Wednesday 20 November 2019

Wednesday

Good morning.  It's another cold morning but nothing like as frosty as yesterday.  I do rather like these bright and white starts to the day when everything looks so clean and frosted.

Thank you all very much for your lovely comments yesterday.  I'm feeling a bit better today, not 100% but definitely on the mend.  I've cancelled personal training, sadly, but it means I can continue to rest and relax and, hopefully, will be back to normal tomorrow.  Son, Dave, is coming round for a chat and to show off his operation scar this afternoon so that will be lovely.

I had a lot of time to think yesterday and I was pondering over things I need to do for Christmas and things I would like to do.  I fear I am a bit childlike where the festive season is concerned.  It might go right back to childhood with beloved family traditions making it both familiar and exciting and later it was certainly helped both by making traditions for my own family and also creating a memorable time for my little students in school.

Since retirement, I no longer have the familiar school/class traditions and, with my Mum's illness and death, many things have gone by the board.  That's OK, things do change and I have long recognised that not everyone in the family holds the same things dear.  In a way, I now have more control than ever I had and I intend to make the most of it while I can.

Christmas this year is going to be relatively low key but it's still going to be fab because really it starts in the mind and in my mind, I am excited.

I've decided that I will make my own Advent event.  Every day from the first to the twenty fourth, I will do something specifically Christmassy and I've put together a sheet to record this, starting with the beginning of burning my advent candle and opening the first bauble in my online Jacquie Lawson Advent Calender as well as visiting the Christmas and Craft shops at Blackthorpe barn because I will have spent the weekend in Bury St Edmunds.

Here's what I've got so far.


The blank days will be filled with things.  It might be as simple as putting out some candles or it might involve some kind of food prep such as making and freezing the pigs in blankets but whatever it is, I will do it with a sense of celebration, spirituality, festivity and sheer joyousness.

Also, I think I will do what I've done before and post a link each day to some favourite Christmas music.  Christmas seems to inspire and there's so much lovely stuff of all styles and genres to share around, isn't there?

There will also be charitable giving, both local and national, but that remains private between donor and recipients!  :-)

What is your favourite Christmas thing?


15 comments:

  1. Lovely idea Joy and glad you are feeling better.

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    1. Thanks, Diane. I definitely am on the mend.
      xx

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  2. What a wonderful idea, Joy - bet you'll enjoy thinking about and planning all the Christmassy things as much as doing them! Lovely to have your Dad for Christmas, you'll be making new traditions and he'll really enjoy being with you. We don't go in for Christmas in a big way, never have, but I do enjoy decorating our hall window and lounge mantlepiece - the only areas that get decorated. xx

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    1. I did the whole paper chain thing at school but now it's the tree and mostly red candles with a bit of Beth-made bunting. I dearly love candles at Christmas.
      (in case you hadn't noticed) ;-)
      xx

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  3. I always make my own Advent calendar. Mine includes attending a couple of Christmas carol services, present wrapping day, driving round to see the Christmas lights, the Christmas Tree festival in the parish church, and of course lots of events where I am playing. This year I have the delight of fitting in the choir commitments as well.

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    1. It sounds lovely. I still have to fit in the carol services, etc. There will be school things to go to.
      xx

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  4. I like the chart for advent plans. My diary has lots of things to go to...... Christmas fairs etc but after the 26th is looking a bit sparse.

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    1. After the 26th, I reckon we will all need a few days to rest and recover - and to catch up on missed telly!
      xx

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  5. What a lovely idea. It's going to be quite quiet here. Last year was hard as it was the first year my daughter wasn't coming home for at all over Christmas and I missed her terribly. I'm a bit better prepared this year. We are going to visit her early in the month. Son wasn't around Christmas Day either but this year he's hoping (he does live close so we see him lots other times). I think I'm going to try to do a December Daily type thing where I will write down a memory or thought of holiday times. Still mulling over how it will actually go.

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  6. I love this idea!!!! Lots of life change for me in the past few years and my dad's recent passing is making the upcoming holiday an emotional rollercoaster for me. Rather than focus on his absence and all that is not, your idea inspires me to savor each day. I like it!!! To make my own. Thanks so much for the idea! Blessings!

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    1. I totally understand about the roller coaster; we will all miss Mum terribly bu, hopefully, we can focus on the positives rather than the negatives.
      I hope you enjoy your own Advent event.
      xx

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  7. I'm glad you are feeling better, Joy, and I love your idea of doing something Christmasy each day for Advent! I started decorating today so I am getting in the mood!

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    1. Well, we're not so far away now, are we, not really. I put the Christmas bunting up for the open house and that's staying up now, so the atmoaphere is slightly festive already!
      I never used to be an early starter, it was always the last weekend before Christmas but things change.
      xx

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  8. I'm glad you're beginning to feel better. I think your advent idea is lovely and, if you don't mind, I might just 'borrow' it. I love the build up to Christmas, probably even more than the day itself. X

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    1. I'm delighted. Please do use it and make it your own. I'e always enjoyed the build up as well.
      xx

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