Happy New Year!

My very best wishes go to you all for a happy and healthy New Year.

I'm putting the year ahead firmly into God's hands.

 Thank you to all who visit my Small Moments, thank you for comments, or just for reading. There are days, and I'm sure we all have them, when 'what to write???' seems overwhelming. Knowing that maybe just one sentence has made someone happy or interested, is so rewarding

 I have such pleasure in visiting posts written by people I feel I have known for nearly twenty years. 

Long may this Community continue.

 A new year.

 I cant wait to get out of 2025 and into a different. and hopefully better, year. This one started with pneumonia, continued with cataract operation, followed swiftly by knee replacement. And it feels as though it's all been a bit too much.

There were however, some lovely moments, a trip to Austria

and another visit to France, the first time since we left thirteen years ago.

A Summer full of garden delights went a long way to make up for not being able to drive. My roses were prolific and have flowered through Autumn. The old apple tree put out the best crop ever, Apple jelly was made and enjoyed. There were gatherings and garden lunches with family and close friends. 

The year, like the Curate's egg, has been 'good in parts', and I'm thankful for that.

Stepping forward now.

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Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow,

Albert Einstein.

Happy Christmas to you all.

 

'Wise men from distant lands

Shepherds from starry hills

Worship this babe so rare

Hearts with his warmth he fills.'

Part of a beautiful Carol by John Rutter, sung tonight at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings College.

A lone Rose

 What a delight to see this rose in the garden this morning.

This is Graham Thomas, who is a deeper yellow than the photo shows. and sadly has no scent. 

It was cold and windy in the garden this morning so I brought Graham in. I think he will last a bit longer inside.

I'm watching a Concert of Carols, and loving the tried and tested words and music, remembering the days when as children we used to go and sing for our neighbours. We dont seem to have wandering Carol singers now, sadly.

Not quite Cranford.

Although I see my neighbours during the normal week, waving hello, quick chat over the garden wall, there is a time before Christmas when small 'occasions' are offered. A coffee morning with a few friends. Another coffee morning with different neighbours.

It called to mind those lovely descriptions from Elizabeth Gaskell's 'Cranford', when teatime was central to the gentle way of life of the ladies. Hospitality featured dainty food served on beautiful family china.

'Very delicate was the china, very old the plate, very thin the bread and butter and very small the lumps of sugar'.

Elegant economy was  the way of life.

So on Friday I trotted to left hand neighbour, coffee and mince pies with half a dozen other neighbours. So often we just wave, so it was nice to have time to chat, about health, about gardens and other news.

Saturday was right hand neighbour's morning. I admired her lovely collection of cards and enjoyed coffee, and yes, mince pies.

Yesterday was opposite neighbour, and we just had a mug of peppermint tea and a chatty catch up.

It's perhaps not quite the same as in Cranford, but the element of neighbourliness remains, even without the delicate china!

A gift

This lovely wreath was made by a friend. I was so thrilled when she arrived with it recently, and gave it to me as a gift.

It's made with greenery from her garden, so many different shades of green, such pretty variegated leaves.

I sid that she should do this professionally but she laughed and said 'Just for friends'.

 

Christmas events

Although I can't get out and about yet, I thought I'd show you some of our local Christmas Markets. This main one in Truro has recently evolved from a big Marquee into these charming little covered stalls. Very European. Even the gentleman with a regular pitch to sell The Big Issue, has been given his own little cabin!

This area, known as The Piazza, is a large open space, but I remember it as a large Car park many years ago, and also a place where the annual Fair came, with its swirling roundabouts and stalls.

Truro Cathedral has its own Christmas Market, with stalls containing 'Made in Cornwall' items. The Christmas tree is always a thing of beauty.

Almost every village has a Christmas market of one size or another, usually held in our village halls, and always well attended. We have street light Switch ons, Father Christmas village bus, Artisan markets, wreath making, So many exciting events for all ages.

And I still have to write my Christmas cards!

 I loved reading your memories of the 'Old ways'. Many were familiar, Vicks, Milk of Magnesia, Malt Extract (oh yum), and I also remembered that if we had  bad cold, Grandma would tie a piece of Camphor into a hanky. The smell was very lovely!