A little pause.

I want to use the time between Christmas and New Year as a pause. Although we have done very little during the last week or so, we are both tired....a series of bad nights and one or two minor health concerns....

So I'm quietly gathering up some sewing and a few books, tidying up the decorations and the remains of Christmas, and just 'being' for a little while. I think I'm not alone in this as I have seen one or two friends taking time out.

Let's all come back reefreshed!

 

Christmas.

 I  wish you all a truly peaceful and blessed Christmas.

         

My Angel.

The fourth candle. ( a memory)

It's called The Angel Candle, and symbolizes Peace.   

Many years ago we spent Christmas in a little mountain village near Salzburg in Austria. Here, there was no emphasis on shopping, no bright lights, no advertisements demanding that you buy, buy, buy.

Instead, a peaceful village, with trees covered in white lights. Little inns from which Christmas hymns were heard, A church where, at the end of the Christmas Eve Mass, the trumpeters played Silent Night from the spire gallery.

After the Christmas meal in our Inn the owner gathered us all round in a circle. Not speaking German we had little idea of what was happening. But when she brought out a big family Bible, and started to read, we knew we were hearing the beautiful Christmas story despite it being in another language. The visitors sat silently throughout, listening. What an unexpected and delightful surprise.

After the reading a present was given to each person. This was ours, this lovely little ceramic Angel. 

How we have treasured her as a reminder of that beautiful evening.

Books, a bit of nonsense.

 I read A Lot. My primary school teacher used to drag me out of the library corner and force me to go out to play. So unkind.

Because I can't now slip off to the Library in Truro, and because the mobile library comes only once a month, I have to rely on  my Kindle. Yes, I know it isn't the same as holding a 'real' book, breathing in its pages, peeking at the end, flipping back over the pages, feeling the weight of it in your hands.

But it's practical, and I can call up titles that I might not otherwise see. Naturally as it's Christmas I am reading the much loved Winter Solstice. Again. In proper book form too.

But reading some of the 'light', very, fiction recently and being horrified at the lack of grammatical editing, (example 'Her and Mike drove off to the market'), I got to the point of (almost) hurling the Kindle across the room and bellowing 'I could write this rubbish!)'

 To compete, my book  would have to have the following.

Girl, maybe in her thirties, starting a new life after divorce/break up........ 

A house, left to her by a grandparent/great aunt/godmother, maybe in France/Tuscany.., needing some repair. 

Her best friend who visits and tries to match her up with every available man. 

Kindly elderly neighbour  lady ready to provide advice and listening ear. 

A builder who obviously isnt a cross elderly man, but is good looking, well built, and generally attractive. And can speak perfect French. Of course. Available immediately to do the repairs.  None of your waiting three months for a start date.

Lots of baking, 'cookies' a speciality. Work magically completed so Girl can open up a Bed and Breakfast. Has anyone thought about the rules and regulations that accompany this in another country?

Girl and builder fall in love. Then she hears him on the phone to 'Another' so sends him on his way, not interested in his explanations that he was talking to his sister/grandmother/dog..... Eventually , with intervention from best friend and/or neighbour , all is resolved. Happy Ending.

Will it sell?

Do forgive me for being a touch cynical. Have you come across similar 'light fiction'? Maybe it just shows how poor my reading tastes are at the minute. Or maybe I've had too many  free titles on Kindle.

Going quietly off to the kitchen to make some mince pies.

Third Advent Candle

Arriving a bit late to Angela's' Pause in Advent. 

The third candle is pink.

It's known as the Gaudete (Rejoice) candle.

There is a lovely medieval Carol called Gaudete, which we were listening to on Sunday, and thinking a bit about Rejoicing.

 Although this year hasnt been one that held much rejoicing, there are things we can still be joyful for. This awful pandemic seems to have swept so many thousands of people away. We can rejoice in being alive. Rejoice in seeing and hearing the lovely things around us, the kindness of friends, the unexpected moments of joy.

Rejoice in the knowledge that we have a Saviour by our side throughout.

A bit of decorating.

Somehow it's been hard to find enthusiasm for decorating this year. Whether it's because we are all tired, or whether we dont want to shop, I dont know. Normally I would be walking the lane finding all sorts of greenery and berries, but this year I have just foraged in the garden.

A little wreath hangs on the front door. Made of natural greenery, holly berries, dried orange slices and with some tiny lights attached, it makes a welcoming entrance. 

Feeling underwhelmed by the thought of creativity this year, I just gathered up a trug full of baubles and placed my angels and candles either side. 

This patchwork comes out every year. Made many years ago in France, it was a 'goal' for me while my husband was in rehab following a stroke.

I received a surprise yesterday from the Care Agency whose Carers look after my husband.This beautiful table centre arrived at my door, delivered by the Manager, with Christmas wishes. Wasn't that kind!

I added the candle to it.

 Following Angela's 'not quite pause in Advent'.

Lighting the second candle on my Advent wreath today. 

It's sometimes known as the Bethlehem candle, to represent the journey taken by Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

What a journey. Would we walk almost ninety miles today? In the cold. 

It made me think about the journey we have all been on this year, unwanted, unexpected and very frightening. Both Mary and Joseph must have felt those emotions as they travelled through territories that were less than friendly. Not knowing where they would sleep, not knowing how close they were to having their baby.

It made me realise just how many of my journeys are not necessary, and how much easier it has been to stay at home this year

 HELP!

I need a tutorial. New Blogger is so much harder to cope with.

I can't get a new background on the blog, the old method seems to have disappeared.

I would like to have a blog list on the side of blogs that I enjoy, one that comes up with new posts. I see so many of you have this.

Please help this pathetic untechnologically minded lady!!

Update.

I've managed to add a background. Now I need to change other colours on the page. It used to be very easy previously and I wish I hadn't changed anything!