Please do leave your post URL in Mr Linky below if you join in ~ so we can all enjoy your photos or videos. And please don’t forget to visit each other!

Happy New Year to you all!

 

I haven’t prepared a video ~ insufficient time! That’s my excuse anyway! I may do one and post it late! So today, just a winterscape and my thoughts will have to suffice …

Today has been a time for reflection for me; a time for acknowledging the sad losses of the last decade (and before) through death: important family members, very dear friends, and even my beloved cat Henry. I can recall a time when death was not part of my life, when no one important to me had ever died; but it’s a long time ago now.  It was a time of innocence, a time of not knowing what grief really was, or felt like. And sadly, as I get older death and funerals become more regular, although unwelcome companions;  it’s a fact. Like it or not. It’s part of the aging process. You just have to accept it.

 But the decade has also been a time for celebrating; I turned 50 and became a proud grandmother three times over.  And two new beautiful adorable cats (Milo and Alfie) came into my life.  And P and I pursued our dream and relocated to the coast, and I published my first novel. We’ve also visited some wonderful places: New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, ST Tropez ~ South of France, Monaco, Brussels, to name but a few.  And I am still standing (on both legs) as a bone cancer (chondrosarcoma) survivor, after a third surgery this last year.  It’s not been an easy decade ~ but who said life was meant to be easy? There is much to be thankful for and there are new horizons beckoning. And since life isn’t a spectator sport, I intend to grab it with both hands and live it to the full. Happy New Year!  Happy New Decade!  I am ready, bring it on. I love a challenge ~ and it’s sure to be one … LOL!

I’ve long been a fan of Tennyson ~ and this poem sums up my hopes for the future of mankind:

In Memoriam, [Ring out, wild bells]
by Lord Alfred Tennyson

~

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light:
   The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
   The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
   For those that here we see no more;
   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
   And ancient forms of party strife;
   Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
   The faithless coldness of the times;
   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
   The civic slander and the spite;
   Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
   Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
   Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

~

Photo Friday: Advance Diary

January 8th: Something spiritually inspiring

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

No official Photo Friday today: This was scheduled in advance. But if you join in, leave a link if you have time.

Christmas is always a special time of year … but celebrating a first Christmas is even more special. And right on cue, precious little  Baby-Pumpkin has learned to smile! What better Christmas greeting could she give to her mom and dad, and her doting Nana and family? You’re right ~ she couldn’t!  That cute happy little face says it all!  We love you too sweet angel and we’re so glad you are part of our family now!

 I hope you are all having as happy and smiley a day as Baby-Pumpkin is!

Photo Friday Advance Diary:

January 1st:  New Year’s day video ! (Last year Photo Fridayers each made a YouTube video where they passed on a New Year message to each other ~  you don’t have to appear in the video yourself if you prefer not to, but we would like your voice over ~ you might like to say what you want 2010 to hold for you personally, and the World)

January 8th: Something spiritually inspiring

If you’re reading this, I’m …

And a Wonderful and Healthy New Year!

Please do leave your post URL in Mr Linky below if you join in ~ so we can all enjoy your photos. And please don’t forget to visit each other!

I decided for this post I’d go out and about and see what I could find that was Christmassy!

Well it seems the local supermarket is going crackers about Christmas, judging by the display in their entrance!

 

Whilst Sidmouth town centre is alight ….

There was no-one about in the streets so it really was a Silent Night …

The reason the streets were empty? Because everyone was gathering in the Local Church for the Christmas Carol Service which was about to begin …

 And Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some Angels (Axminster Church) …

 And finally, The Nativity (stained glass window at Colyton Church)

Meanwhile back at home … we are ready… and Alfie is checking to see if Santa is on his way! 

Photo Friday Advance Diary:

December 25th : Photo Friday takes a break (no official post) but a Christmas/Seasonal photo scheduled in advance might be fun ~ anything you like! Comments can wait until after the festivities!

January 1st:  New Year’s day video ! (Last year Photo Fridayers each made a YouTube video where they passed on a New Year message to each other ~  you don’t have to appear in the video yourself if you prefer not to, but we would like your voice over ~ you might like to say what you want 2010 to hold for you personally, and the World)

January 8th: Something spiritually inspiring

 

Please do leave your post URL in Mr Linky below if you join in ~ so we can all enjoy your photos. And please don’t forget to visit each other!

Today: Patterned View … such as a pile aligned bricks, or honeycomb (chosen by Elizabeth)

I took the photos below in May 2009. I was strolling through Connaught Gardens (just five minutes walk from my home) ~ and the brick pavers caught my eye. I love the uniformity of the pattern and how it breaks up what would otherwise be a fairly boring pathway:

Here it the brick paver circle in its setting. Can you see the strip of blue (rather faint) at the end of your field of vision? That’s the sea. Connaught Gardens is right on the coast of Lyme bay and there are steps down to the beach front from the gardens. The gardens are beautifully kept and in summer are a riot of colour and perfume. There is a raised stage in the grounds and open air performances (plays, music etc) take place regularly (weather permitting) during the summer months.

 To the right (of this photo) is the Clock Tower cafe. You can sit outside and enjoy refreshments and the garden ~ or on a cooler day take a seat inside, and sip hot chocolate or soup as the sea rolls in (usually accompanied by the cry of seagulls). It’s lovely.

 Clock Tower cafe (taken this summer) ~ (notice the shadow pattern) ~ Jacob’s Ladder (leading to the sea) is through the archway:

And the view through the arch, at dusk (looking down Jacob’s Ladder):

Also,  I  just had to include the ceiling/interior roof of Exeter Cathedral (the quire) ~ it is such a stunning pattern. I took these photos in July. I am a regular visitor to the Cathedral and this year joined the friends of the cathedral (by making a donation) so can now visit this stunning building free, as often as I like. Why not set the music going first ~ it will set the mood for the photos:

“The Choir of the Exeter Liturgical Music Course perform T Tertius Noble’s Evening Canticles in B minor during a service of Evensong in Exeter Cathedral, July 2009. Conducted by Richard Smith, with organist John Ward.”

 As you gaze in awe at the incredible symmetry of the interior roof ~ remember the timber roof of the nave was first under construction in 1332 and it was completed some 10 years later. The skill and craftmanship in those days was incredible. They didn’t have the tools that today would make accuracy easy ~ they relied on their ”eye” and experience of the materials,  and an amazing knowledge and skill which they passed down from one generation to the next.

NB: There was a cathedral on the site in AD 909. Then the start of the rebuilding of Exeter Cathedral in Decorated Gothic style was in C1265/70.

Photo Friday Advance Diary:

December 18th: Preparing for Christmas / or Seasonal celebrations.

December 25th : Photo Friday takes a break (no official post) but a Christmas/Seasonal photo scheduled in advance might be fun ~ anything you like! Comments can wait until after the festivities!

January 1st:  New Year’s day video ! (Last year Photo Fridayers each made a YouTube video where they passed on a New Year message to each other ~  you don’t have to appear in the video yourself if you prefer not to, but we would like your voice over ~ you might like to say what you want 2010 to hold for you personally, and the World)

January 8th: Something spiritually inspiring

“Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world; a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream; a flash of lightning in a summer cloud, a flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream” ~ Buddha

A year ago today my beloved grandad died, aged 100 years and 4 months old. It’s been a strange year of re-adjustment, because when you love and care for a very elderly person, and are responsible for them in terms of their daily decision-making process, after they are gone there are gaps in your life which once they occupied ~ apart from the expected missing of their presence.

I miss grandad because, amongst other things,  he was such a cheery person. Even though old age had withered him, and robbed him of most of his sight and his hearing (he wore a very powerful digital hearing aid all the time) ~ he was mostly cheerful. And even when he got the grumps, it was easy to joke and jolly him out of his mood. He was also a remarkable man and he remained bright and articulate until just a couple of days before his death.

So imagine my delight when this week while I was doing some housekeeping on my computer (sorting out some long forgotten files) I came across a number of short video clips I had made of grandad and long since forgotten about. The one below was taken on his 100th birthday ~ can you believe he was so alert, so articulate?

I miss you grandad but I’m not going to be sad ~ because life was just as long as you wanted it to be. Who could ask for more? Any longer, and it would have been extended for me instead of you, and that wouldn’t have been right. I hope you are partying in Heaven today. RIP.

 

The Twelve days of Christmas have been celebrated since medieval times ~ traditionally beginning the day after Christmas Day (now known as Boxing Day) and ending with Twelfth Night.  And since the festive season is upon us ~ I thought it might be fun to do a Christmas meme!  So without more ado:

 

The Chrismouse Meme

Rules:

1. Copy the delightful Chrismouse picture to your post.
2. Copy these rules and the explanation of the meme (above).
3. Link the person who tagged you.
4. List 12 things: either about christmas present or memories about Christmas past (or a mixture of both)
5. Tag as many or as few people as you like!

I tag: Pumpkin, Elizabeth, Mabs, Mrs Nascar, Shady, Barb and Helen,  Bookbabie and Tracey (But I’ll understand if any of you feel Bah Humbug, or haven’t got time to waste,  or just simply can’t  be *rsed! OK?)

1. I have a chocolate advent calendar to myself every year!
2. P and I, and Milo and Alfie ALL have a Chrismouse stocking hanging on the fireplace
3. I would love it to snow in Sidmouth on Christmas Day
4. I wrap presents up for my cats to open on Chrismouse Day!
5. I LOVE traditional Christmas dinner (Turkey & stuffing, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, sprouts, etc) followed by Christmas pudding served with good old fashioned custard.
6. P always buys a bottle of Champagne for Christmas day breakfast (served with freshly squeezed orange juice)
7. As a child, my sister and I used to hunt for our present before Christmas ~ and invariably we would discover where they were hidden, although we never let on we’d seen them.
8. I could always predict what would be in my Christmas stocking as a child: an orange, a tin of toffees, some nuts, an annual (Girls’ Own or something similar) and a shiny new coin. I had other much bigger presents too, but they didn’t fit in the stocking.
9. The saddest Christmas ever was 1991 ~ because my dearest and best friend Gilly had just been told she was terminally ill. We all put on a brave face but were screaming inside. She died in March 1992.
10. I have directed/produced a number of Christmas pantomimes at the theatre, over the years.
11. I love to go to Christmas Carol services ~ especially those held outside in the street.
12. I believe in Christmas miracles; there is a magic in the air at Christmas and if you make an unselfish wish on Christmas Eve (really sincerely and silently), that will benefit someone else, there is a real chance it will come true.

Well I’ve posted all my real Christmas cards ~ so I thought I should post my virtual Christmas card too:

And a Happy New Year,  to all my readers!