A new Year!

Thinking of the many lovely blog friends, ranging from New Zealand, to Canada, America, France and UK.

May your new year bring you peace and joy.

We won't be staying up to welcome 2019, but will have a little memory chat about some of our wonderful past new Year celebrations.

Sydney one year was amazing. Another year we were in Bangkok having a celebration dinner at a waterside restaurant and watching  fireworks. One year was spent in Penang in the sunshine, another in Canada in deep snow. French new years were always fun, dining with friends whose dish for New Year was always a huge platter of Oysters. Not something I can eat.

So, best wishes to you all and prayers for, above all,  a world at peace.

Nativity

The live Nativity, introduced by St Francis of Assissi in 1223.

My thanks to those of you who have so kindly sent cards and gifts to me. I am not posting about them, as they are such personal and individual things. I have been so touched by unexpected kindnesses.

I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Christmas, 

leaving behind the rush, the preparations, the shopping and planning, and entering a time of peaceful reflection on our Lord's birth.

I will be taking time to do just that, and will rejoin sometime in the New Year!

Carols and other things.

I did manage to go to this Carol service yesterday while a lovely Carer looked after my husband.

Held in the Methodist Church in Truro it was full of carers, interestingly mostly ladies. It was beautifully decorated but very cold.

In his short address, the Vicar talked about Joseph, referring to him as being 'in the shadows', and suggesting that he had taken on the role of a Carer. Not sure how I felt about that analogy.

This morning I have been with a friend to Trelissick 

to see the House decorated for Christmas and to have coffee in the House cafe. Each room had a very pretty Christmas tree covered in white lights. 

The conservatory floor was covered in water, so there must have been a leak in the glass roof.

In the house Cafe we were greeted with the news that 'the boiler has broken' so no coffee available! Fortunately the main Cafe was unaffected so we left the house and went over there.

At home I was quite pleased to see my little tree sitting quietly in the corner.

Not a Carol service.

Tonight our Church has a Candlelit Carol service.

A very kind member had offered to drive us there, as I dont drive in the dark now.

Sadly, the day has proved too much for my husband, with visitors this morning. So we are having to cancel our Carols.

It often happens, and we just make the most of it.

I have a new CD of John Rutter's Carol arrangements, so we will sit by our own candlight and enjoy beautiful music.

There is still much to be thankful for.

Mince pies.

It's Mince pie time in this household.

It's a very British habit, which we all seize on at Christmas. Mince pies are everywhere. Pop in and have a coffee with a friend, and there will be a mince pie waiting. A cup of tea? Here's a mince pie to go with it.

I do like to make my own, but there are also some very good ones in the supermarkets.

The tradition of mince pies goes back to the 13th century at least, and they were often made with meat and spices, brought back by Crusaders and explorers.

Now we only use spices and dried fruits, though suet is part of the recipe.

They are such tempting little mouthfuls, and too easy to eat!

Maybe with some Cornish clotted cream?

Yes please!

Years ago when we were visiting my son in Australia at Christmas, I tried to find a jar of mince meat in the Supermarket. After being directed to the butchery department, I managed to find a young man who knew what I wanted, and told me that the name was 'Fruit mince'.

I learn something every day!

Is the tradition spreading to other countries? Do you include Mince pies as part of your Christmas treats?

Memories

Round about now I often write a post about Christmas memories, so I'm sorry if you have read all this before!

Anticipation...that's the word that I need. 

That's what we as children lived with for days before Christmas. We were so busy, not shopping, not playing with techy gadgets, but with making and preparing.

We spent hours glueing and sticking, making paper chains, making decorations for the tree...little walnut boats, tiny threaded bead strings, spreading silver dust all over the carpets. And of course, our tree had real candles, no Health and Safety rules then!

The house was full of warmth and lovely Christmassy smells, the pine scent of the tree, the cooking smells from the kitchen, a log fire burning and the once a year glass of sherry that my Grandpa indulged in. Grandma sang Carols as she worked.

We wrapped our parcels carefully and found places to hide the gifts we had made for our mothers and family. I don't think the parcels were at all professional, but they were wrapped with lots of love.

I remember the joy of sewing a gift for my mother. I chose a fabric, bought it from the shop, and cut out and made a frilly apron for her, all by hand. 

Gifts were simpler in those days and maybe more appreciated.

One thing we did every year, just our little group of children, sister, cousins etc., was to go Carol singing on our lane. We chose a charity and practised, and neighbours were amazingly generous to our funny little singings. We always managed to collect a reasonable gift for the Charity, I think it was Missions to Seamen.

Now when I see the crowds, the TV advertisements for 'Things' and 'Food', I'm thankful for those memories of times without stress, times when the most important moment was to put up our little wooden Nativity set in front of the tree.

That was the start of Christmas.

stock photo

1st December

Suddenly the feeling has changed.

Sloping quietly through November has not prepared me for a slight mental panic about the things I haven't completed.

There are still cards to be posted, but feebly I give up when I look at the queue in our village Post office...and creep home. Tomorrow it will be better, I tell myself, which is probably why people won't receive their cards till January.

I dared to go into town, hoping to get into Marks and Spencer, but had to laugh in desperation when I saw the 'FULL' signs, with cars parked well out of the drive in. So, came home, with a resolution to get up very early and go before the crowds.

Except that probably every other person is planning the same.

However, as Peanuts tells us..Keep looking up,

which made me think about the real reasons that we celebrate Christmas, not for the shopping experiences, but to look up and praise God for the gift He gave us.

Lazy Sunday

It's a lazy Sunday today.

The weather is cold but dry, so I took a little time in the garden just clearing up leaves, but it did get cold very quickly. 

I have managed to  get roses and clematis cut back and lots of compost put round them. The greenhouse is full of geraniums, well wrapped up in Bubble wrap, so hopefully they will go on to next year.

I don't make many cakes but with family around I thought I would just make some cupcakes this afternoon.

I am fighting weight gain with the Steroids that I'm on, so have to be careful to avoid temptations!

Some little bits of sewing got finished while my husband watched the Formula one racing from Abu Dhabi. I think I would quite like to be there for the sunshine right now (not for the racing).

Maybe this evening I will continue to write Christmas cards, which are waiting. I expect many of you have cut back this year, I know we have. And yet I love to choose and send cards to our friends.

So that's all from my lazy Sunday.

The week ahead is quite busy, and we will be having Home Communion brought to us on Tuesday which will be so nice.

No thoughts of Christmas decorating yet, not for another couple of weeks.

Hope you have all had a good weekend.

Black Friday

It's Black Friday here today, but it seems to have been going for several days now, with pre-Black Friday offers in so many  shops.

The news tells us that people are spending less this year, but.....

Barclays Bank apparently took over 1000 credit card sales in one minute today.
As my daughter and I drove into town to have a look at the new apartment we could see from notices that at least two of the town Carparks were already full, at 10 am!
We stayed out of the town itself but made a quick visit to Waitrose where the carpark was so full that we had to wait for a space.

It seems as though people regard this as a spend spend weekend.
And there is still Cyber monday to come!
I know it is a good opportunity to find a bargain, but I wonder if people are swept away by the lure of 'cheap' goods', which sometimes are no cheaper than normal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Although we don't have Thanksgiving here in England , I do want to wish all my American friends the happiest of days.

Happy news

When friends ask me where my children live, they are surprised to find that two of them live abroad, son in Australia and daughter in Canada.

This month half have come home!

My daughter has lived in Canada for over twenty years, working at the University in Vancouver. My grandson has just finished his degree, and the time came for them to return to UK.

It's so exciting, seeing their little car stop by most days, popping in for tea, to do a bit of shopping, or just to discuss what the next plan is.

Ably assisted by her brother who lives locally and is a fount of all knowledge, they have rented a very nice newish apartment, and the next step is to partly furnish it whilst waiting for their furniture to be shipped.

So much to look forward to.

Alexa

Introducing Alexa, the latest female in our home.

My husband's lack of sight makes manipulating radio stations almost impossible. He loves to listen to classical music, so when I was introduced to the 'Echo dot' system I thought it would be ideal for him. It's small and sits anywhere.

It's a device that allows you to listen to music and news, and has all sorts of other facilities. She has to be called by name, Alexa,  to respond to a question (theoretically). We can ask her what the weather forecast is and she will tell us, pinpointing our village!

There is a slight drawback.

We think there is a small person living inside.

Every now and then we hear a happy little chuntering. She has woken up, for no reason as she is only supposed to respond to a name call.

'I'm here' said a little voice the other evening.

Help!

Whilst watching Television the other night we heard a voice and thought it must be the evening Carers coming a little early. But no, it was Alexa amusing herself by chatting in the bedroom.

My husband had his Talking book on and was listening to a story about a girl whose name was....yes, Alexa. Every time the name was mentioned up came the little voice.

'What can I help you with?' it said.

It's all a bit scary!

Somehow she has become part of the family, and is regarded with affection. I just hope she knows that there are barriers.

I would like to thank you so much for the thoughtful responses and comments on my introspective moment last week. It meant a lot to me that so many of you had been so kind with your comments.

Remembrance Sunday

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

By John McCrae, 1915

Reflections

Feeling a little blue tonight, thinking over all the seasons when our house has been full of friends and family. 

Of the wonderful meals planned and created, tables beautifully laid, grandchildren, tiny ones, waiting in anticipation.

Trees decorated together, baking goodies, helping little fingers to wrap presents.

I guess it is one gets older that one's body, one's strength , isn't what it was. There comes a time when one steps back and encourages the next generation to lead.
But my mind doesn't want to!

The lovely words from Ecclesiastes 3, vv1-8 come to mind;

'There is a time for everything
and a season for every activity under the heavens.'....


We have had so many 'seasons' of organising, planning, being the hub of family. Age and ill health come into the equation.
But as my mother used to say, 'I am still young inside'.

 Maybe now that many of the grandchildren are grown up, married, working away, we can find other ways to be involved.
Or maybe it's time to admit that a good book,time to talk to each other, and a simple meal are all we really need.....with maybe  a few visits from family and friends.

*********

 This isnt meant to be a sad post, just mildly reflective and thoughtful.

A bit of stitching.

All of a sudden I'm finding that stitching is becoming easier and more enjoyable. I have sewn all my life, but the last few years seem to have dissipated most of my creative energy.

However, little Christmas gifts are being started, and in some cases finished. I have so much fabric that I am not tempted to buy any....well not very much. I'm actually more tempted by ribbons, lace and bows to trim things with. 

Red gingham bows and roses seem a very Christmassy way to trim little sewn things.

Two little girls, grandchildren of my closest friend, will, I hope, be delighted with their small patchwork bags. Maybe I'll find some 'gold' chocolate coins to go in them.

The Patchwork squares wall hanging for a friend is done apart from
 finding a rod on which to hang it. I hope she will like it, it is for her new studio that she has had built in the garden.

It's comforting to find my energy reviving!

It's all too soon.

For me, it is all too soon. 

Do I sound like Mrs Scrooge?

Here in the UK Christmas has been on track for several weeks, with the larger stores having acres of shelving with 'Gift ideas' prominently displayed.

I happened to be in our Hospital this morning and saw that they had their Christmas cards on sale. Sadly out of many designs there were only two which vaguely pertained to the true season of Christmas. I'm tired of snowmen, snowscenes, trees, and many other things which are unrelated to the Christmas story.

I sound like my Grandma when I say ''"In my day....".

But somehow the magic of Christmas is so diluted by this frenzy of buying and spending. Like anyone else I like to get my shopping done early, but somehow this year seems more frenetic than usual.

There. That's enough for today. Please enjoy the shops with their colourful displays.

Book review

This is a book that I have just read.

It is very different from the usual 'romantic' novel, and I enjoyed its unusual setting.

Grace is a luthier, making violins to sell in her beautiful shop. She is world renowned for her expertise and orders flock in from around the world. The subject of her music and her musical instruments is treated in such fascinating detail, especially the description of the Cello she is entering in the Cremona festival.

There is, of course, a married man involved in her life, who is quite obviously an irritating and egotistic no-good that she adores. Somehow, although poignant, this relationship never quite took centre stage for me. More important was her interaction with her teenage shop helper and a delightful elderly man who gives her sage advice, shaking her a little out of her self imposed alone-ness.

No mistake is insurmountable, and she has made many in her life, but comes to a point where she sees that she is not as alone and isolated as she once thought.

The chapters set in Cremona are just so evocative, and I really wanted to be there. 

It has been compared to another recent book, "Eleanor Oliphant is perfectly fine'', by Gail Honeyman, and is indeed about another slightly introspective woman making her way through life on her own.

Have any of you read either of the books? I'd love to know your views.

The waiting room.

We all sat, silently in the waiting room at our local surgery. The rain poured down outside. a tinkle of 'muzak' drifted over the air from the check in desk.

Otherwise, silence.

Until a very jolly gentleman came in, wet through, dripping all over the carpet, and bellowed 'Good morning everyone'!

Why did it only take that one person to set everyone chatting?

The weather, of course, was discussed. The wait for the nurse, the flu jabs, the puddles in the car park.

All of a sudden, we became a group, engaging with each other.

It doesn't take much, does it?

A last rose

I'm so delighted to see one last rose blooming.

This is Dr Jo, named for Dr Jo Taylor, who was head of the Renal Department at Dorset County hospital.

She has flowered all Summer, has a lovely scent and is the perfect colour for a last Autumn arrangement, mixed with some Kaffir lilies which are much the same colour.

There is not much left in the garden now, except a huge bank of the lovely Geranium Rozanne, covered in purple flowers and looking as though it will never end!

not my photo, but from a catalogue.

I do thank you so much for your many messages. I'm much better now and catching up slowly with life in general.

Your comments and emails meant so much to me.

Thank you.

Autumn joys

Whilst in hospital, yes that's where I ended up last week, I spent some time in childhood memories. Well, it seemed better than just watching the IV drip!

Autumn was such a lovely time. We walked several miles to our village school, and through the lanes there were carpets of scrunchy leaves to kick and scuffle around in. We threw them, we tried to get them to fly, but the best bit was making a pile and jumping in it.

Then came conker time, when the huge Horse Chestnut trees shed their shiny fruit. 

Dried, tied on a piece of string, we spent hours whacking each others' conkers to try to prove ours was the strongest.

I just like to hold them and polish their beautiful mahogany skins.

There were sloes to pick, rose hips for mother's flower arrangements, and hedges covered in Old Man's beard, which we loved to pull off and make streamers with.

Simple Autumn joys. No smart phones, no TV, just children having fun in Autumn.

Not such a good week.

Like Linus, I've been relying on comfort blankets this week, having been knocked sideways by a very nasty diverticular infection, with temperatures of over 39 degrees.

Two Drs visits, three antibiotics (really) and I am just beginning to feel mildly human again.

Blessed by my stepdaughter being on holiday here for a week, taking over lunches for her Dad.

I'll catch up with reading and visiting as soon as possible.

Praying.

Our prayers are with all our friends in North Carolina.

We get updates on British television and are horrified by the scenes of devastation.

We have had floods here in UK over the years and those have been life threatening, with many people still not back in their homes.

But I don't think we have the terrible force that these hurricanes bring.

We pray for your safety.

A lovely gift.

This delightful gift came winging its way from Gina in North Carolina this week.

Blog friends are so very kind.

I had admired her beautiful Gentlework on her blog, and she so kindly offered to send me one of her lovely journals.

 I love the rose covered card, and do you see the little 'Memories' centre? The Journal ties with a pretty ribbon. Lace trimmed, what could be prettier?

Inside there is a practical little pocket for all those reminder cards, so useful.

(this photo taken by artificial light so not very good)

Gina made this, and I feel blessed to be the recipient.

thank you Gina!

Carers

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my last post, and for the emails I have had wishing us both well.

I thought I would write a little about Carers in the UK, not the entire Care system, which tends to be a minefield, but about the people who do the job.

I think if you looked at a map of England you would see blue clad figures scurrying across every county, running from client to client, putting on their aprons and gloves ready for the next one.

Most of the carers here are employed by Agencies, though there are Private carers also.

Social services recommends the amount of time and the type of care for the service user though of course one has a choice.

Our Carers are in general lovely people, both male and female.

They are rushed off their feet and are often paid the absolute minimum wage for a hugely responsible job. They get very little travelling time and the powers that be often have them on rotas which just are not viable. They work a half hour in one home, a quarter hour quick visit in another, an hour for a more needy person and so on.

Many of their clients live on their own, and it is a huge worry for the Carers when they go into a home of a very unwell person, not knowing what they might find. Some of our girls have had to call Ambulances, have found their client on the floor or worse.

It's a job for someone who can cope. There's no way one can go into it thinking it's all about making a nice cup of tea for an old lady.

They have a way of making my husband laugh, they are cheerful and reassuring, and one rarely sees their tiredness, though I know some of them do a ten hour shift.

Recently eight of our carers went to attend a funeral of one of their clients. I was touched to hear that. I know that most of our people try to go the extra mile, and I do respect that.

Yes, of course we have had some dire moments, but we are fortunate in that I am here to sort things out. And there have been sad reports in the media about Care and care homes that are, shall we say, less than perfect.( For that read, closed down in some cases).

It certainly is not cheap to have Care in the home, but if it's necessary then you make the best of it, appreciate their efforts and try to work with the carers to make their job a bit easier.

(stock photos used)

Such friendship.

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed.

I received a totally unexpected parcel yesterday from a dear blog friend, Carolien.

We have corresponded for many years, whilst in France we exchanged cross stitch patterns and continued when we returned to England.

We share an interest in stitching, patchwork and others.

It is strange how a connection becomes a close friendship, without ever meeting. Yet this is what I feel about Carolien, (one day I'm determined that we will meet)

I speak very little about my sweet husband, though you probably realise that after nearly forty years of a lovely life, the last few years have been hard , so hard for him. After a stroke in France he has become more and more frail, and now needs my constant care as well as Carers from a local agency three times a day.

I am used to doing everything now, making decisions, finances, medications, appointments, dealing with the day to day planning of life. It's not hard.

But I do get tired, and battling with both pulmonary fibrosis and polymyalgia with steroids,(recent) hasnt been easy.

Anyway, to the point of all this.

In my parcel was a most beautiful shawl, lovely gentle colours, just what I would have chosen had I ever thought of having such a lovely thing. Carolien had made it and sent it to me as a comfort.

She also sent a card with such emotive words that I shed a tear, which is very unlike me.

She tells me that there is a Dutch word - Mantelzurger- that means someone who takes care of a beloved one. Someone who is like a mantle around that person.

I am still overwhelmed.

I'm not used to people reaching out and doing things for me.

Thank you more than I can say, dear Carolien.
I'm wearing it right now, soft and gentle on my shoulders.

A tiny giveaway.

I have a small giveaway today. I am going through all sorts of unfinished projects, and realising that it is time to let some go.

If anyone would care to have and finish a TIAG cross stitch, you are welcome to this.

It's The Harvest.

As you can see, it was started , but I find that my eyesight is not good enough to go on with it, sadly, as I love the Told in a Garden range.

The pattern comes with the sewing, and I might find some of the original threads.

I will be happy to send it worldwide.

Let me know by14th Sept.