Polishing my halo

Husband's sorting out his computer files too so he sent me this photo this morning. 

The place we get our Christmas tree from always has a grotto, and an elf outside taking people's tickets and blowing 'snow' at them. I'd leapt into the snowfall when the little girl walked away, and I must have looked disappointed when it stopped because the elf asked if I'd like some snow. She blew it just for me!

That was before I came down with this cold. Not looking so cheery now! When I woke this morning I felt the best I'd done yet and cheered quietly, "Yay, I'm getting better." It didn't last. I've coughed all morning, I have a headache, and I'm running out of tissues.

Currently comparing notes with friend, Janet, who's had her cough since 18th December. Doesn't bode well.

But something cheered me up yesterday. I had a message from a young (early 30s) man from church saying, "You were flippin awesome in church Sunday. You inspired me."

Excuse me while I polish my halo.

I'm sparkling

"Look, I'm sparkling!"
I was standing, or rather jiggling about, in the doorway of the church hall kitchen as the sun reflected off my sequinned jumper. Then it occurred to me that the man carrying a tray full of dirty mugs waiting to come into the kitchen might not appreciate my delaying.
"Sorry!"

Another fall of snow over-night meant that there were only a few of us in church yesterday. While the main roads were clear the side roads and pavements were all lethal so many thought it wise to give it a miss. Monty, who was supposed to be speaking in the meeting was struck down by flu. (Huh, I expect he has the same as everyone else but being a man has taken to his bed and called it flu!) So on Saturday afternoon, Debbie, one of the deacons, phoned and asked if I'd be willing to speak for about five minutes on my hopes for 2026.

I said yes - of course my mouth did - and then realised I didn't have any. So I had to have a quick rethink. Basically I got it down to:
become a best-selling author - chance negligible to nil;
lose weight - chance low;
continue my pilgrimage in search of grace - chance high.

We shall see.

* * * * *

I can't remember if I've written about Microsoft 365 and the fact that, as a trustee, I could get a free copy. Husband, at my nagging, has been trying to get it sorted for ever since, with no luck. But with everything stopping working, Outlook for example, and all my storage being full, he's tried again on my new computer. Still no joy so has finally, much against his principles, agreed to us paying for 365 for me.

So I'm just getting to grips with it. Husband has shown me the post-it notes. Potentially very useful though I doubt if they'll replace my scraps of paper, likewise the To Do list. But I shall continue exploring. 

* * * * *

Boud showed us a weaving thing she made from a piece of corrugated cardboard. It reminded me that I'd saved a piece of packaging, just because it was pretty and a bit honeycomby. I will do nothing with it except maybe pack something. It does seem a shame.

It snowed!

We woke up to snow this morning!

Now before you scoff and say, "Call that snow!" yes, we do. It's rare in Swansea so even a smattering gets us excited and taking photos. Because it will probably be gone by lunchtime.

So when I was in a charity shop looking for teapots (see previous post) I couldn't help but notice they were selling paperbacks at 2 for £1. I mean, what was I supposed to do?

So far I've read Calling Mrs Christmas, a typical Christmassy story, and The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman, a delightful little tale with intrigue, love, eccentric characters, and a publishing house. If I tell you the review quote on the cover comes from The Lady magazine, you'll get an idea of its intended audience.

But where was I? Oh yes, still in the run-up to Christmas.

It was the church carol service on the Sunday before Christmas, taken, written, and read by members of the writing group. It went perfectly. Nothing went wrong, not even the techy bits where we had to play pre-recorded readings because the authors were away. I was so impressed. And, even better, we had very good reviews from everyone who attended and said how different it. (I think they meant that in a good way!) Oh, I didn't get a photo of me in my donkey ears. How remiss of me.

That was in the evening. I was supposed to be in prison in the morning for their carol service but Mini's flat tyre prevented that. Not a great hardship as life by then was quite busy.

Monday I got stuck in a traffic jam in a car park in Llanelli. I'd gone to meet the woman who was going to take our gifts to the working girls. It turned out we'd both got the wrong impression of the other from our email exchange. She thought I would be a stern stickler while I thought she was quite selfish. We both left our meeting with different views and will meet again soon to see what support Zac's can give her in her work.

Tuesday evening it was the Zac's carol service. A very low turn-out, I'm not sure why, but those there enjoyed the singing and the soup. I'd chosen some different readings to reflect the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, so it included the massacre of the innocents (killing of all boys under the age of two in the district).

Wednesday? Ah, Christmas eve. We went for a curry lunch at Daughter's, then relaxed, and before we knew it, the alarm was going off to tell me it was time to get up to go and serve breakfast in Zac's.  Then it was back home to wait for the arrival of Elder Son and family. He was doing most of the cooking: he'd 'bathed' the turkey, and prepared several side dishes. I did the roast potatoes and parsnips with maple syrup. He left cooking the sprouts until he got to us. He very carefully placed the halved sprouts, one by one, in his pan to sear.

Then served them with bacon and something else I think. Anyway, it was all delicious. He did a beetroot, carrot and swede gratin too. It was all yummy.

Then Daughter and family came around in the afternoon for present opening and tea - that nobody wanted but everybody ate. Including my famed ice cream pie aka Phil Collins' ice cream pie from my very old Food Aid cookbook.

Daughter looked at it and said, "Did you make it in the dark?" I had to explain that I didn't have a tin big enough so had to shape one out of foil, and it got a bit messy. It also took a hammer and chisel to crack the frozen base!

Boxing Day the virus that had been knocking on my door throughout December, but which I'd refused to let in - I'm too busy - took advantage of my relaxed post-Christmas state and moved in without so much as a by your leave. Since then I've been mostly stretched out on the sofa, watching television, reading, and snoozing, in between coughing and feeling very sorry for myself. I also did a lot of jigsaws.

But back to those bosoms. I remembered. Whichever bra I wear, however well-fitting, I start off with great separation but during the day my boobs move inwards, to cuddle together.

Back for 2026

And I'm back in the virtual world!

My new computer arrived a couple of days ago and Husband has been setting it up for me. It's almost where it needs to be, just a few bits still need doing. I have no idea how I would manage without Husband when it comes to technology. 

So, I hope everyone had a good Christmas - I will be reading blogs soon - and I wish you all a hopeful and healthy year to come.

Where to start? I made a few notes on things I would have blogged about had I been able to blog, so I'll check that list. See if anything on it is still of interest. No, actually, first I'll tell you it's a good job I haven't been blogging for the last week as I've been poorly, and, as regular readers may remember, I am a dreadful patient. Not ill very often so when I am I make the most horrendous hoo-ha about it. It's only the nasty cold/cough virus that's going around but it's made me feel rotten. The good thing was it happened at the start of a week of no commitments so I didn't have to let anyone down; the bad thing was it happened over a week of no commitments so I couldn't make the most of my free time!

And whoever first said, "It's ONLY a cold," really didn't know what they were talking about. Grumble over.

Okay, have looked at list. Realise I should have written longer notes not just two words like 'lady language' Took me a while to work that out.

Before Christmas I was serving breakfast in Zac's. There was a woman in there with friends. Another man came in, quite loud, probably drunk or drugged, and he began talking to her. It was amiable enough but his language was quite ripe. At one point the woman said, "Language! There's a lady here," pointing at me.

He apologised and caried on as before. But that wasn't the point, which didn't hit me until later. The woman wanted him to respect me - but didn't count herself worthy to be respected. Yes, she could probably have competed with him in the bad language stakes if she'd chosen, but it was the lack of self-worth that got me. She didn't expect better from him because, well, she was nothing. 

I haven't seen her since but next time I do I want to pluck up my courage and remind her how precious she is.

Next note on list: mistletoe. Hm, oh yes, I have never been spontaneously kissed under the mistletoe by a stranger. For which I am truly grateful, even though when it happens in books, the kisser is always good-looking and charming.

Working down the list: drill. I asked  Husband to teach me how to drill a hole in the wall so I could hang up a gift given me by Younger Son and family last time we were in Italy. (It's been sitting around waiting to be hung.) He showed me and I did it all by myself!

Tree & puncture. On our way back from choosing a Christmas tree, we went over a large pothole that led to a flat tyre. We got home and Husband tried various remedies but we ended up not being able to use the car for two days until he could crawl-drive it to the repair garage.

Aladdin and Michael Sheen. A highlight. At the last minute, and on Elder Son's recommendation, I booked tickets for Daughter, GrandDaughter2, and I to go to the panto. Oh yes, I did! And it was fab! Very high-tech and brightly-coloured. Loads of sparkles but no, "He's behind you!" or the dame's striptease, or custard pie in the face. Today's children are obviously more sophisticated. The big surprise though was the genie. Michael Sheen! He wasn't really there; it was an illusion, but very clever.

Then I found myself trawling charity shops for a teapot as Husband managed to break two in three days.

I'll have to skip the next item on the list as I have no idea what it means.

(bosoms followed by two arrows pointing towards each other)

Next: nagging to go quicker. You'd think Husband would know by now that nagging me to get ready quicker doesn't make me get ready quicker.

Final item: ICU. Irrational Urge Syndrome. Does anyone else look at their mattress protector three days before Christmas and think, "I HAVE to wash it NOW because it's nearly Christmas!" Obviously not just mattress protectors but other unnecessary tasks that suddenly take on an urgency that bears no relation to reality. (I didn't, by the way.)

More to follow tomorrow because you're probably bored now.

MIA

 Just a quick post to say my computer has died. I'm using Husband's but not at home on it so don't like doing much.

Be back soon - or more likely after Christmas.

The generosity of others

The hustle and bustle of the last few weeks is behind me; the next weeks seem calmer, less time-precious. So I was relaxed this morning. I had a list of things that needed doing but all could be taken at a leisurely pace. I didn't need to go outside so could wear my sloppy indoor clothes. 

Then I couldn't find my comfy trousers and for an instance I was on the verge. Throwing things out of my wardrobe, muttering maniacally to myself, hyperventilating. 

Then I stopped, and shrugged. "Okay, I'll have to walk around in my knickers."

Having pulled myself together, you'll be pleased to hear I put my jeans on - but only because I would have been cold!

Did I mention I was collecting donations for twenty bags I'm making up, on behalf of Zac's, for vulnerable women working on the streets? People have been very generous and I was able to sort it all this morning and put things in bags.

And I hung my wreath on the door.

It's the bit of string adding the finishing touch that really makes it, I think!

I've also watched The Christmas Chronicles parts 1 and 2. Never seen them before and isn't Kurt Russell a fab Father Christmas?

Husband and I are watching Mr Mercedes. It is really rather horrible and a bit slow but addictive. I have to know the good guy gets his man in his end.

Just a minute!

Making teas and coffees after the service today, nearly got into a fight with someone who suggested we should have champagne to celebrate.
"Celebrate what in particular?" we, i.e. Kim and I, asked.
"That it's been 28 days since a small boat came across the channel."

If he'd stopped there it would have been fine. He didn't. "Not bringing more people over here to rape and murder us."

You get the idea. Really, as Kim said afterwards, "He couldn't have picked two people more pro-refugees if he'd tried."

I said, "It is worth celebrating that no-one has died risking their life trying to cross the channel." In 2024 seventy-seven people drowned trying to cross the English Channel.

And it is. The days without small boats being stopped while coming across made the news yesterday. The fact that the work of the Labour government is leading to fewer illegal immigrants was greeted not as good news but as, "oh, well it will start again," and "it's not good enough," and the like by all the commentators. 

* * * * *

Still with church, we had a guest speaker this morning. These days I take notes so I can say something about it in the next week's newsletter. My notes are indicative of the level of interest the speaker arouses in me. Some take pages. This morning's . . .

Yet several people have commented on the whatsapp group, saying how powerful it was. I think that was because the speaker had a dramatic style. Loud voice, long pauses. He certainly wouldn't have got far on Just A Minute (panel game, speak for a minute on a subject with no repetition, deviation, or hesitation.)

In fact, JAM may be the way sermons should be conducted in future! I shall suggest it.