Holidays aren't coming .... they are here

December 15, 2012

Holidays aren't coming .... they are here

Oh boy am I ready for a holiday. I feel every day of my age and am shattered.

But holidays are here.

They started in fine style with a fabulous night out last night at The Edge. I have never been there before (though when the Studland Dene Hotel was there I used to visit often). High on the cliff at Alum Chine it has views over the bay which was pretty even in the dark.

The food was delicious, the company fabulous and we had such a laugh - a really great evening. A perfect start to the holidays.

And then I slept until 9.00 Goodness I can't remember the last time I ever did that.

Today we decorated the tree as you can see from the photo a day and the JYC page.

Our tree used to be white and gold but when we re-decorated the lounge we added lime green. Sounds awful but it looks really nice .... honest.

Having the tree does mean we are on permanent Fiki watch though and the lounge door must remain closed at all times unless we are in there. The joys of having a Fiki eh!

Apart fromt he tree I really have done nothing much. I sorted out all my jewellery (costume mostly as I don't have expensive jewellery other than my wedding ring and troll beads) into my new stacking jewellery box system and it looks amazing as I can actually see it all. Now I can see it I might actually wear it.

The sad news is that I have lost my engagement ring though. My original one. I can't beleive it. I have worn it recently but it wasn't in my jewellery box, we have searched everywhere and I truly think I have lost it outside and I am really really sad about it. The diamond was so small that you couldn't really see it well, but it was incredibly precious to me. Nigel is convinced it will turn up in the house. I hope so.

I did scrap a page for the UKS weekly and monthly challenge (so clever to combine the two) about Festive Jumper Day.

Now the champagne is on ice and I plan a tv evening.

Today I am thankful for

a really lovely night out last night
a lie in
the holidays

and my page a day calendar page today is

MYSTERIOUS WAYS
“Grandma, Grandma, tell us a story!” Four darling children sat by my feet, looking up at me expectantly.

Suddenly, we were interrupted by clapping. “Terrific,” the director said, stepping up to the stage from the chapel aisle. “Except, could you kids face the audience a bit more?”

The kids shifted to face the empty pews, which would be filled in a few days for the church play. “Perfect,” the director said. “Now, Grandma, read to your grandchildren.” A pang of sadness hit me. If only I could read to my real grandchild!

I had a granddaughter, but I’d never met her. Sixteen years earlier, my son was involved in a relationship that ended badly. But out of it came a blessing: a baby girl named Lena. I yearned to be a grandmother to her—but shortly after the birth, the mother moved and left no forwarding address.

I’d just joined this new church a week earlier, and was promptly offered the part of Grandma in the play. Finally, the day of the show arrived and the performance was great.

Afterward, we went to the church basement for refreshments. I walked over to one of the girls in the play. Rehearsals had been such a whirlwind we never really got to talk. “How’s my granddaughter?” I
joked.

“Fine!” she answered. Just then, someone else walked up and asked the girl her name.

I wasn’t sure I heard the girl’s answer correctly. But it made me ask her another question. “What’s your mother’s name?”

She told me.

I was still in shock. “And what’s your father’s name?” I asked.

It was my son.

“Lena,” I said, “you’re not going to believe this … but, I really am your grandmother!”

She’d only started going to that church a week before I did. Since that day of the play, we’ve stayed
close.