Christmas Cards

The photo I posted on Christmas Day was of the card sent to Mary (my great aunt) 100 years ago.

I also have a card sent 30 years later, during the next war.  This one was sent from my father to his parents and sister.

Sending physical cards is falling out of fashion, for very obvious and valid reasons, especially with friends and family being scattered across the globe.  However, I think there is still something special about receiving cards and we have ours displayed in various parts of the house.

Christmas

I'm still luxuriating in the Christmas season!

We've been enjoying our festive food and drink and we've been looking at family photos and thinking about family history.  This year that is helped by my second cousin sending me some photos with her Christmas card.

The snow and cold weather has meant that we haven't ventured out (it really isn't easy to push a wheelchair through snow and ice!), but we have enjoyed our special decorations and have been using all our festive crockery and glassware.

There are vague thoughts of shopping tomorrow, but we don't actually need to, so who knows … I don't have to work tomorrow so can take it as it comes.

As a reminder that Christmas lasts for at least the twelve days, here is our family Twelve Days banner:

Happy Christmas!

Christmas is here and there is one task for today, and that is to enjoy it!

Today's photo is of a card sent by a woman named Jenny to one called Mary for Christmas 1914.

Jenny's gift to Mary was a copy of Princess Mary's Gift Book, a collection of prose and poetry with all the profits going to the Queen's Work for Women Fund.  Jenny wrote a dated dedication in the book and tucked in the card and a photo of herself.

As I look at the card and gift given 100 years ago today, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas.

It's Started!

I was only working a half day today, so now home and ready to start Christmas.  It is just gone 16.00, so time for a glass of Madeira and a slice of panettone, which is our traditional start to Christmas.

Raising a glass …

Today's photo is the obvious for Christmas Eve

Last shop before Christmas

Well, that is the food shopping done now as I picked up the fruit, veg etc this evening.  Anything I've forgotten stays forgotten and we'll do without!  If it was dire I could go on my way to or back from work tomorrow, but really don't want to have to do that as I suspect the shops will be very busy. 

Today's photo shows some of the pudding themed cards.

 

Not tonight, not tomorrow night ...

The "not tonight, not tomorrow night" was the way my brother did his own counting down to Christmas when he was a small child. What it means is that Christmas is now Very Close.  Because we had many of the team in for a meeting this morning and after today there will be few people in our main office before Christmas, we opened the rest of the Advent calendar!  It just served to remind us of how near we are to Christmas and there was a definite air of excitement.

My vital task for today was to ensure that I've got all the regular medication I'll need while shops are closed and while I don't really want to be going out to the shops. I know I could go out if I had to, but I much prefer to set aside a few days to devote to celebrating and enjoying the Christmas season - walks over the immediate Christmas period should be for pleasure, not to the shops!  Medication does need a bit of planning because there is something I take once a week and currently I'm taking it on a Thursday.  As I have to have it first thing and then have only tap water to eat/drink for about 45 mins and have to remain upright (no slouching or laying down and no bending over either) for that time, I know that I really don't want to be taking it on Christmas Day!  Christmas Eve seems a much better idea as I will be working from home and can work my breakfast and coffee around it all.

Today's photo is of Cressing Temple Barns in the snow:

It isn't a recent photo, but it looks very seasonal!

4th Sunday

The 4th Sunday in Advent and time to put the finishing touches to the decorations.

The tree is now up and decorated and the outside lights are up and switched on.  The final list has been written up and the linen I want to use is checked and ready.

Today's photo fits with this evening's O Antiphon - O Morning Star (O Oriens)