Presents vs Presence

So another year is over and a new year begins. Christmas is the season where we gather together with friends and loved ones, if we are lucky enough to have them, and often gifts are exchanged. Receiving a present is always fun, but sometimes we would wish for more of those we love to beContinue reading “Presents vs Presence”

Christmas just the two of us… and Christmas stress

Today is Boxing Day and we have come home from our night away and an amazing Christmas Day where the food was incredible. Best of all, no prep, no dishes, no tidying up, no pressure or stress. Christmas Eve, I commented several times that this was the most relaxed I have been my entire lifeContinue reading “Christmas just the two of us… and Christmas stress”

Is Christmas still the same or different?

Here we are on 22/12/25 in the countdown to Christmas. Three days to go for children and grandchildren to be excited for a visit from Santa. Three days to prepare all the things that need to be prepared for things – hopefully – to go smoothly on the day. This year though, for us itContinue reading “Is Christmas still the same or different?”

Christmas priorities

We are soon to hit December and with it the month seems to rocket past at speed. Every year the days and months seem to go by so fast and before you know it, another year has ended. This has been a challenging year for me with my health. Fortunately, Parkies has been well-behaved andContinue reading “Christmas priorities”

The evolution of Christmas

Every year it seems that Christmas rolls around sooner and one minute it is months away and the next I find myself having to organise the family Christmas. This is a relatively easy task when you are the Mum and you have small children and the organisation is pretty much in your hands. The childrenContinue reading “The evolution of Christmas”

Acts of service – love in a fruitcake

I wrote a blog about this topic many years ago. It came out of a brief counselling session my now husband and I had right at the beginning of our trying to get to know and understand each other. What can I say? It’s a work in progress… Acts of service are the way someContinue reading “Acts of service – love in a fruitcake”

Merry Christmas from me to you – A wee Christmas poem.

ChristmasC is for Children who make this day complete H is for Hungry may you always have something to eat R is for Remember that you are truly unique I is for I know that you don’t always get what you seekS is for Special because there’s only one you T is for Take aContinue reading “Merry Christmas from me to you – A wee Christmas poem.”

Going down Memory Lane – Podcast Episode 12

Looking for something in a cupboard, I found some tapes that I had made when I was at Broadcasting School. Some of them were of my children voicing ads that I had written while on placement for my course. That set me thinking about my life with my children when they were young. So, whileContinue reading “Going down Memory Lane – Podcast Episode 12”

‘Loved ones’ and those we miss at Christmas…

I have always disliked the term ‘loved ones’ ever since I started working as a Social Worker. The term to me makes a whole world of assumptions about the relationships that surround – and also seemingly support – the people we work with. Even in our own personal world, all the training in the worldContinue reading “‘Loved ones’ and those we miss at Christmas…”

Tis the season for family and forgiveness

I don’t know if other people do this very much, but today I have gone through my Facebook friends and my contacts on my phone and reviewed whether they are still friends that I am in contact with. If I don’t feel like we are in contact anymore, I have culled them. The interesting thingContinue reading “Tis the season for family and forgiveness”