Happy Christmas
Dear Reader,
I don't think I am the only one who dreads Christmas. I have always been a hopeless packer of presents and have no notion of what my family would like to find wrapped. Nowadays, in fact, the grandchildren like to choose something themselves or welcome a little something from the Bank of Granny
I believe and love the Christian story, of Jesus Christ being born in a manager, so my perfect Christmas Day would be a church service with lots of favourite carols to sing, then a turkey lunch with Christmas pudding and brandy butter followed by, what ever the weather, a bracing walk. And to watch in the evening anywhere in the series of Downtown Abbey.
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From Francis Kilvert 1870 December 28th 1870
An inch of snow fell last night and as we walked to Draycot to skate the snow storm began again. As we passed Langley Burrell Church we heard the strains of the quadrille band on the ice at Draycot....The Lancers was beautifully skated. When it grew dark the ice was lighted with Chinese lanterns, and the intense glare of blue, green, and crimson lights and magnesium riband make the whole place as light as day. Then people skated with torches.
From John Ruskin 1874 December 28th in Coniston, Lancashire
Yellowish haze polluting sunshine. Intense white fresh snow everywhere and sharp frost.
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Equality
Christmas Day.
The house fills with laughter, music
the tree sparkles, aglow with stars,
angels and white roses.
Under ribboned branches, a present pile,
exciting, enticing, the children
jump, squeal, and dance, eyes bright.
The turkey is succulent, the pudding sweet,
there are chocolates, crackers, jokes.
But a thought buzzes, wasp-like in my head:
while families reunite, reaffirm, love, smile, chat,
I think of those who have none of that.
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With very best wishes, Patricia
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