Village Christmas Tree - Not amateur radio

Every year a Christmas tree 🌲 is erected outside our post office.

It must be near Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Today, we put up our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations. It must be the run-up. 

It seems 5 minutes since last Christmas.

Christmas spirit - NOT amateur radio

This was the entrance to our local museum last weekend. They had a very happy "Father Christmas" day that was very successful. 

All the kids (and adults!) had a really good time.

Singing reindeer - NOT amateur radio

The kids love this!  

The Grand Arcade in Cambridge is gearing up for the Christmas season. As we grow older, we become cynical, but to young ones it is magic. 

Whatever your religious views this is a time for love, peace and joy. 

I still do not understand why there is so much hate and greed in the world. We never seem to learn from history. Why can't we live at peace and just accept that we are all different and have basic human rights?

Nearly Christmas - NOT amateur radio

This was outside a village shop earlier today.  Not long now. 

I prefer when everything returns to normal and the evenings start to get lighter again. Ba humbug!

Remind me of the month? - NOT amateur radio

Both in John Lewis and Marks and Spencer they have Christmas stuff on display. 

Anything to increase profits. 

Personally I find this sick. I know retailers have it hard, but early October?  Really?  Give us a break.

Christmas nearly over - NOT amateur radio

This weekend it is time to take down the cards and decorations. It seems they have been up for a very short time. 

We will blink and it will be next Christmas!

Christmas food - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year we make lots of minced pies and savoury tarts. I am responsible for rolling the pastry (the secret is to roll it very thin!) and doing the savoury tarts. All these go very very quickly. The savoury tarts have mushrooms, tomatoes and onion plus a small amount of chutney topped with cheese. Some have ham too.

Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Last night, we went to the Carols by Candlelight service at our local church. 

The photo shows the installation outside.

Christmas cheer - NOT amateur radio

 

We have our main Christmas tree in the garden room at the back of the house. This is in our lounge.

Baa Humbug! - NOT amateur radio

 

These were some of the Christmas displays in a big store in Cambridge.

Christmas bookings - NOT amateur radio

It is only September, but I am inundated with emails urging me to book pubs meals for Christmas. 

To me the Christmas season does not start until December. This is pure commercialism. I have deleted these emails.

One of the major retailers in Cambridge often puts up Christmas decorations in October. I boycott them!!

Merry Christmas! - NOT amateur radio

This winter festival at the darkest time of the year pre-dates Christianity by many thousands of years. Whatever your faith (or none), I hope you have a good time. 

Whatever your circumstances, you are loved. We all benefit from being kind and loving to each other.  This time of year is especially magical for young children, so please make it an especially happy for them.

Merry Christmas!

👍

Christmas cheer? - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year, things are meant to be cheerful, but I have already had 2 pieces of sad news today. Everything always seems more poignant at this time of year.  This seems to always happen. Usually I am quite pleased when Christmas and New Year are over and things get back to normality.

Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Today is celebrated around the world as Christmas Day. 

I am not a strong believer these days, if at all. What I am sure of is all the world's religions are hints at a greater truth. We all need kindness and understanding. 

Whatever you believe, I wish you peace and happiness now and next year.

Excessive? - NOT amateur radio

 

A householder in a nearby town likes to decorate his house with lights at Christmas. 

It must be a hazard for aircraft flying overhead. I am glad I am not paying for the electricity! 

At the moment, we all need cheering up.

Christmas over - NOT amateur radio

Just now we put away all the Christmas decorations, cards and the Christmas tree. Everywhere looks bare. Monday is our usual housework day, so today, rather than January 6th, made more sense.

This Christmas was odd and it did not feel like Christmas. We all hope Christmas 2021 will be much better.

More memories of Christmas - NOT amateur radio

More experiments with collages on Google Photos. These pictures are trying to summarise Christmas 2020, which to most of us is odd. I hope Christmas 2021 is far better.

The magic of Christmas - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned in an earlier post today, Christmas can be a magical time for children. 

These are some of our grandchildren, and my wife, with some of their presents.

Christmas Day - NOT amateur radio

Christmas can be a magical time for children. 

As an old man, I find Christmas hard. It is a time when we are expected to be happy, whereas I find everything amplified and pain harder to take. To me, I am glad when it is all over. 

This year is particularly hard with Covid-19 and many unable to meet loved ones and give them a hug. Next year things should be more normal. I hope so. In the next few months we have some hard times ahead. Then we should start to see the light.

Whatever your situation I wish you a happy Christmas.