Is it just me, or has this year absolutely flown by? Maybe I am just getting old...er!
I haven't been excited about Christmas for such a long time, and yet for some reason this year, I am starting to feel the itching and longing and things that one associates with this time of year. Please don't misunderstand me, I am not getting out tree and decorations, nor am I having a sit down feast with family or friends, but I am letting the excitement of others rub off on me. This is even to the extent of looking at decorations in the shops and thinking that I could perhaps just have a little something tucked in a corner somewhere.
I do not consider myself a "Bah Humbug!" person, but more of a realist. And I grew up with the words of my mother ringing in my ears that ceiling decorations were just dust collectors! However, seeing as autumn seems to have disappeared in a rush, I can now look forward to spring with eager anticipation!
I think I remember saying in my last post that the leaves hadn't changed colour on the trees and were simply falling; well, I have to concede that I was mistaken in that respect. Barely had the words left my brain and fixed themselves into my computer when the wonderful explosion of colour occurred. I guess that this year the trees had just about the right amount of sunshine and rain to make the trees dazzle in arrays from yellow and golds to deep changing greens and bright reds. The beauty of living in Kent is that within minutes of my flat I can drive through swathes of trees in all their autumn glory. The sight is enough to make me cry at the beauty and be astonished - again - at the creation that could not have possibly come from any old big bang, but from the hand of God. But sad to say, that as soon as this spectacular happened, so it vanished. The winds and the rains came and blew the majority of the leaves from their branches and now the only thing that is left is naked trees with just a smattering of stubborn leaves that have refused to fall in the first instance, but know their fate well enough to know that it is only time before they too succumb and become the slippery, sodden mulch that sticks to the soles of your shoes like glue. For an artist, this landscape of barren trees against lowering skies is beautiful and I would love to have the flair to capture that on canvas, but alas, my talents do not lie in that direction.
I can appreciate the beauty of it even though I hate the latter end of autumn and winter for the cold and frost and the horrible viruses that lurk around every corner, just waiting to ambush me. I am writing this at the beginning of December so, although not really wanting to wish my life away, I am consoling myself that in three weeks there is the shortest day and after that the days get longer and longer, not to mention that a week or so after that the old year is over and a new one can begin. To say that this year has been my "Annus horribilis" is putting it mildly, so I am looking forward to some exciting things happening in 2013, just don't ask me what they are likely to be because at the moment, I haven't a clue!
Oh! I have just been looking at facebook and someone posted a flash mob of people singing carols. It was so beautiful and then someone sung "O Holy Night", and that was it, I was in floods of tears. The spirit really does touch my heart whenever I hear that carol and especially the line "Fall on your knees"; even now it is making me feel emotional. But where was I? I get so easily distracted that it is nothing short of amazing that I manage to complete anything at all!
This morning I popped into town early - to avoid the inevitable crush that comes, not only at this time of year, but also because the free bus pass for passengers of that certain age (and please be assured that I am definitely not of "that certain age"!) doesn't start until 9:30. That means that I have nearly an hour of stress free shopping which is absolute bliss. Unfortunately for me, I made the mistake of going into the food hall of Marks and Spencers. I swear that I was only going to have a look, after all, I had successfully negotiated my way around Iceland and a pound shop to check if the chocolate Brazil's were as cheap as I had found elsewhere; but then I fell prey to the fruit scones and milk chocolate chip cookies that were just looking at me so forlornly that I had no option but to buy one of each! How weak willed is that? I feel terribly guilty now they are sitting in my kitchen - but I refuse to let that ruin a perfectly acceptable treat. Just don't let anyone else know or I will be for it! I certainly won't be eating anything else like until at least the end of the week.......when I always have a treat for doing my weekly food shop at some ridiculous hour of the morning.
Just looked out the window and it is now raining, so I feel really good about going into town early. Surprisingly, I had two calls on my mobile as I was walking into town. Normally I get very few calls and texts so how typical was it that I should get them when I was unable to do anything about them? It's like sitting all day waiting for someone to call and they decide to do it just as you are about to eat tea or settle down to your favourite television programme. How does that work? Is my place bugged? Can Google maps, or whatever they call themselves, see right into my flat? Is C.C.T.V., like Big Brother, watching my every step along the road? Hmm! Good job I am not paranoid.
I seem to have lost the thread of Christmas somewhere between the start of this blog and here. I'm sure that it doesn't matter too much, as those of you who read my blogs regularly will surely attest, as I waffle through subject after subject with no real cohesion of thought.
I have actually managed to write some Christmas cards this year; last year I failed miserably and only sent e-cards - and only to those friends who have a computer or a known e-mail address. I have to admit that having an electronic card is not quite the same as having a card drop through the letterbox, but beggars can't be choosers and all that. Most of my cards are e-cards again, and I hope that I haven't missed anyone. Nothing worse than getting a card from someone you haven't thought about for the whole year!
I really would like to be able to write another blog before Christmas, so I am cutting this one short (don't laugh; one day they may be shorter) and leaving you with the invitation to comment as per usual.
See you all next time....
Susan xx
Something for you to ponder...... See the miracles in the everyday things and recognise how blessed you really are.
I think I remember saying in my last post that the leaves hadn't changed colour on the trees and were simply falling; well, I have to concede that I was mistaken in that respect. Barely had the words left my brain and fixed themselves into my computer when the wonderful explosion of colour occurred. I guess that this year the trees had just about the right amount of sunshine and rain to make the trees dazzle in arrays from yellow and golds to deep changing greens and bright reds. The beauty of living in Kent is that within minutes of my flat I can drive through swathes of trees in all their autumn glory. The sight is enough to make me cry at the beauty and be astonished - again - at the creation that could not have possibly come from any old big bang, but from the hand of God. But sad to say, that as soon as this spectacular happened, so it vanished. The winds and the rains came and blew the majority of the leaves from their branches and now the only thing that is left is naked trees with just a smattering of stubborn leaves that have refused to fall in the first instance, but know their fate well enough to know that it is only time before they too succumb and become the slippery, sodden mulch that sticks to the soles of your shoes like glue. For an artist, this landscape of barren trees against lowering skies is beautiful and I would love to have the flair to capture that on canvas, but alas, my talents do not lie in that direction.
I can appreciate the beauty of it even though I hate the latter end of autumn and winter for the cold and frost and the horrible viruses that lurk around every corner, just waiting to ambush me. I am writing this at the beginning of December so, although not really wanting to wish my life away, I am consoling myself that in three weeks there is the shortest day and after that the days get longer and longer, not to mention that a week or so after that the old year is over and a new one can begin. To say that this year has been my "Annus horribilis" is putting it mildly, so I am looking forward to some exciting things happening in 2013, just don't ask me what they are likely to be because at the moment, I haven't a clue!
Oh! I have just been looking at facebook and someone posted a flash mob of people singing carols. It was so beautiful and then someone sung "O Holy Night", and that was it, I was in floods of tears. The spirit really does touch my heart whenever I hear that carol and especially the line "Fall on your knees"; even now it is making me feel emotional. But where was I? I get so easily distracted that it is nothing short of amazing that I manage to complete anything at all!
This morning I popped into town early - to avoid the inevitable crush that comes, not only at this time of year, but also because the free bus pass for passengers of that certain age (and please be assured that I am definitely not of "that certain age"!) doesn't start until 9:30. That means that I have nearly an hour of stress free shopping which is absolute bliss. Unfortunately for me, I made the mistake of going into the food hall of Marks and Spencers. I swear that I was only going to have a look, after all, I had successfully negotiated my way around Iceland and a pound shop to check if the chocolate Brazil's were as cheap as I had found elsewhere; but then I fell prey to the fruit scones and milk chocolate chip cookies that were just looking at me so forlornly that I had no option but to buy one of each! How weak willed is that? I feel terribly guilty now they are sitting in my kitchen - but I refuse to let that ruin a perfectly acceptable treat. Just don't let anyone else know or I will be for it! I certainly won't be eating anything else like until at least the end of the week.......when I always have a treat for doing my weekly food shop at some ridiculous hour of the morning.
Just looked out the window and it is now raining, so I feel really good about going into town early. Surprisingly, I had two calls on my mobile as I was walking into town. Normally I get very few calls and texts so how typical was it that I should get them when I was unable to do anything about them? It's like sitting all day waiting for someone to call and they decide to do it just as you are about to eat tea or settle down to your favourite television programme. How does that work? Is my place bugged? Can Google maps, or whatever they call themselves, see right into my flat? Is C.C.T.V., like Big Brother, watching my every step along the road? Hmm! Good job I am not paranoid.
I seem to have lost the thread of Christmas somewhere between the start of this blog and here. I'm sure that it doesn't matter too much, as those of you who read my blogs regularly will surely attest, as I waffle through subject after subject with no real cohesion of thought.
I have actually managed to write some Christmas cards this year; last year I failed miserably and only sent e-cards - and only to those friends who have a computer or a known e-mail address. I have to admit that having an electronic card is not quite the same as having a card drop through the letterbox, but beggars can't be choosers and all that. Most of my cards are e-cards again, and I hope that I haven't missed anyone. Nothing worse than getting a card from someone you haven't thought about for the whole year!
I really would like to be able to write another blog before Christmas, so I am cutting this one short (don't laugh; one day they may be shorter) and leaving you with the invitation to comment as per usual.
See you all next time....
Susan xx
Something for you to ponder...... See the miracles in the everyday things and recognise how blessed you really are.
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