CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Thankfully my bad mood of yesterday has evaporated and I am myself again, Pa has taken to the chrome book which gave me so much trouble and so I have given it to him,a happy ending since he has needed a new computer for ever so long.

With the holidays approaching fast I got up early this morning and after making a stack of bacon rolls for the boys I divided my time between packing home made shortbread in to boxes and writing Christmas cards, the later a pleasant occupation as I sat at my small desk in the library with a blazing log fire and the cat for company.

As I sat stroking the cat a little later I thought how wonderful a change has taken place in my life since last Christmas which was marred by my own ill health and Pa's sojourn in hospital. What a transformation. Although we are both still disabled we have seldom been so happy ,and the fact that this happiness has been brought about by my dear son's kindness makes it even more special.

It is a wonderful thing he has done, and each day now brings new happiness for us all as we grow accustomed to our new home and our new life.

I am by no means a religious person in the accepted sense of the word, in fact you could say that I am a pagan,and yet at this time of the year I always feel the need to sit in a candlelit old church and sing carols;I expect that this comes of singing in a church choir for most of my childhood.

We ate dinner early and the three of us made our way along the dark lane to the lovely old church. For a thousand years the people of this village have gathered there at Christmas to give thanks and count their blessings, so it seemed right that we, who have been so fortunate and have so much should take our place in it's history and give our thanks that we have been so blessed.

How beautiful the shadowy church looked, the flower ladies had made the alter bright with holly and evergreens and candles cast long shadows on to the old walls. I could almost hear those voices from the past joining us as we sang the old carols.

Afterwards we ate mince pies and drank mulled wine with our neighbours before returning to our

snug home . We had left the porch light on and it welcomed us home as we walked up the drive and the garland on the door looked so pretty in the twinkling light.

We ate our supper in the kitchen, cheese and crackers with chutney and pickle, we were tired after our long day but so happy, Now it is getting late and all is quiet out side,for one there is no wind and the rain has ceased. My little grey cat Twiggy wants me to make her a paper ball to play with and what Her Majesty wants, she gets, so I must go.

Goodnight world.