Hello another Monday in December that means it’s fact day.

For children, Christmas is all about receiving gifts from Santa Claus. But how did Santa Claus come into existence? The character of Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas. As per a legend, St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop who provided for the poor and needy. He also loved children and enjoyed giving gifts to them secretly. As his story spread, he was called Sinterklaas in Dutch, which later became Santa Claus.
So you and your kids probably know Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, who pulls Santa’s sled on Christmas Eve. But do you know other reindeers? It would be impossible for Rudolph alone to pull Santa’s sled, don’t you think? It is filled with gifts to the brim for every good child in the world, and Rudolph can’t pull that all alone. Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, is in fact, Santa’s ninth reindeer.

When Jesus was born, a bright star shone in the sky. Three kings followed this star and made a long journey to the birthplace of Jesus. They bore with them gifts of gold, frankincense (aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes), and oils

Have you ever wondered why people go door to door singing carols? The tradition is based on the English custom of wassailing, which was a tradition to toast to someone’s good health and fortune. St. Francis of Assisi took this tradition and converted it to the modern form of carolling.

The Christmas wreath is representative of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore. Eventually, the colours of Christmas – red, green, and gold were added. Red is said to represent the blood of Jesus, green is supposed to symbolize life, and gold stands for royalty and light. And the evergreen foliage used to make Christmas wreaths symbolises the continuity of life and nature even in the darkest days of winters.

Woke around 7ish, got up and sent Tash a message asking for help with breakfast.

At 11am Jess came and helped me change my clothes to go to Kelli’s for lunch with her and Leo as well as their friend Jay.

Lunch was great I had a wonderful time and laughed a lot.

Didn’t get home till 4pm, so only did meds for tonight will do the rest tomorrow.

Woke at 6am opened the house and Tasha came down and gave me a shower.

Going to be a very warm today but no need for air con.

Saw Kelli when she came to say goodbye to Jay.

Tim on afternoons again this week.

Mum was happy today and pleased to hear I had a good time yesterday.

Awake before the alarm and straight up and opened the house.

Suppose to be cooler today and it feels it at 7am

Decided to spend the day trying to answer some letters as I have 20 piled up.

Managed to write 3 letters to penpals and 3 Christmas cards to family.

I am shaking a great deal this morning, another cool morning.

Had a shocking night last night and it turns out I forgot to take my meds last night.

I am shaking a great deal this morning, another cool morning.

Dr rang and because of shaking I hung up on him and had to ring surgery and arrange for him to ring back.

I improved as the day progressed.

Managed to write another 2 letters and 6 Christmas cards.

Had a better night last night, woke as my alarm went off, I only remember waking twice during the night and going pretty much straight back to sleep.

Had to turn the air con on at midday due to how much I was sweating.

Mum told me she is worried about losing her memory she is getting bad but still knows who is who and remembers to ring ,e each day

Leo here tonight

A new day has arrived I dragged my body out of bed at 6am, opened the house a cold morning.

Didn’t warm up much but still I was drenched in sweat from head to foot.

Had a lot of pain in my left leg and knee so much it hurts to move let alone walk which is cry worthy pain.

Had to massage my leg for half an hour till it was possible to move in order to go to bed.

Mum was over the moon about getting another letter from Kathy in the mail. As she read about poppy she cried.

I woke at 6am and got up straight away and was in the kitchen when Tasha arrived.

I gave Tim a death look because when I asked him to clean off the table he said he works 6 days a week. When I told Tasha she said she works 7 days a week

Kathy gave me a shower and half an hour later I was drenched in sweat.

When Kelli dropped off Blain she came and cleaned my computer desk.

We gave Blain a $50 gift card from EB Games

I Measure Every Grief I Meet

By Emily Dickinson More Emily Dickinson

I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, eyes –
I wonder if It weighs like Mine –
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long –
Or did it just begin –
I could not tell the Date of Mine –
It feels so old a pain –

I wonder if it hurts to live –
And if They have to try –
And whether – could They choose between –
It would not be – to die –

I note that Some – gone patient long –
At length, renew their smile – 
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil –

I wonder if when Years have piled – 
Some Thousands – on the Harm – 
That hurt them early – such a lapse
Could give them any Balm – 

Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve –
Enlightened to a larger Pain – 
In Contrast with the Love – 

The Grieved – are many – I am told – 
There is the various Cause – 
Death – is but one – and comes but once – 
And only nails the eyes – 

There’s Grief of Want – and grief of Cold – 
A sort they call “Despair” – 
There’s Banishment from native Eyes –
In sight of Native Air – 

And though I may not guess the kind – 
Correctly – yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary – 

To note the fashions – of the Cross – 
And how they’re mostly worn – 
Still fascinated to presume
That Some – are like my own –

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/i-measure-every-grief-i-meet-by-emily-dickinson

Hello Monday the first Monday of December being December I am doing some Christmas posts so here are some Christmas facts.

The origin or the use of Christmas trees goes way back to ancient Egyptians and Romans. They used evergreen trees like fir or pine trees, wreaths, and garlands.

The use of modern Christmas trees started in Germany in the 16th century. Instead of the glitzy decorations that we see on them today, they were decorated with fruits and nuts.

The use of the term ‘Xmas’ dates back to the 16th century. The ‘X’ in the word Xmas comes from the ancient Greek language. In Greek, Christ begins with the letter X. So, Xmas simply means Christmas.

Santa Claus initially wore clothes that were in green, purple, or blue. For many years, this was the common theme for the jolly old man at the North Pole. However, Coca Cola decided to dress him up in colours that match their brand and that stuck. So this is why he is always in red clothes now!

The Christmas wreath is representative of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore.

Eventually, the colours of Christmas – red, green, and gold were added. Red is said to represent the blood of Jesus, green is supposed to symbolize life, and gold stands for royalty and light. And the evergreen foliage used to make Christmas wreaths symbolises the continuity of life and nature even in the darkest days of winters.

I woke just before Tim’s alarm went off at 6.30 so I got up then. Tasha arrived a few minutes later to throw a load of washing and dressed me while she was here.

Another stinking hot day turned the air con at 7.30.

Woke at 6.06 and got up and opened the house up and was washed with clean teeth when she arrived.

Not as hot today thankfully.

Leo’s driver rang told Jess that he will be late as he woke to find he had two flat tyres. I sent him a text asking him to let me know when he is here, he said ok.

Leo here at 8am for a change. Brian arrived at 8.35am to get Leo.

Leo’s early day home by 2.20pm.

I was up at 6am and Tasha arrived just after to throw a load in the machine before giving me a shower

Another hot day had to turn the air con on

Tim on afternoons yet again

Sue’s Chrisco gift cards came here, so I rang her and let her know. Less drove her over to get them.

She looked thin and older then her years.

I am in a bad way due to the shaking and seating and of course the pain in my left knee.

Woke to the alarm going off, struggled to get out of bed but did it.

Not as hot today, a nice breeze is blowing through the house.

I am feeling like shit, all this shaking and needing to get up and down every few seconds or minutes. Then there is the seating from head to foot all the bloody time.

Spoke to Mum she was good better then me.

I had a shocking nights sleep kept waking from weird dreams that of course I can’t remember.

Was raining when I went to go with Leo to meet his driver, so Tasha had to go with him.

A coolish day with me dripping in sweat again.

Spent a lot of time working on Christmas cards and wrote one letter.

Mum was ok although at 15 mins into chat she had to go and take a call from the doctor’s surgery. Turned out to be Andrew her doctor ringing to tell her about her last lot of blood tests. They showed her kidneys were shutting down and he wanted her to stop taking one medication because of that.

Friday at last, I woke at 4.10am unable to breath I thought the cotton wool I have against the side of my nose had moved but no my nose was blocked, I applied chest rub under my nose and that fixed the problem.

Saw GP and got a referral to see another neurologist this will cost a small fortune but both Tim & I as well as my GP feel that I have undiagnosed Parkinson’s.

Jess & Kelli helped me get ready for bed.

Tim laying carpet squares in the kitchen, as well as replacing the plastic mat under my computer chair to try and make it better for me and stopping it from moving.

Woke at 6ish got up sometime later but before 7am, lucky for me Tasha turned up with a load of washing. So she was able to get my breakfast.

Kathy-Lee & girls turned up at 9ish and gave me a shower. She also ironed Tim’s work clothes and Jess work shirt for me.

Another hot day, turned the air con on at midday.

Jess told her dad she has changed her mind about trip to Canberra in January this has upset me.

I feel things I want never pan out.

When I’m With You

© Blakelee

Published: January 2008

In your arms,
I’m in my safe haven.
With you holding me tight,
I have no other craving.

All I need
is that one look
that says you’re always there,
just like in a fairy tale book.

Your eyes talk to me
as the world stands still.
My once empty heart
now with love does fill.

Your eyes tell me
that you’ll love me every day.
No matter what may come,
you’ll be there to stay.

I tell you everything
and never with a lie:
all my worldly secrets
and everything that once made me cry.

Everything in my past,
with you I can forget it all.
I know I can trust you
to catch me if I fall.

If only I could explain
how much love I have for you.
Then maybe, just maybe,
you’d feel it too.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/being-in-love

Hello Monday, hello life here we are at Monday so it is fact day

Scottish inventor John Logic Baird gave the first public demonstration of television in 1926 in Soho London

Ten years later there was only 100 TV set in the world, today there is more like a billion.

The first daily television broadcast was started by the BBC in November 1935.

Bird droppings where the main export of Narua an island in the Western Pacific.

A quarter of Russia is covered by forest.

A new day a day when I could sleep in but no I woke at 6.30am again. I managed to dress myself and have a wash before I needed to send Tasha message asking for help getting my breakfast.

When Kelli dropped Blain off she came inside and helped me do the medications for the week.

I have sweated so much you would think I had wet myself.

Mum was sounding better today.

Realised yesterday afternoon when I went to take my medications last night that I have no Sifrol which I take for restlessness so took a full Phenergan and half a sleeping tablet, so I could sleep and sleep I did.

I woke to the roaster crowing and Tim telling me to shut it off. On a plus side I was able to get out of bed on my own.

This afternoon I thought Leo would be here at 2pm I was wrong he arrived at 3.30pm.

Strong winds this afternoon, but no rain.

Tasha in pain this afternoon with her legs, I hope she feels better tomorrow.

I received 16 letters today when Tasha checked the P O Box and 2 packages.

Slept well again more or less, woke when the alarm went off. I was in the bathroom when Tasha arrived, because I hadn’t dressed yet she decided to give me a shower as I stunk.

Been a somewhat busy day with housework and ironing Tim’s work clothes and such.

Mum sounded good when I spoke to her, she sounds more like herself

I woke at 5.40 and got up 10 mins later, I opened the house and managed to get my hearing aids in without help.

Tash arrived at 6.30 and dressed me, then got my breakfast.

Another warm day and for me a lazy day doing bugga all.

Feeling restless and unsettled this afternoon

Woke to the alarm, going to be another dripping in sweat day for me.

I am shaking a lot today and feel like shit because of it.

Mum was ok repeated herself a few times but sounded happier.

Leo here tonight, Tim was telling me how happy he is that Leo treats this house like his own home. Coming in and getting whatever he wants even if we are in bed.

I woke at 5.40 and got up straight away, gathered up my stuff and headed to the bathroom. My phone, however, was in the loungeroom so it was good I woke when I did.

After opening the house I sat and started my computer and waited for Tasha to arrive.

At 6.30 I was dripping in sweat.

Another day shaking so very much.

Leo going to Kelli’s for the weekend, so Tash will settle me down.

Mum told me all about the letter from Kathy, she was so excited about it. She ended up reading the whole letter to me.

Had a sleep in, waking at 7am I managed to get up and get my own breakfast.

Kathy came over but it was obvious that she was too sick to give me a shower. So I rang Tash and she came and showered me.

Going to be a stinking hot day air con on from 7.30 this morning.

The heat is giving me a headache

If Only You Could Have Stayed

© Catherine Lamberton More By Catherine Lamberton

Published: March 2011

Constantly thinking,
never to be the same.
The tears fall quickly
just hearing your name.

Silence is golden,
yet not anymore.
Silence brings thoughts
I just can’t ignore.

The nights are sleepless,
dreams out of reach.
Crying in my pillow
to you I beseech.

Surrounded by family,
I still feel alone.
My heart is so empty.
This pain I must own.

I wish I could hug you
and just see your face.
But now I have memories
to stand in your place.

Gone but not forgotten,
that’s what they say.
Of course that is true…
but if only you could have stayed.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/if-only-you-could-of-stayed

Hello world, hello Monday here are this weeks facts…………

Microwave ovens were invented by chance in a laboratory accident, really ??????

By 1929 eleven people had died from unnatural causes, including Lord Carnation’s relatives and Carter’s personal secretary, Richard Bethell and Bethell’s father Lord Westbury.

Lord Westbury took his own life by jumping from a building, he left a note that said, “I really can’t stand any more horrors, so I am making my exit.

Mel Blanc the voice of Bugs Bunny was allergic to carrots

Approximately one third of the Earth’s land surface is desert.