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.

It is Tuesday and I am drenched in sweat yet again, anyway here is this weeks extreme creature the Scanty Frog.

This frog is only 2cms long which is pretty small, it is Australia’s smallest frog and can be found in the rainforests of north Queensland.

Here we are at another Monday, a cool but dry day here in my part of the world. Well since it is Monday I guess I should share some facts.

The longest place name in Britain is in Wales: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantyssiliogogogoch. It means “St Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave”

Pound for pound, hamburgers cost more than new cars…..really

It takes 3,000 cows to supply (by dying) the U S National Football League with enough leather for a years supply of footballs.

On average 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.

A group of cows are called a “murder”.

I woke at bloody well 4am again, I did not want to get up but I had too. While going to the loo I started to sweat by the time I was done I was drenched in sweat and not going back to bed. It took 30 minutes for my body to dry that’s with both doors open and my siting pretty much under the fan.

Kathy dropped the girls off while her & Michael went shopping.

Tim thought because of the weather we should go shopping next weekend.

20-11-21

Last night I had Tim wake me before coming to bed so I could pee.

So this morning I slept till 4.55am much better then waking at 3 something.

A cold wet morning.

Kelli and Freya turned up at 7 something and whiles she was here she vacuumed and cleaned Leo’s room, I appreciate that so much.

This afternoon I had a bath before bed, the first bath I have had since 2019, it felt great. Not something I will do often as it was difficult getting out.

21-11-21

Slept in till 5.15, that’s good, cold and wet this morning and yeah I have been sweating.

A restless morning, unable to concentrate for more then a few minutes at a time.

Did bugga all today.

22-11-21

Another bloody early start woke at 3.30 needing to pee managed to go back to sleep kinda to 4.30 when I got up. I had my wash and moisturised my body when Tim got up for what I don’t know but I was able to ask him to help me dress. Not having to struggle to dress myself is a big help.

Tim had a Dr appointment nothing serious and all good. He decided to contact the chemist about his Covid jab as it was only showing his first jab online meaning he couldn’t prove he was double vaxed. It is now sorted out so all good.

Raining on and off all day, cool but not cold today.

23-11-21

Another good nights sleep, woke at 4am up at 4.30, washed, moisturised then rang Tasha.

At 10am sitting here I noticed that Kelli’s dog was attempting to get over the fence. Tim yelled to Tasha just as the dog got over the fence and she was able to catch the dog and return her to the yard. She also discovered how the dog managed to get over the fence. Tasha also rang Kelli who came straight home to sort it out.

Jess not working today, don’t know why she isn’t saying all we do know is Jono drove her somewhere this morning and that she has been gone all day. Tim asked be a few times where she went but like him I do not know. She will tell us when she is ready.

24-11-21

Slept well woke at 5am, Tim remembered to wake me last night in order to pee.

I have bugga all motivation today but managed to do the grocery shopping.

Kelli came over this afternoon and decorated my letters with Christmas stamps, this I really appreciated. She also folded the laundry for me.

25-11-21

Woke at 4.30 but laid there till 4.55am. Woke to the sound of rain, looks like being a wet day.

Tim took car too auto electrician to have some kind of light fitted, Jono followed him to the electrician and drove him home again.

He also has a specialist appointment at the John Hunter Hospital, he borrowed Jess’s car to go over to that as it is still raining.

Kelli came down to help me with decorating envelopes and then gave me a terrific body message.

Kelli also helped Tim set up the new security camera.

Jess got half her arm tattooed black, with bits to still fill in, Tim is not impressed. She wants to cover what was there. Not something I would do but it is her body.

26-11-21

Love’s Language

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox More Ella Wheeler Wilcox

How does Love speak?
In the faint flush upon the telltale cheek,
And in the pallor that succeeds it; by
The quivering lid of an averted eye–
The smile that proves the parent to a sigh
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
By the uneven heart-throbs, and the freak
Of bounding pulses that stand still and ache,
While new emotions, like strange barges, make
Along vein-channels their disturbing course;
Still as the dawn, and with the dawn’s swift force–
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
In the avoidance of that which we seek–
The sudden silence and reserve when near–
The eye that glistens with an unshed tear–
The joy that seems the counterpart of fear,
As the alarmed heart leaps in the breast,
And knows, and names, and greets its godlike guest–
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
In the proud spirit suddenly grown meek–
The haughty heart grown humble; in the tender
And unnamed light that floods the world with splendor;
In the resemblance which the fond eyes trace
In all fair things to one beloved face;
In the shy touch of hands that thrill and tremble;
In looks and lips that can no more dissemble–
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
In the wild words that uttered seem so weak
They shrink ashamed in silence; in the fire
Glance strikes with glance, swift flashing high and higher,
Like lightnings that precede the mighty storm;
In the deep, soulful stillness; in the warm,
Impassioned tide that sweeps through throbbing veins,
Between the shores of keen delights and pains;
In the embrace where madness melts in bliss,
And in the convulsive rapture of a kiss–
Thus doth Love speak.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/loves-language-by-ella-wheeler-wilcox