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.