There it was…

This morning, standing tall and looking pretty even after three weeks.  But the time had come to say goodbye to Christmas and so this afternoon, within an hour or so, the scene was rather different.

We had only to look at it, it seemed, for needles to fall by the hundred.

And there it was, gone.

Tired of turkey?

I hope your Christmas was filled with lovely company, tasty treats and good humour.  Ours certainly was, though I’m afraid anyone looking for a bit of peace around here was to be disappointed as I was stuck with my hacking cough night and day, in spite of drinking Benylin by the bottleful (not really, it just seemed like it at times)

I took a photograph of a small collection of stuff on the kitchen worktop on Christmas Eve for my Project Life and noted that it looks much the same today.  Hmm.  Yes, this was the Christmas of cough medicine (and no, I don’t like that particular one though the same brand cough sweets are fierce and pretty effective)

It’ll definitely find its way into my Christmas journal anyway, as will this one taken on Boxing Day on the dining table.  Sums it up well, don’t you think?

One of my stocking presents makes me smile every time I see it, though how long the novelty of the illuminated USB cable will last, I don’t know.  Father Christmas must have been taking particular note when I accidentally swiped my tablet from the worktop shortly before Christmas and broke the mini USB connector (but not the tablet – phew!)  Anyway, right now, I think it’s fun, don’t you?

My cough is my excuse for doing very little about the house and finding small heaps of very interesting presents still waiting to be explored.  That’s my bedtime reading for tonight sorted, then.

Tomorrow, I’m going to venture shopping for the first time since last Thursday morning.  We’re tired of turkey in all its guises and I think it’s time for a change.  I’m tempted by a bit of fish, I think…

Es Weinachtet

I’ve enjoyed three lovely advent calendars this year but had only one of them to open this morning.  Sadly, today was the last “door” of the sweet Jacquie Lawson Victorian scene, sent to me by sweet friends from the USA and which we’ve really enjoyed.  The other two, being German, reached their conclusion yesterday on Heilig Abend, but I saved the content to share here today.

I found them both in a grand bookshop in Berlin.  I liked the nostalgic style of the illustrations on this tear-off pad style calendar and thought that I’d include a couple in my December Journal.

The pictures are very cute and if we ever have a snowy day in December, I’ll have the perfect illustration for my journal!

The second purchase was a more reflective one.  This small book has a chapter for each day telling a Christmas story from a familiar source and I thought it would be a useful opportunity to practise my German reading skills.  Most mornings, I have enjoyed reading a few pages over my porridge and tea, sometimes having to return to a longer chapter later in the day.

It’s the last pages of both that I share here, then, to wish you a very Happy Christmas and to thank you for your support this year.  I really enjoy your company and appreciate the thoughts you share with me.  I hope you’ll continue to read, to leave a comment occasionally and carry on our conversations as we sometimes do.  I know that not everyone reads German, but I include the text from my little gold Advent book as it stands: I’m sure you’ll recognise the words “legte ihn in eine Krippe, weil für sie kein Raum war in der Herberge”  at least!

Es begab sich aber in jenen Tagen, daß ein Befehl ausging vom Kaiser Augustus, daß alle Welt sich sollte schätzen lassen. Diese Schatzung war die erste und geschah, als Kyrenius Landpfleger in Syrien war. Und es zogen alle aus, um sich schätzen zu lassen, ein jeder in seine Stadt. Es ging aber auch Joseph von Galiläa, aus der Stadt Nazareth, hinauf nach Judäa in die Stadt Davids, welche Bethlehem heißt, weil er aus dem Hause und Geschlechte Davids war, um sich schätzen zu lassen mit Maria, seiner Verlobten, die schwanger war.

Es begab sich aber, während sie daselbst waren, da erfüllten sich die Tage, daß sie gebären sollte. Und sie gebar ihren Sohn, den Erstgeborenen, und wickelte ihn in Windeln und legte ihn in eine Krippe, weil für sie kein Raum war in der Herberge.

Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend auf dem Felde, die bewachten des Nachts ihre Herde. Und siehe, ein Engel des Herrn trat zu ihnen, und die Klarheit des Herrn umleuchtete sie; und sie fürchteten sich sehr. Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen: Fürchtet euch nicht! Denn siehe, ich verkündige euch große Freude, die dem ganzen Volk widerfahren soll. Denn euch ist heute ein Retter geboren, welcher ist Christus, der Herr, in der Stadt Davids. Und das sei für euch das Zeichen: Ihr werdet ein Kindlein finden, in Windeln gewickelt und in einer Krippe liegend. Und plötzlich war bei dem Engel die Menge der himmlischen Heerscharen, die lobten Gott und sprachen: Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe und Friede auf Erden, an den Menschen ein Wohlgefallen!

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Almost there

More traditions.  Christmas Eve, first thing.  Collect the turkey.

Shame about the weather.

The same little posse of people outside, waiting to go in and get it done.  At least this year we were a good-humoured bunch who shared our disapproval of the man who’d come wearing his pyjamas.  We have standards!

I’d got most of the things we needed yesterday but there were a few that I’d forgotten/decided to leave till today.

My hero was rather pleased to be able to claim the first turkey collection of the day – and he assures me, he didn’t run

Before leaving, I thought I’d check out a newspaper cover that I’d heard about on the radio as I was getting up.  Is the Mirror turning Welsh then?  Or could there be another reason for the way they styled the masthead this morning?  I’m sure you worked it out a bit quicker than some around here and realised it’s a small tribute to my online chum Stasher?

Time to go home then. 

Let the fun begin!

Step into Christmas

We’ve been enjoying the company of our sweet friend and honorary sister Mary these last few days and following tradition, made our way to Daylesford to get into the spirit of the season.

We fall for the cool white and silvery beige tones every time: Such a contrast to the bright, gaudy decorations everywhere else.

But taste is a curse and such minimalism comes at a price.  Still, it costs nothing to look, does it?

The antidote to rampant consumerism on “panic Saturday” came in the form of Carols on the Hour at Gloucester Cathedral and as we sat listening to the Stuart Singers do their two gigs, we admired the “knitivity” (especially the cheeky camel!)

Poor Mary looks totally cheesed off by the whole affair, don’t you think?

We stepped into an altogether different Christmas at Abbeycwmhir on Sunday.  Don’t be fooled by the sober exterior.

Inside has been truly decked with not only boughs of holly but everything else as well.

After the muted elegance of Daylesford, believe me, it came as quite a shock.  52 rooms, all decorated for Christmas…

At least one tree in every room, each individually decorated to a theme.  This is the library tree.

This one stood in the billiard room amongst a range of stuffed animals.

The craft judge in me just had to take a closer look at that trailing braid to check if it was cross stitched (it wasn’t).

There was the crystal tree, with miniature pieces of crystal glinting in the light from the window.

A tree full of timepieces.

And a tree set amongst Royal Doulton figurines.  Many of them!  This is a house owned by collectors and one half of the couple, Paul gave us a great deal of background as he showed us around his home.

Because the remarkable thing is, Paul and his wife do really live here.  Not only that, but no door remains closed – this is a corner of one of the kitchen rooms.

Quite how they live in such an abundance of decorative “stuff” is a mystery to me.  I know that I would need to paint one room white and empty it of all the clutter just as a refuge.

But they must be used to it by now and of course, it’s their choice! 

When I reviewed my photographs, I was amazed that I managed to take one which had no sign of Christmas whatsoever.  That was quite an achievement, for as you can tell, Paul and his wife do not hold back with the decorations!

There was one room which would haunt me, however.  Filled with these knitted figures which are so frequently seen at village shows, they are every WI Craft Judge’s nightmare!  Yes, loads of work.  Not easy knitting.  Tricky construction.  But no play value whatsoever and what person do you know who would like one to grace their home?

I’ll take the cute camel every time.