Evergreens, the symbol of eternal life, are as much a part of Christmas today as they have been for centuries. The wreath upon the door seems to say, “welcome the spirit of Christmas is in this home”.

The garlands that decorate stairs and mantels fill the air with spicy fragrance. There is a feeling of joy and friendship is home made with Christmas greens.

Kissing under the mistletoe is as popular now as it has been since the custom was first started in ancient Rome. Love and kinship take on a new glow when the twinkling tree sends out its little messages of warmth at the holiday season.

There is no other time of year when our homes are as open to our friends and dear ones. As we decorate our rooms and trim our trees and hang our wreaths, in a very special sense we are preparing our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. For, when all is said and done, that is what Christmas is really all about.

Christmas is a happy and cherished time all around the world. This is a time when family ties seem stronger and closer than ever. It is a time to draw together the strands of friendship that may have loosened throughout the busy year.

Christmas means many things to many people, but the key words to its joy are “loving and giving”. Gifts and greetings pour out in a great flood during the holiday season.

New friendships are formed-old ones are renewed and revitalised. This is a time when heart speaks heart and the message is LOVE

Up and waiting for Kathy at 4.30 she arrived at 6.30. I had breakfast at 5.30. So all Kathy had to do wash shower and dress me. She also did my fruit and vacuumed lounge-room floor.

4-12-21

Sunday here and a dry fine morning it is, I have been awake more or less since 3am, up since 4.20am.

Read some blogs then turned to doing Christmas cards managed to do 6 before the pain got to bad and I packed it in

Also answered a couple of letters

5-12-21

Had another good night awake and up at 4.30 again.

I had Tasha cut the sleeves out of the tee shirt I’m wearing, much better.

Wrote another letter and did 4 more Christmas cards.

Kelli came and wrapped Mrs Claus which we will deliver maybe tomorrow.

6-12-21

Slept in till 5am don’t think I woke at all last night.

Kathy told me that there is a state wide teachers strike, so Leo isn’t going to school.

Kelli & Freya drove me around to drop off Mrs Claus gifts, as well as Leigh’s birthday gift, it took a couple of hours.

I’m in a lot of pain.

7-12-21

Tim woke me at 2am to pee, after that it was difficult to get back to sleep but I did till 4.55am when I got up.

A good morning managed a few more Christmas cards.

Kelli putting me to bed, Tasha had to go out and was stuck in traffic.

8-12-21

A good start to the day, up dressed and fed by 5.30am.

There are workmen at Mrs G’s aka NO:10 taking out her vertical blinds and bathroom vanity. As place has to look like it did when she moved in.

Went with Jess & Kelli to Jesmond just for the drive. Kelli had a click & collect order to pick up.

Jess picked up a bed base for Leo with Kelli’s help.

9-12-21

Another has arrived, I was up washed, dressed & fed by 5.35 again.

Sandy came over for a visit it was great seeing her. Kelli & Freya came over while Sandy was here.

Sandra reminded me that there is a Christmas Eve lunch at Dave’s. I had forgotten all about it.

Kelli putting me to bed.

10-12-21

Woke at 5am, Kathy arrived at 6.30am showered me and help get my breakfast.
After reading some blogs I started on Christmas cards till I ran out of cards. Kelli came and help.

11-12-21

MY MUM & DAD

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest men nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart.

Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view the supernal beauty beyond. Is it all real?

Ah Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus? Thank God! He lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia nay ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment except in sight and sense. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus!

You might as well not believe in fairies!Cl

You might get your Papa to hire men to watch all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they do not see Santa Claus coming down what will that prove?

Nobody sees Santa Claus but there is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their minds, Virginia whether they be men or children are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect in intellect as compared with the boundless world about him as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth.

Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus!

It would be as dreary if there were no Virginias.

Had another good night, I remember Tim asking me if I wanted to go to the toilet when he came to bed and me saying no. I do not know why I said no but I did.

Woke to the sound of rain again. I have only berries in way of fruit and I can’t eat berries without apple or grapes or a mandarin. So no fruit for me this morning.

Kathy came and showered me.

Because it is raining I decided not go shopping also our groceries will be delivered between 10-11am. I don’t want to go to a crowded shopping centre because it is difficult to manoeuvre the scooter.

27-11-21

Managed to sleep till 5am, Tasha came down without me needing to ring her, another cool wet day. Tasha started cleaning out the laundry cupboard. It now has more room as we tossed out a lot of old unused stuff.

Kelli came and cleaned off the dining room table and placed my Christmas snow globes on it. She also hung my family wreath for me, in a place that I can now leave it 24/7.

28-11-21

Monday again and out of bed at 4.45am I was having my morning wash when I heard Tasha arrive.

A cool dry start to the day, no rain all day.

While watching telly I saw Kelli’s dog trying to get over the fence again, so I rang Jono and let him know.

29-11-21

Slept well woke at 4.45,up washed and dressed another cool dry morning.

My arms are very sore had Tim rub ice gel into them for small relief.

Wrote a list of overseas penpal addresses ready for Christmas card, which I must do this week.

30-11-21

A new day has began I was awake and up around 4.30am. Tash turned up without me calling her.

Had a doctors appointment for my care plan review and scripts all went well, except I stumbled and nearly fell while walking to the nurses room.

Other then that another run of the mill day.

1-12-21

Damn I woke up early 3am, I got up and peed then back to bed but unable to go back to sleep. I dosed on and off till 4.30 when I got up.

My left knee is super painful stinging something awful. Paracetamol does shit when it’s like this.

Kelli came over with Jess to ask me about Christmas Day as in what I am doing, answer spending it here with my girls.

While she was here Tash arrived to settle me down for the night and they started talking about Christmas lunch.

2-12-21

Slept well woke at 4.30 up at 4.45am washed and dressed for the day.

A hot day, hot enough for air con.

Did the grocery shop, read some blogs and found some more Christmas cards and that’s about all,no motivation to do anything else.

Kelli putting me to bed.

3-12-21

We have now entered December so since this is Christmas month I will be doing a number of Christmas them posts.

This first one is taken from a Christmas card Mum & Dad gave my sister Sue.

The Answer to Virginia

Many years back the editor of the New York Sun received a letter from Virginia O’Hanlon…..

Dear Editor, I am eight years old, some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Please tell me the truth…..

The answer to Virginia published in the Sun the next day caused such a nation-wide interest it was reprinted for many Christmas’s afterwards.

I will start the answer tomorrow…………

Why do one long ass post when I can spread it over two or three posts.