Christmas Time

22nd December


Well the snow and ice hasn’t gone, the roads other than the main highways are just as impassable and some people are still housebound . It seems we have a shortage of salt & grit and transportation is under threat. There is talk of shortages in the supermarkets and petrol stations, some households and businesses are experiencing problems obtaining oil for their central heating. Airports closed, trains delayed and roads blocked, its a terrible time for those trying to get away for Christmas. Fortunately I live on a bus route so able to get into town, mooch round the shops and go to the gym. I am still hopeful that I will get up to spend Christmas with Stu & Co this weekend, but we will have to wait and see if it snows again. I will have to use the Motorway to get up to Knaresborough along with everyone else, it will be horrendous so I have a lot to consider. Other wise I am feeling good and ready for the festivities whether its here or there I will relax and enjoy the weekend. Have a wonderful wonderful Christmas. To all my family and friends; I wish we could all be together on that day, what a great time we would have. Take Care love you.

My Seasonal Poem

Christmastime

                                                               Christmas is the occasion
                                                               For family and friends
                                                               To gather together
                                                           To renew, review, past times.

                                                           Grudges hopefully forgotten
                                                                  Slights forgiven
                                                                Opinions tolerated.                  
                                                          Their New Years Resolution.

                                                          Over eating and drinking
                                                             Common for most.
                                                          Children overindulged
                                                        Grandparents fussed over.

                                                    Commercial aspect of Christmas
                                                       Exciting entertaining and colourful.
                                                Money spent as if there was no tomorrow.
                                                      So all can have a great time.

                                                             But there are those
                                                       Who, lonely or homeless
                                                     Have not had a great time
                                                              For a long time.

                                                             Not for them gifts
                                                         Or a cheerful greeting.
                                                    Not for them the cosy chair
                                                           By a warm fireside.

                                                       Cold is their companion
                                                       Hunger is their penance
                                            Isolation and condemnation is their reward.
                                               Compassion is what they need.

                                  There but for whatever strengths they do not possess,
                                            Whatever support they do not have,
                                               Whatever love they do not feel …..
                                                                    Go I.

   Merry Christmas & Happy New Year xxx Valere






















The Lead up to Christmas

                                                              Snow covered country road



Well I certainly haven’t experienced anything like the ice and snow we have had this November. The whole of the UK was gridlocked -20 degrees in Scotland. It has cleared and feels a little warmer, but the forecast is, we have more to come. I was in Australia for three months last winter escaped the snow and ice but heard how horrendous it was, people where trapped in their homes for weeks; so I had better get stocked up on essentials and pretty soon too. Christmas is creeping up on us but I have most of my shopping done it’s the wrapping and the deliveries next. I haven’t been quite myself this past week, nothing significantly obvious just tired and this stonking headache that responds well to a couple of painkillers but then its back within 5 -6hours. I don’t know which is worse the headache or the side affects of these pills. Didn’t stop me from attending a couple of Christmas Dinners, some times I find distraction is as good as medication, to meet up with people you rarely see and catch up on their news. I have organised a Christmas party for the poets this month ,thankfully I am not catering , just hope the weather stays reasonable, last year because of the snow only a handful made it. I am hoping to stay with Stuart in Knaresborough over the Christmas weekend but of course every thing depends on the weather , after last year everyone remains sceptical. My grandson seems settled in Sydney and is keeping in touch with everyone via Face Book and Skype and by all accounts a having a grand old time before he buckles down to work. Face Book is a brilliant tool for keeping in touch with friends and family but some need to curb their language and watch what they say, I don’t think they realise that its much more public than an e-mail. A casual comment can sometimes offend and bullying is riff on these social network pages. There have been teenage suicides attributed to comment on social networking sites which is really unacceptable, I try not to read to much in to most of it, but it still can cause me concern. There are many safeguards on these social networking sites to protect information but some often do not bother and leave their pages open to the world. A local teenager recently stabbed another to death over a derogatory comment on Face Book about his sister.
New Year Resolutions guys -: I set out to do may be one a year, as I feel that is enough for anyone especially if it’s a tough assignment. So I am working on this New Years Challenge and will let you know when I start it. Last year a vowed to reduce the number of groups I was involved in to a manageable three. This I have achieved Women’s Institute, WriteOutLoud and History, I did start volunteering at the library, but I don’t feel that counts.