Christmas 2009

2010 has started and I am on my way to work. A little while in which I can either sleep along with my fellow passengers, take the time to reflect on the past few days or think about the future. This morning I am taking the time to reflect on the past fortnight. The Christmas and New Year celebrations were fun. We spent a lot of time with family and friends, ate excellent food lovingly prepared, opened packages which showed the givers had given much thought to the receivers, and enjoyed the weather.

On Christmas Eve we went as a family to the family Christmas service. I thought it was done really well. The local primary school acted the Nativity and the meaning of Christmas was spelt out very clearly. The blatant message wasn’t enjoyed by all, but I felt it was good to be reminded without any misunderstanding what Christmas is about and about how good our lives are. The following days were very family intensive and with 5 little ones (and quite a lot of big ones) a noisy affair. We had them all around for dinner on Boxing Day. It always makes me appreciate what having 18 people for dinner entails! Thanks to my inlaws for having us the other two days.

Despite the thoughtfulness and generosity of the presents we were given, this time of year never fails to make me question the amount of presents we receive. Funny, I love buying, making (doesn’t happen half as much as I would like!!) giving and receiving presents. I less like having things. Of course I like the things I have been given or we have been given, the whole ritual is wonderful but we seem to have so much. All of the things we have and then all the new things. Somehow when they are all together they take up so much space. I am still mulling over these thoughts.

Winter Solstice

21st December. Winter solstice.

May peace, warmth , light and love be with you over the coming festivities.

It is so dark and cold here tonight. We had 40cms of snow yesterday and it is sooo cold. It is definitely a time to snuggle down under blankets and or to go out and celebrate. I am choosing the reflection tonight at the night is too thick to celebrate in. It is the kind of night I yearn to sit in front of an open fire and gaze into the flames. If I were to go out into the street and inhale the coldness into the bottom of my lungs I'd be able to smell someone else's.

Funny, I am not a winter person at all. I know and love someone who really is, so I really know I am not. But on nights like tonight, it seems a shame that it will be getting lighter again soon.

New Hair

A leaf bathing in the sunlight. I'd like to be doing that right now. Escape the early December grey and lie by a pool in the sun.

Lots has been happening here, parental visits, parcels, fun and games, evenings with friends, but the grey has stolen my writing inspiration. Hopefully it'll come back soon.

St. Martin

Precious

Over the past few weeks I have regularly thougth of those five things to be thankful for and although on some days it took some looking for, other days were filled to the brim. Just to mention some of the ones that filled those days to the brim:

Going to Switzerland to Zürich on a long overdue trip to see two wonderful people. Thank you so much for a lovely weekend. Oh and Zürich is nice too. The sun shone, we had our first Glühwein of the season and the conversations were soulfilling.

Having the longest conversation whilst surrounded by bubbles about dreams. And re-discovering that there are people who will support you and even dream with you irrelevant of how crazy others think your ideas may be.

Spending an evening (well most of a weekend) with some friends over a table creaking with delicous food and drink. Where did the hours go? What did we talk about? When was the last time we hurried to bed as the kids would be getting up in two hours (if you're lucky)?

Toys

Who needs toys? Or playgrounds for that matter? Take a bit of waste land, a dry day and a friend. Oops I forgot to mention the sticks and the dirt. Fun guarenteed.