2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

No, I'm not in Sydney. A few years ago we visited my son here.

He will have already celebrated by now.

Daughter in Canada will be in her new year in our tomorrow afternoon.

So difficult to keep track!

To  my many friends here and far away, I wish you a happy and healthy 2015.
Thank you for your support and kindness during this less than wonderful year for us. 
We may never meet, but there is such a connection.

Frosty mornings.

These last few nights have brought heavy frost. No snow yet, but white everywhere.

The leaves in the garden are a tracery of glinting white.

The birds water bowls are solid again, yesterday I had to pour boiling water on and then chip the ice out with a trowel.

Long ago....when I was a child, there was no such thing as Double glazing for windows. We used to wake up on a frosty morning with wonderful patterns on the glass where the frost had frozen.

There were ferns and swirls and clouds, and anything more that the imagination could conjure up.

Those were the mornings when we used to dress under the bedcovers to keep warm, before we leapt out for a wash, and then to a hot breakfast.

Porridge, made the old fashioned way, not as I do in the Microwave. A special treat of a spoon of glistening olden syrup trickled over the bowl.

And then, the walk through lanes to the village school, wrapped up cosily, scarves and gloves and boots all waiting for us at the door.

Nobody used cars to take children to school in those days.

( I wonder if I'm beginning to sound like my Grandma' "In my young days.....")

Nativity.

May the peace of Christmas be with you all.

Thank you to the many friends made over the years.

Thank you for delightful e messages and cards.

Pneumonia has struck here this week, so my main task is to rest and more rest. I am so very fortunate in my family near and far who have pitched in with support over the last few days.

I do wish you all a very Happy Christmas.

Christmas memories.

My header picture is so typical of a Victorian Christmas scene.

Not, of course that I was born in that era (!), but evoking memories of our childhood Christmas preparations.

My grandparents lived with us, and brought with them traditions of long ago, which still stay with me.

The tree was always a real one, and we were fortunate that there was a farm nearby where trees could be chosen and cut. We always wanted the tallest one!

A box of treasured ornaments would be brought out...the joy of rediscovering old favourites! Real candles were fastened on to the branches with little metal clips. These were lit in the evening, very carefully, and only for a little while.

We were allowed to put one or two of our small parcels hidden among the branches for Christmas Day.

We had spent mornings making little decorations to hang.  My favourites were little boats made from half a walnut shell, painted silver and with a little mast and sail. 

We painted wooden cotton reels and put a branch of fir in to look like a mini tree, covering it liberally with silver spray. We didn't buy decorations in the days just after the war, in fact I'm not sure that there would have been any in the shops.

My aunt would settle at the piano and she and my grandmother played duets and Carols for us.

Such memories.

Decoration start-up.

It was time to do something about decorations.

In this small house there isn't the same amount of room as we have previously had, but one can always find a place.

I started with the front door. Previously I have made my own wreath from start to finish, using wire for the base. This year I decided to take the easy option and buy one. Live fir and holly was the base, which was fine and meant I didn't need to go hunting for greenery.

But then I took it home and denuded it of horrid plastic roses and paper bows, and started again!

Two angels, a felt star, some shiny baubles, and it's done.

And it is real, not plastic.

Word verification

All of a sudden Blogger has changed my comments box and added word verification.

My settings box says No word verification.

What does one do?

I don't want it, and didn't ask for it.

I'm sorry it is there.

Back at home.

A week has passed so quickly. It seems no time since we left here for Brighton, and here we are back again.

One of the highlights of our visit to the Blind Veterans centre was a trip to Brighton College, a very prestigious school for 8 - 18 year olds.

Tables were beautifully laid in the Great Hall. Tea and sandwiches were served, followed by a glass of Sherry and a mince pie.

The Choir gathered on the stage and sang some hauntingly lovely Carols, particularly my favourite, O Holy Night.

Some of the students came to each table and we enjoyed a chat with them.

As you can see, there were temptations!

Meeting Betty in Brighton was such fun, except for the bitingly cold wind. However, we met on the very windy pier and shot off quickly to a warmer place where we shared coffee, light lunch and lots of chat.
Betty was such good company and I did enjoy meeting up with her and hearing about her painting, her family and the interesting walks she takes in her locality.

This is the Pavilion, complete with Ice rink.
It's an amazing building, but I hadn't time to go in.
Maybe another time.

We have both returned feeling refreshed, and hoping that next year we might go again.

Next week.

Lovely daughter has returned to Vancouver.

We talked, shopped, ate out, ate in, watched Television together and had time that was supportive and warm.

This is where we will be next week, at the Blind Veterans Centre in Brighton. 

Overlooking the water and with views towards Brighton, it is a well-run place to relax and be looked after.

Hopefully I shall spend some of my respite time in the heated pool! 

A meeting has been arranged with Betty.

I'll tell you about it all when we return.

Thanksgiving.

Although we don't have Thanksgiving in England,

I want to send all my best wishes to my American friends for a happy and peaceful time.

I love to read about your celebrations and look at the beautifully arranged decorations and tables.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Off for a while

Thank you for the very interesting comments on 'Too early'.

We all have differing viewpoints, and it was good to read all your thoughts.

I was so pleased that the Letter swap had begun in such a positive way.

Thanks for your notes about your letters.

I will not be doing much on the computer for a week or so, as

my lovely daughter is coming for a visit from Canada!

We are so thrilled, as it is two years since she was here, so we look forward to some catching up times.

After she leaves we are going to Brighton to the Blind Veterans centre, for a week's holiday. I'll have plenty to tell you on my return...and I'm hoping to meet up with another blogger while I'm there.

See you later.

Too early?

Do you feel that Christmas celebrations start too early?

There was quite a discussion on the West Country news after the lights in Plymouth were switched on......on November 13th. 

Yes, there were some who thought it added to the jollity of the season.

But many people felt it was all too soon and that by Christmas any 'magic' had gone.

I think it is more restrained in Europe. When we lived in France there were very few decorations until well into December. Then the village lights would be switched on, some Christmas trees would appear in the supermarkets, but there wasn't the same razzmatazz as we have in England.

Our stays in Austria during the Christmas period were lovely, and we so enjoyed the Christmas markets, where there were handmade and natural goods for sale.

The only lights were white ones, twinkling through the trees in the squares.

What do you think? 

Should we just accept that things may start earlier each year, or should we hope that the real meaning of Christmas might come across. In December.

Rain, and letters.

The rain returned.

An hour of damp sunshine raises the hopes, the laundry goes out....and is swiftly brought in again.

The forecast is bad for the next few days.

So on to more interesting things.

I wonder if we might have a sort of round-up of results from the Letter swap?

Maybe you haven't received one yet, or sent yet.

  Betty said...

I received my letter at the weekend and posted to NZ Monday. I think it will take about 5 days to get there. So little time in our busy lives for such a simple thing! It has made me slow down and think more about how I use my time in general.

November 13, 2014 at 10:28 PM

 

 Scrappy quilter said...

I've received mine and plan on sending my second one on the weekend.

November 13, 2014 at 10:51 PM

 

 Stephanie said...

Hi Barbara! I have sent mine off to Carol {which she received} and have also received a lovely letter from Carol. I plan on writing her again this weekend.

Thanks again for putting all of this together - it has been a blessing!

November 14, 2014 at 3:52 AM

 

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Sunshine

After a week of hammering rain and heavy gales, we have a sunny morning...at last.

Yesterday the wind was so harsh that our friend's garage roof collapsed, just a few minutes after she had taken the car out. Trees are down again locally and leaves are everywhere.

I went to town yesterday in such appalling rain. With a big umbrella covering me I managed to avoid the worst.

But now...the sun is pouring in through the windows and for the moment we can enjoy it.

I'm going to search in the garden to see if any bulbs are beginning to appear.

My husband's daughter and husband are down for a few days and have helped me so much.

All is good!

Remembrance Sunday.

Remembrance Sunday is today.

Though really it is the 11th November that is the designated day, on the 11th hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.

How this installation of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London has captured the nation's hearts.

I haven't been there, but a friend went recently and said how very moving it was, especially at the reading of the names of the fallen later in the day.

The enormity of the sacrifice is almost too much to take in.

What can we feel but immense thanks, coupled with immense sorrows.