MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Another Christmas is nearly here, can you believe it? A short note today, just checking in with only 2 weeks left, are you ready? Is it me or has this year absolutely flown by? Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year, I love the sparkle and glitter, the fun and laughter, the friends and parties, the shopping, just everything really but most of all the quality time spent with my family. My halls are decked, cards written, Michael Buble’s Christmas CD is out, next up mince pies and the wrapping to start! Well, when I say start, I have already done my UK gifts, I do like to stretch it out as much as I can. Top tip here if you’ve not already heard this, use your ironing board for wrapping, it saves your back as you can adjust the height. Just like a child I do get so excited when I see the Christmas lights and Father Christmas, I love the giving aspect the most. It’s such a busy time of year and we all need to take extra care of ourselves to be able to enjoy all that the season has to offer. Take a little time out each day to replenish, you can’t pour from an empty cup! Even if it’s just to put your feet up for half an hour and read a book or magazine (or a blog!) have a cup of tea, eat a mince pie or whatever takes your fancy as you get ready for the festive period. I’m currently overdoing it on the Christmas films!!

Life has been so busy these past few months but I’m grateful that I’ve been able to reconnect with people face to face again! Sadly, just when you think it’s safe to come out another virus raises its ugly head, but I don’t want to get into that today! I am off for my booster tomorrow and hope that does its job. I’ve just returned from a very hectic trip to the UK where my Christmas always starts early, good way to prolong it, so many highlights during this trip, meeting loved ones that we’ve not seen since before the pandemic started, especially seeing my Aunt & Uncle in Yorkshire again, meeting Katherine Jenkins, who was as wonderfully kind and down to earth as you would imagine her to be and having a small but fun (belated) 60th birthday celebration or two! It was just lovely, and I am taking a day out to recover right now, tinged as always with sadness when I leave I had the most incredible welcome home from my grand-daughter who had clearly missed me and my heart was just bursting.

I am however acutely aware that it’s not the best time for everyone, not everyone has my enthusiasm for Christmas. Understandably, there are many who struggle at this time of year, especially the homeless, those who have lost a loved one and many others. So, this year I decided to change the 12 days of Christmas to the 12 days of Giving, just my way of trying to give back a little. I always like to donate to some charities at Christmas time. I started off December sponsoring another girl, she’s called Wendy and she’s from Bolivia, she’s adorable. I also donate to the Salvation Army as they will always have a special place in my heart and Crisis for the homeless, but there are so many things you can do to help, and it only needs to be small, no grand gestures needed. I had a conversation recently about how many people these days have become thoughtless and uncaring, dare I say selfish, and I don’t want to believe that this is the case, too much doom and gloom everywhere. Beginning to retreat into my bubble here! So, maybe just call on an elderly neighbour to check if they need anything, they’re very often overlooked and may only need to have a little chat with someone, there’s a desperate need to be more neighbourly. Smile at a stranger (obviously be careful with this one!) Help someone with their shopping if they look like they are struggling, offer an ear or a hug (if allowed) to an overworked colleague or stressed-out mother. I sometimes struggle with all the terrible things that happen within this world of ours (big and small) and I really want to bring all the children that suffer home with me but whilst I can’t change the entire world, I can at least change the world for a few. So, my 12 days of Giving this year will include a charitable donation or act of kindness each day.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a blessed Christmas, may you feel loved and be surrounded by those you hold most dear, and may the New Year 2022 be an extra special one for you all, a busy one for me, thanks for continuing to follow and support my blogs, My New Year’s Resolution is to get my book printed, watch this space………

Lots of love and virtual hugs to you all xxx