It seems to be Christmas in a minute.
Always has a weird way of creeping up on me all of a sudden.

We've lit two of the advent candles in church and the chiildren have stared rehearsing for the nativity on 24th as well as the carol singing that evening after Christingle. PCC cancelled tonight and instead half of dozen of us have been over in the Old Building cleaning a few bits and pieces. Hopefully we can get together agian towards the end of next week and make everything ready for the Christingle and The Midnight Communion.
It will be wonderful having these in the Church this year - can't recall ever experiencing that myself.

When I say "all of a sudden", I mean crash bang! We had SEVEN cards today (the first postal delivery!) and two big packages arrived containing various gifts bought Mail Order by Trx a week or three ago.
I've been out myself this afternoon and put another £75 in Santa's pocket buying things for my parents and my nephews. Just DH to go now and then Mum and Dad have everything to take back with them on Saturday.

And the calendar is full to bursting. Tonight was cleaning at Church, which I cut short so that Trx could go out to her Christmas Meal. Tomorrow is the School Play (first peformance today and the kids are happy with it) and then in the evening Flo's party at Guides, during which I'm going out to pick up all the catering for our office Thing on Friday afternoon.
Beers with the boys that evening, then Mum and Dad on Saturday which will involve buying and putting up the tree. Someone I think has an open house that afternoon/evening.
It goes on like this for a few days into next week, leading up to our Open HOuse on Saturday week.
Looking forward to that. It's always good to open up the doors and get the friends in. Fire on, game sout, loads of baking etc etc.
The kids will by then have driven us totally mad - they are beginning to become very silly and often annoying having virtually nothing to do at school except get excited and watch films! They have already got about 20 cards each (97 between the four of them) and I think this year for the first time we will probably get past the 300 mark as a family.
I'm spending an hour or three this evenig writing cards and wrapping up the stuff I bought today

Mum - Sculpture "The Angel of Peace" and a book "Christianity Explained" to help her along with things a bit.
Dad - a pair of secateurs and a book "5000 Web sites Worth a Visit" or something, to make him feel more confident on the web
Flo - a paper folding, craft making kit and some clothes.
Ali - a pogo stick and some clothes
Stan - a scooter
Elsi - a counting game, some books and clothes
Nora - some toy keys
Sister - Perfume and cosmetics
Bro-in-law 1 - Beers
Bro-in-law 2 - Subscription to "The Green Parent" in anticiaption of baby in April
Sister in law - ??? we can never buy for Jilly
Father-in-law - ??? always difficult as well
Same food items for Mirfees, Harris, Moores, Randalls
Same game and a wind up torch for six other kids
em...

I've forgotten several people. There's a list somewhere.

Why can't people just buy me the books and music I always ask for??
If you are going to spend £10 or £20 on me, or the kids each, then get ONE THING that is worth the money. SO many times we get half a dozen pieces of rubbish each.
I'm not ungrateful. But just hate to see money being wasted. More disappointing still when its people we don't see from one year to the next.
Just ring us up for a chat, or visit.
That's what it's about.

I think Christmas seems to annoy everyone, one way or another. I actually enjoy the event itself, so much more since my confirmation and awakening to what it really means and the underlying spirit of it all and gestures of forgiveness, friendship, support etc being par tof a 'family' community etc. It saddens me though when I see all around me what a mess we have made of it, and how the whole shopping for gifts even, itself very satisfying, has been reduced to a circus and a competition to outdo one another.
Playground talk of £300 for this 'fekking' thing, or 36" plasma TV screens in the bedroom of a 5 yr old. WTF???

Rant over.
Keep a handle on what its all about.
Prepare a meal and a fire for some friends.
Talk to folk. Serve soup and offer things to people.
Give stuff.
Don't just Buy stuff

Forgive my self-righteousness.
Blogs are for ranting in sometimes, at the world in general.
No offence.

Have some cake…