It goes without saying that advent is not only the busiest time of the year for Pat Hackney from Pat's X-mas Trees, but also for Ismael Wickentree and his wife Sandy. Their Nutcracker Christmas shop makes and delivers Christmas decorations to the whole town. Ismael and Sandy ensure a suitable Christmas atmosphere for father Jesse Green's church, for abbot Donny Caterham's monastery, as well as for Miss July Lewisham's St. Joseph Primary School and the restaurants "Eating Time" run by Mary Sutton and "The Swan" run by Don Gastonhill.
Ismael always has a special price for Pat Hackney from Pat's X-mas Trees so that he can earn some money from selling decorations as well as from selling trees. Frederick and Marian Chersey from the post office decorate their counters abundantly with painted pinecones from Ismael's shop. Daughter Joan helps everyday in the shop in the days running up to Christmas. Miss July Lewisham even allows hers days off to do this. And each year it's Ismael Wickentree who assembles the town's children for presents and especially for exciting Christmas stories from times past, huffing and puffing in his Father Christmas suit and false beard.