Christmas Eve...

..Saturday improved in that once I had stopped crying, I knew I had pull myself together and go into town visit the market for the last time before Christmas. Find the true meaning..sprouts.

I am feeling in need of company, and unsure how I will be in the city centre full of busy-ness and crowds. The phone rings and David says he is taking his two girls into town shopping and would I like a lift in? I say yes please, and soon I am chatting to two excited girlies going into town to spend daddy's money on Christmas clothes. We separate so that D and I do the necessary vegetable shopping, pausing for a coffee and croissant at my favourite cafe, and a precious few moments to stop and talk and be still....

I get involved in a few clothes shops, advising on outfits with the girlies, and we have fun, and I even try on something in M*ns**n and buy it for Christmas. I paid for it myself - while the other outfits cost D a great deal of money.

When we get back Clive and m-in-law are there, and I get busy offering my home made vegetable soup, and with the realisation that all shopping is done, and all gifts are wrapped, I am more prepared for Christmas than ever before, and can now relax.

This morning, for the first time in two or three years at Christmas, I went to church and sang the carols, and enjoyed it. I have been waiting for this:

Yet with the woes of sin and strife,
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled,
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not,
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

When we got home from church, an unexpected visitor called in with a last piece of shopping, and I just had to take a picture, as he spread his brand of fun and jollity among us. It took 5 goes to get the flashing nose on, so be impressed.

Yes, he had been shopping (again) dressed like this.

Happy Christmas Eve.