Christmas is a-coming….

Advent calendars have been gifted and are being opened/lit/made; cakes have been prepared ready for icing; elves on shelves are playing naughty tricks – tipping loo roll down the stairs – or being helpful by learning Thomas’ Christmas Nativity lines; cupboards are being ransacked for stored Christmas cards, wrapping paper or ribbon; and Carols are being sung. Christmas is but twenty days away.

In my case, there are no elves but I am burning an advent calendar candle – always a tricky task. The darn thing burns beyond where you want it, every time. It’ll be Christmas next week at this rate!

I am also making an advent jigsaw that Catherine has gifted me. It is the beautiful photo of the family that I included in my last blog. Progress so far, on Day 4…. with Catherine and Ellie emerging:

Meanwhile, Oliver came on Monday and we started the ‘Santa Trail’ with lanterns lighting the way upstairs so that Father Christmas doesn’t get lost when delivering the presents after his plunge down the chimney. And, most important of all – we’ve set the crib scene in the porch.

All good so far, then? Absolutely!

Until, that is, when it came to rummaging in the cupboards today……. I was looking for my Christmas card and gift notebooks. I mean, such a rummage shouldn’t be a problem. After all, it is simply the ‘wrapping cupboard’ in which I keep all cards, ribbons, gift bags, bubble wrap and paper – birthday, Christmas, tissue and brown parcel wrap. But hey….. the cupboard also contained John’s handiwork which naturally triggered memories.

Donkeys years ago, before John built the extension, he had run a TV cable down the inside of the cupboard, and I had a flashback of us sitting cosy in bed, with our cups of tea, watching TV, revelling in the fact that we could. Lovely memory, but ouch!

Then came left-over balloons and jungle decorations from the time when we kitted out the lounge to surprise Michael at the celebration of him achieving his Doctorate. A fabulous memory in which John featured large in my mind, and all the family were there.

At that point, I decided I was done with the cupboard for a while. I left masses of bubble wrap, ribbons, paper and boxes all over the floor and the bed, and went to Pete and Dawn’s. Argh!! ‘Bedlam’! Anyone want any bubble wrap?

Pete and Dawn’s company and another poached-egg-on-toast lunch, like last week, sorted me out. As did the company of Lizzie and Flo who were visiting. Nothing nicer than a cuddle with a baby to calm things down, eh?

Unexpectedly, Linda Connor called this afternoon, bearing a bunch of lilies. I had texted the Quizzers and said I was pulling out of this evenings shenanigans as I wasn’t feeling too chipper. What a wonderful friend she is. We sat and had a good old natter, which eased things a bit more.

Lilies….. associated with fresh life and new birth. I’m looking forward them in full bloom.