Post Christmas

Bridgewater Hall Manchester

Well Stuart came down as promised and Andrew brought Ryan around to see his Granma. It was like old times putting up with the boys banter and teasing once again. Don’t think I could have coped with it for long though it would wear me out, as much as I love them. Managed to get to see most of my friends on my Christmas Visiting List. As we all are getting older the list gets longer,but it is good to see them and catch up, if only once a year. Our WOL Christmas Party was very successful after a few unfortunate hitches and some regulars down with flue. Thanks to Gemma for the Buffet, Katie for helping, Julian standing in as Compére and Sean who attended in spite of his injury to cover the Quiz. I always enjoy every evening at WOL, as everyone always makes such a effort.
The weather this week has been exceptional , bright clear blue skies and sunshine every day. Its been quiet mild really and in the sun very pleasant. Frosty and cold some mornings but on the whole a lovely week. The sales are on everywhere. I have avoided temptation as there is nothing I really want and often I buy things on impulse that I regret afterwards. Plus there are far too many cars on the roads and too many people out there in the shops. Altogether a manic experience. Been There ! Done That! No More!
Christmas day was quiet, Andrew finished work at 4pm and joined me for Dinner. It felt good cooking the Festive Meal once again with all the trimmings. The turkey was perfect and everything ran like clockwork. I have spent many Christmas Day in Australia and believe me nothing quite beats being at home in the cold fresh stimulating atmosphere of England at Christmas. Eating your own weight in food and drink in a cosy warm loving environment enjoying some great TV/video entertainment. As much as I love and miss Cathi Amy and Ben in Australia, home is where the heart is and at Christmas time one needs to be with family and friends.
Yesterday Dorothy and I went into Manchester to attend a performance of "The best of Gilbert and Sullivan`s Music and Songs" at the Bridgewater Hall. My Parents loved G & S operettas , Dad could sing most of the Mikado, HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance and many more. They are firm favourites of mine too, so it took my back to my childhood hearing the familiar words and music. Afterwards we had dinner at a Turkish Restaurant in the City. A special treat for Dorothy who spent many years stationed in R.A.F Cyprus with her husband. It was good I enjoyed what I had, something wrapped in vine leaves, then Sea Bass and vegetables followed by a authentic honey based dessert, very sweet.
I hope you all had a great Christmas break and in a few a days it will be the New Year. Resolutions at the ready !

The Bridgewater Hall
Manchester

This architecturally-stunning building hosts over 250 performances a year and boasts an award-winning restaurant and café bar. Its waterfront location in the heart of the city makes it an ideal conference and event venue.
Manchester's prestigious international concert hall opened in September 1996 and since its opening has continued to receive plaudits from artists and audiences alike. In March 1998, The Bridgewater Hall was named winner of a Civic Trust Special Award, given for the new building which has done the most to enhance the appearance of a city centre, as well as an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in November of that year.
The Bridgewater Hall auditorium is surprisingly warm and intimate for a hall seating nearly 2,400 people. Rows of slender columns supporting a flat, coffered ceiling create the marvellous acoustic, while the seating is carefully tiered to draw the audience as closely as possible around and into the performance. The visual impact of the auditorium climaxes in the spectacular façade of the remarkable £1.2 million pipe organ, designed and built by Marcussen of Denmark.

Merry Christmas, Good Health and Happiness to You All.
Click ,watch and listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktCc9QPbU7w

Pre-Christmas Days

Full of Festive Good Cheer.

The snow lingered for about two days and then slowly disappeared. It has been extremely cold and frosty all this week and slippy underfoot. I haven`t ventured out until after midday when I hoped the pavement have been defrosted by the sun and the roads clear and safe. Unfortunately our Stuart has fallen on black ice and broken his elbow which means he is grounded for many weeks unable to drive or do much.
Enjoyed our Women Institute Dinner at the local Golf Club, our table was very noisy we had the giggles and blamed the port and lemon most where on.Speakers Party was rather a sedate affair though it was good to see everyone relaxed and not under pressure with assignments. Went to Bolton Little Theatre to see “Fawlty Towers” it was a very successful TV comedy sitcom in the sixties, with Monty Python`s John Clease and Connie Booth. It was excellent they had all the characters off to a T. I was disappointed I couldn’t get to the Wigan Poetry Night as the weather was really bad hailstones and windy. I am really adverse to going far a field in winter, its not the going it’s the coming back as the weather changes so suddenly. I am busy next week three Christmas lunches so I hope the weather is better. I will be glad to stop all this eating. Ha Ha ! did I really say that ? No, but it is always good to get back to a normal pattern of eating
Finally decided not to get another dishwasher but a condensing clothes dryer instead. It is coming next week and they will take the old dishwasher away. I have a rather noisy vented tumble dryer in the garage that can be scrapped or given away.
17th Finally gave in and went into the attic and rescued the Christmas Decorations. Each year I vow not to bother and then I weaken. Andrew will be with me for Christmas Day and Stuart is coming down New Year for a few days so I have to get with the Christmas Spirit. It just seems so much trouble putting the tree up and taking it down again. I must be getting old!

It`s Write Out Loud`s Christmas Party Sunday so I am practising my piece. I will put my others on my poetry page later. This one is current to this time.

The Festive Season

3am I awake alert disturbed and anxious
Is it a dog barking, a car backfiring
No it’s thoughts dropping into my mind
Like a stone into water the ripples spreading to become a flood of fear.
Its all this Christmas hype,
Each year I vow to be ready .
I never am.

Last minute panic, cards and letters to write.
Presents, parties, clothes and dates to fix
Why is it such a headache.
Every year it arrives earlier
And I am never ready.

When I was working.
With a family of five.
I was organised on time well prepared
Now I have retired its just bedlam
Running around at the last minute .
Places to go, people to see, parcels to post.
Presents to chose, extra food and drink
Always buying far to much
As though we face a famine
Will I ever get it right.
Don’t think I don’t enjoy the festivities
Drinks with friends, dinner dancing.
A time to let you hair down.
No ! It’s the hullabaloo in the weeks leading up to the holiday.

I have thought about getting away
Leaving it all behind
Taking a Turkey and Tinsel Tour
A Cruise round the Caribbean
But its just a day dream .
How could I face the family ,
How could I not be there for my friends.
No its not Christmas
Without a festive tree
Eating too much, getting tipsy and watching Tele.
Knowing that the pressure evaporates
On the morning of the 25th

It is over
Yes Over
For another year.

Val Cook 2008

December 2008

View from my front step 2.12.08

1st December 2008
Well here we are the final month of the year 2008. I remember the build up to the millennium that doesn’t seem that long ago, its rather frightening how the years fly by. I have started organizing Christmas but its taking a great deal of effort to get motivated. I was so happy to post my overseas cards before the last posting date. Missed the surface mail again this year so I must get myself a reminder as its quite expensive otherwise. I expect there will be a many tightening their belts this year with the increase of fuel, food and utilities. I know I am very careful with electricity but I wont be skimping on heating as that is asking for trouble. But I have turned the thermostat on the central heating down a degree for the time being and wear socks and sweater in the house. My youngest son Stuart had his Fortieth Birthday last week, it seems incredible to me that I have three children over Forty. But still its only a number, all three look much younger than their age. I have stopped counting years its irrelevant, its how you look and feel that matters. Keeping the body and brain active is important ,if you don’t use it you will lose it. I try to pace myself but sometimes thing take over and then I have to stop, have a couple of days chilling, then I am up and out again.
I have been shopping for Christmas gifts it is so difficult for me as I agonise over what is suitable for any given one. I should start earlier and I used too when the family was at home and I was working full time, but now I have little interest in shopping. Thursday I found my way to IKEA in Ashton Under Lynn what a journey, the rain was pouring down and I was on the motorway for ages. The directions I had confused me and after taking a number of wrong turnings I eventually saw IKEA miles from where I expected it to be. Enjoyed the mooch though, it took me  hours to walk around the store. Bought eight items unique to IKEA and enjoyed a  light tasty meal, so I was happier on the way home. I have lots of Christmas Outing and Parties in the weeks leading up to Christmas , just hope the weather holds up. We have had some really bad frosts and it was very foggy for 24 hours at weekend.

2nd December Look what I woke up to this morning, snow 4 inches deep. It was certainly a surprise the weather bureau hadn’t prepared us for this. It was lovely snow , powder dry just like we used to have when I was a child. I really enjoyed clearing it off the drive as it was so light and easy to shift. By lunch time the rain had reduced the roads to a mush and I think by morning the snow will have gone.