My Christmas

I'm having a lazy day at home after three lovely days.  I did wonder how things would be, as it is my first Christmas since Mike died.  Fortunately it has been a happy one, although we all really missed him - he loved Christmas - but we felt he was around us.

Christmas Eve afternoon my son A, called for me and took me back to join R at their new home.  Then we drove over to Inkberrow to join R's family for mulled wine and nibbles before setting out to join the other villagers for 'carols on the green'.  However, due to the wet conditions, this year the medical centre car park was substituted for the green.  It was lovely to see  the people streaming from all directions to form a large crowd for the singing, accompanied by a band.  Torches, head torches, mobile phone torches and lanterns lit our carol list and apart from a little drizzle, the weather stayed fine for us.  Then back to the family home for a lovely spread and some happy chatter.  A & R brought me back and stayed the night with me.

Christmas morning we opened presents, had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, spoke to other family members on the phone, and enjoyed a walk around the muddy fields, calling in on my friends D & D and their family, for a glass of wine and a chat.  I quickly changed out of my muddy trousers etc and blinged myself up, then we drove round to my eldest son's home for more present swapping.  A & R left to drive back to Inkberrow to join R's family, once again for Christmas Day, leaving me with R & S and our grandchildren, and S's family.  We had a lovely day all together, enjoying a long and delicious meal.  I'd made the butternut squash soup (unfortunately I had no squashes this year, due to the bad weather and all my other problems)  and home made bread rolls.  The very wicked puddings (a lot of them) were made by other family members, and it would have been rude not to have tested each one!  The main course was perfect too, thanks to R & S.  Of course, most of the entertainment was provided by the four children.

I was delighted to see that the weather was in my favour the following morning, for my annual walk to Shenstone.  Due to the flooded fields and mud I had to miss out some of the footpaths and stick to the lanes, but I arrived at the Fox and Hounds in time for the start of the Morris dancing, joining a large crowd, including some of my friends who were there for the first time.  Everyone seemed pleased I had made it this year, especially as Mike would normally have taken part in the dancing and the Mummers play.  This year we had a 'new' doctor, in his place, and he did very well.  I received lots of hugs and kisses from the dancers and their wives, and from the other friends that I meet there every year.  We then moved on to the Railway, and where it was buzzing with conversation and lovely and warm, and we were reluctant to move outside to see the dancing - especially when the rain started.  So we stayed put.  My friend I, and myself had been invited back to another friend's house for a meal afterwards, and the three of us finished off  what had been a really good afternoon, with a lovely meal and lots of chatting, before I was brought home.

I'm having a lazy day today, then I'll be off for the candle-lit carol service at Mike's church later.

I'm hoping to continue with my regular blog from now on (and some pictures, when I am more organised).  Before I sign off, can I please plead with as many people as possible to send in your objections to the proposed development of our Green Belt asap.  That is - before 14 January!  It's fine to add your signatures to any petitions but, if you aren't already aware, a petition only counts as one objection.  We need individual objections.  I've already attended two meetings, received a letter from Andrew Mitchell and replied to the same with my objections and suggestions on the proposals, and also sent off my objection form to Birmingham City Council.  I feel so strongly about this (especially as the field opposite my home and next to our allotments is one of the proposed sites) that I have been hi-jacking people I meet during my local walks, to find out what they think.  I've been horrified that most of them either know nothing or have 'heard something or other'.  Very few of my neighbours have appeared at the two meetings that I attended.  Please, please support our objections.