After the high comes the low!

It was such a great Christmas, but now Ed and I are back to Derby and Joan status. Our eldest daughter and family went home on the 27th, our son was coming and going anyway (hates sleeping in a different bed, so makes day trips), and our youngest daughter (with boyfriend who appeared on the 28th) returned to Belgium on the 29th.

Yesterday was that sort of huge sigh of relief you get when you're back to preparing only two meals instead of seven or eight, and when you get to sit in your own chair instead of slumming it on the floor playing dolls with the youngest child, and when you can fall asleep again in front of the television. Anxious, of course, until we heard that our young couple had arrived safely in Belgium, but then relaxed and enjoying the lull.

But today has been different again. I felt so low (and irritable, it has to be admitted) and although I know it's the symptoms of bereavement in miniature since all the family going their own ways is like a little death, I still feel their loss. Yes, I know - they're all within spitting distance (apart from a few miles of ocean, in Becki's case) and I'll see them all again in a couple of weeks, but even that doesn't really help. So I tell myself that I wouldn't enjoy the highs half so much without the contrast of the lows, but that doesn't help either.

There was only one thing for it. I dragged Ed out for a long walk, and that did the trick. Released endorphins or something. I came home feeling a lot brighter, despite the fog and the dismal, grey weather. He came home aching in every joint, but you can't have everything.

They're already celebrating New Year in Australia (the parts that aren't under thirty feet of water, that is - imagine starting your New year like that!) but it's only lunchtime here. Another twelve hours to wait to see the fireworks over London (on the television, of course. Ed and I will be tucked up snugly in our favourite recliners..)

Meanwhile, Becki gave me a new programme for my Wii. It has a little webcam which you fix on top of the television, then it scans your shape (horror of horrors), you input your age, height and weight, and it works out a tailored (that's what it claims, anyway) fitness programme for you. I've done it twice and it damn nearly killed me, but what the heck. I need those endorphins.

A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

Our best Christmas present ever!

We had the first white Christmas I can remember, and for once it was suitably cold, not warm and muggy as it usually is on Christmas Day. For the first time this December, the snow is now disappearing.

On December 22nd I had an email from our youngest daughter, the one now living in Belgium. Her boyfriend, Mike, was over with her delivering Christmas presents. He was going to see her into her new apartment next day (she was due to receive the keys on December 23rd.) Then he was catching the 10.00pm ferry back to England. Could he call in on us, she asked, delivering family Christmas presents from her? It would be late - around 2.00am - so could he stay what remained of the night? By the way, he had a present for us.

Of course he could stay, I replied. Then I shot out to buy and wrap a present for him before he arrived.

Ed went to bed on the 23rd. I changed into my pyjamas but stayed up to greet Mike. He came in very quietly around 2.30am, having driven from Dover in record time despite the ice and snow.

I went out into the hallway to greet him and he gave me our Christmas present - our daughter! He'd brought her over with him to spend Christmas with us.

It was such a wonderful surprise. I couldn't believe it. Ed got up and couldn't believe it either. But it was our best Christmas present ever.

Made me realise that people - human beings - are what really matter in this world. No wonder God sent a human baby that first Christmas. What an amazing gift!

A magical evening

Ed and I went to Thursford last night, to see the Thursford Spectacular.

What, you may ask, is that?

Thursford is a tiny village in North Norfolk near the coast, where years ago, a local farmer started a collection of fairground organs and steam engines, which he housed in one of his barns. The collection grew and grew over the years, and people started to come from all over to see it. The centrepiece was an old three-manual Wurlitzer organ, and eventually someone was found to play it - and play it he did, brilliantly.

A carousel ride was added, a miniature steam train ride around the extensive grounds, children's play area, and gradually, small gift shops. It became a tourist attraction.

The Christmas show has been going for over thirty years now, featuring singing and dancing, Christmas carols, orchestras and bands and choirs. It has become gradually more sophisticated and polished, and now is a terrific spectacular, rivalling anything found in the West End.
Coachloads of people come to watch, and you have to book in January for any chance of getting tickets for the next Christmas.

The show starts in early November and continues until December 23rd, with two performances a day.

Yesterday was just amazing. The ground was still covered in snow, which added to the romance of the occasion, and as we walked from the car park we were greeted by fairly lights covering the trees and carols playing.

In the auditorium (yes, the old barn, but no longer looking like a barn - it seats 2000 people) are thousands and thousands of coloured lights, Christmas decorations, snow scenes, Santas, sleighs and so on. The show itself is absolutely magical, with first class Cambridge choirs, excellent dancers (the tap dance was memorable), a brilliant comic ventriloquist, a conjurer, orchestra, bag pipers, and loads more, including a brilliant performance on the Wurlitzer. The costumes were wonderful, all colour and glitter. A truly memorable start to Christmas. What I like best is the excellent mix of sacred and secular, bringing God right into the middle of ordinary life. The Christmas story was retold in words and music in such a sensitive and inspiring way and totally avoiding the cringe factor.

Put it in your list of "Things I must do before I die." You'll be bowled over.

Oh, and if you want a glimpse, here it is: Thursford

I'm signing off now for Christmas, so HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

When you are five...

Ed and I rang our granddaughter yesterday, on her fifth birthday.

"Do you know what?" she said.

"No. What?"

"I'm FIVE!"

It was a very exciting time for her as it was the last day of school before the Christmas holidays, there was snow on the ground, and she was going to the pantomime in the evening.

We drove over today, leaving behind four inches of snow here in Norwich, but finding there was almost none in Bury St. Edmunds. We unloaded the birthday presents, played with some of those she received yesterday, and had lunch. Then we came home, as this afternoon she has twelve friends to a Kid's Play party. (This is a brilliant way of saving your own home getting trashed by a dozen over-excited five-year-olds. You take them out and let them race around an indoor play area with climbing frames, slides, ball pools and so on. Then you give them tea and birthday cake and a party bag, and send them all home.)

I'm also engaged in setting up another blog, this time in an Author's Blog site - more about that when I have it properly up and running. Trouble is, all these new sites mean a steep learning curve, so I find myself struggling.

Tomorrow is our carol service at church, then it's eyes down until next Friday, Christmas Eve, when I shall be preaching at the midnight service and up again to take the nine-o'clock service next morning.

Then it's the family over for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and after that, zzzzz (that's me asleep.)

Busy pre-Christmas time

The run-up to Christmas is always busy, but things tend to slow down unexpectedly during the final week, so I hope next week will be quieter!

Yesterday I visited the local Day Centre, where the old folk go for the day, starting with coffee, taking in lunch, and finishing with tea. There are plenty of them, and they seem to have a good time. The guys were playing cards, while the gals played Scrabble and some number game similar to Scrabble, that I'd never seen before. After lunch there's some sort of entertainment - singing or dancing or whatever. Next week is their Christmas dinner, followed by the rector in drag playing the pantomime dame. Good fun will be had by all.

Today Ed and I went back to the old parish, to share in Jay's home communion service. Jay is a remarkable lady, now in her late eighties. She has a Cambridge degree (one of the early women to gain a degree from Cambridge), has had a professional life, was a County Councillor and intrepid supporter of the Lib Dems, and a central member of the local church, campaigning on behalf of women priests and with a real heart for mission.

Five years ago come January, Jay suffered a massive stroke, and has neither spoken nor stood up from that day to this. Twice a month, a few church folk gather in her room for a short communion service, so today Ed and I joined them again for her Christmas communion. Although she can't speak, Jay made it clear she was delighted to see us.

Tomorrow I'm taking a funeral at the local crematorium, followed by a midday carol service in a big Norfolk city centre church, and another carol service in the evening at a tiny village church.

Thursday is a golf tournament (weather permitting - snow is threatened again), men and women together and all wearing silly hats!

Then it's on to the weekend and our granddaughter's fifth birthday...

Christmas Tree festival

Ed and I had a great time at the Christmas Tree festival at Dickleburgh Church. If you're anywhere near Norfolk (UK), don't miss it! The Christmas Tree festival, that is. Not Norfolk. You can't miss that - it's the flat bit on the eastern bump of England.

It was so good to see old friends again. I hadn't realised quite how much I miss them, and they made us so welcome. We had lunch in the church rooms and visited a couple of elderly parishioners while we were in the area. That was good too. They were so pleased to see us.

The Christmas trees were as good as ever; some really innovative trees and almost all with little hand-made figurines to decorate the trees, as well as all the coloured lights. The "angel table" - a snow scene with all sorts, sizes and shapes of angels, and offering prayer cards for anyone who wants one - was beautiful, and very spiritual, as was the tree of remembrance, where people could light a candle in memory of a loved one and add a card with their loved one's name, to the tree.

There were more children's trees this year - play schools, primary schools, Brownies, Scouts, Rainbows, children with disabilities - all had made the decorations for their tree.

In the roof of the church was the night sky at the time of Jesus, with three planets in conjunction, forming the Star of Bethlehem, and lights picking out the constellations, all set in a black background, and very effective.

The Jesse tree, telling the Bible story from Genesis to Revelation in figures and animals winding on a spiral from the bottom to the top of the tree, had a central position and was raising money for a local charity - doing well, too.

Father Christmas was much in evidence as the local primary school had visited that morning, looked at the trees, sung carols, heard the Christmas Bible stories, and received sweets from Father Christmas. Some very happy children!

We'd liked to have stayed longer, but may return this weekend if our granddaughter (aged five in a fortnight) is able to come over. She'll love it - and it's already started our Christmas.

Finished the Christmas cards

I spent yesterday afternoon (ALL afternoon!) writing the Christmas cards. I always intend to write individual Christmas letters, but have never yet managed to get round to it. Not keen on the round robin types of letters, mostly because I think they come across as somewhat impersonal, and I can never remember everyone's children, let alone their grandchildren! Writing the Christmas cards is something of a marathon effort, but I do like to receive them so perhaps other people feel the same and like to receive ours.

Had a choir rehearsal last night in Norwich. I'm singing in the carol concert at St. Peter Mancroft, the big city centre church, next week, at Wednesday lunchtime. It usually attracts a big crowd of shoppers and workers, and choir is made up of people from all around. We just get together for this one occasion. Then in the evening our own, local choir is singing at a local church carol service, so at the moment there are a lot of rehearsals.

This morning gave a talk on writing books, to a small group gathered in a friend's house. It was a good occasion, especially as I sold one of my "Children's Stories" and several "Babes and Sucklings".

Tomorrow Ed and I are off to the Christmas Tree Festival at Dickleburgh (my old parish), which always starts our Christmas season well. I'm sure we will meet a lot of old friends, which will be great.

Then there'll be no more excuses. We'll just have to get down to putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house...

Still in the grip of the big freeze!

I've been into Norwich three times this week, on the bus. Hopefully the Christmas shopping is now finished - until I suddenly remember someone/something I hadn't thought of.

Today I met up with a friend and we visited the Faith Exhibition at the Castle Museum. Norwich Castle has been standing as long as the Cathedral - over 900 years - and this was an exhibition of the different faiths through the ages. We're quite multi-cultural, and it seems we always have been, with many faiths represented. It was really interesting to see some of the art work and artefacts of different religions from ancient times until the present day.

Then we had lunch in the restaurant, and I came home on the bus while my friend stayed in Norwich for some Christmas shopping.

I don't think we've been hit as badly as the rest of the country (or the rest of Norfolk, come to that) but snow is still lying around everywhere, many of the road surfaces and most of the pavements are treacherous, and it's still bitterly cold.

Roll on Christmas - we're bound to have a thaw and it will be muggy and mild instead of crisp and white!