize towards the NSPCC raffle and so far, over £400 has been raised.
It is certainly heartwarming to see that despite the snowy conditions and very adverse financial crisis, Navigation Point businesses are coming together to help the NSPCC as well promote Hartlepool Marina.

Saturday 11th between 5pm and 7pm there will be more of the same.

Lucky for some...

Friday, minus 13 degrees at 9.15 am. I cannot recall such a low temperature in Hartlepool.
And the snow keeps falling. The roads are treacherous. Traffic is moving at snail pace.
Although party numbers are dropping like snow flakes, the more adventurous of diners are not deterred by this ideal Christmas weather.
Let's just hope that they keep coming along those worrying crunchy paths...