No lovelier tradition exists than the custom of lighting candles to honour the Infant Jesus. Today candle-lit churches and homes everywhere echo the pleasant belief so popular in the Middle Ages that the Holy Child might be guided by candlelight through the dark night to a sheltering house. Indeed, no stranger was ever turned away from the door, for who knew but that it might be Christ himself who stood there!

The candles we use today we amaze the medieval populace. All shapes, all sizes, all colours are available but also we have flame-less candles operated by battery.

No candle can be a Christmas candle unless its lovely light reminds us that it shines to honour the birthday of a King!

Had a decent nights sleep, woke at 3.30 to pee, did that and went back to bed till 4.30.

Tasha on the warpath about dishwasher not being unpacked and dirty dishes everywhere.

Blain’s 16^th birthday. I sent him a birthday message.

At 10.20 I tripped coming in the back sliding door and fell over hitting my head on the dining room table. Blain was here and I was going to get his birthday present. No blood just a sore head.

12-12-21

Had a restless night but I am feeling ok.

My left upper arm is extremely sore, I suspect from falling on it. I am wearing the shoulder brace.

This afternoon I did some online Christmas shopping at Big W for Tasha to pick up on Wednesday.

13-12-21Had a restless night but I am feeling ok.

My left upper arm is extremely sore, I suspect from falling on it. I am wearing the shoulder brace.

This afternoon I did some online Christmas shopping at Big W for Tasha to pick up on Wednesday.

13-12-21

Woke at 4.15 and started shaking all over bad enough for me to get up.

Tim drove me to Xray place had Xray and ultrasound done. I was 35 minutes early but got straight in and was home 15 minutes before appointment time.

My left arm is very painful. I also now have a black eye and a bruised head.

I feel like shit this afternoon.

14-12-21

Awake and up at 4.30, I had just started my wash when Tasha arrived to shower me.

My black eye is more noticeable today.

Kelli picked up my click & collect order from Sandy where Dave took it at lunch as Tash forgot about it.

Been a bloody hot day.

15-12-21

Woke at 4.30 thought I would just lay there for a bit but after only a few minutes my whole body started shaking, so I got up at 4.35am.

By the time Tash arrived at 4.55 I was washed and drenched in sweat.

Kelli took me shopping at Hot Bargain she pushed me in my wheelchair as there is no room to take the scooter in.

When we went back to the car it started to rain heavy, we all got pretty wet.

16-12-21

A latter start didn’t wake till 5am.

First day of school holidays, so no need to wake Leo which is why his mum didn’t before she left for work. No idea what work she is doing but she will be home by 10am.

Kelli came over this arvo and we wrapped and bagged more Chrissy. After that I had a bath and laid down and listened to a book.

Been another hot day.

Jess had to go and finish her days work at 5pm, she will be home by 8pm.

17-12-21

DAD AND HIS GIRLS

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.