TGIF....I need a break!

My blog silence since 10th Dec is only very slightly due to malfunction of brain, nervous system and near emotional collapse: I do get overwrought with life occasionally, dramatically, but hide it well from most of the rest of the world, and then am over it fairly quickly. I am hoping the anti-depressants will kick in soon, and help restore a balance: at least they would if I remembered to take them...

No, the real blog silence is due to me being busier than ever, I have never known a couple of weeks like it at work, so many visits, the 11 newly trained volunteers needing visiting and matching with families, families to be visited, training to attend, conferences, workshops, meetings, and evening stuff, speaking at an AGM, Management Committee, Festival meetings, fundraising events, end of year accounts, and advertising and recruiting, shortlisting (that took another evening, reading through 33 application forms and short listing 7) interviewing all 7, the recalling 2 for second interview, and deciding not to appoint, so I have to do it all again in January..

A grants panel meeting, do you remember me saying a few weeks ago how I was writing a really difficult funding bid? Well, I got the money! Three years funding! Yippee!

On Sunday DC and I did our usual lighting for a local church carol service: it's good fun, all the lights work, I got to be creative with the lighting, and we lvoe attending this service together, it's a Christmas tradition....

Last Friday whilst trying to get everything done, making time to get round to DCs to work on papers for the Ch*lsmsford meeting on Monday, before heading off to meet Laa for Christmas shopping (much needed, panic setting in) my mobile went and it was Clvie, not feeling well and panicking he was having a heart attack..I dropped everything and drove home, phoning the doctor on the way, then phoning Clvie to keep him talking....got him up to the surgery for tests, but he's ok, however it is a recurrence of a trapped nerve thing in his neck which had him in hospital on traction for two weeks, several years ago... so he is laid low and in pain...

I empathised with Caroline, talking about things kicking off, at 4pm yesterday when i was hoping to get away, the phone rings, and a volunteer says, 'I'm really worried about the family I'm visiting...' however, the gods are on my side cos when I ring someone else to pass it on, they are not only there but say they will deal with it. Great.

Went to review a family, and talked for ages to a young mum with more problems than you could imagine..well you probably could..not going to be a good Christmas for her, on her own with two children, no support, no money...when I left she gave me a box of chocolates for all I have done for her..well I cried all the way back to the office....

Went to a networking Christmas drinks do yesterday, accepted a glass of warm punch, or mulled wine, whatever it was, it was very nice, but when I was standing talking to the Chief Exec of the Council, I realised the room was going round a bit and I thought I might fall over. Should I lean on the Chief Exec for support, or the wall? I decide the wall, and lean on it, smiling, and ask if the punch is quite alcoholic. Oh yes, they say. I haven't eaten..I decide I have to risk moving to the table with sausage rolls on, to help recover and be able to walk up the road back to my office. It takes a while...I really haven't got the hang of this drinking lark...

Sometimes your heart just lifts with the goodness and kindness of people. Unexpected kindness. And when Evil Twins send lvoely cards saying lvoely things and wishing me peace and happiness...well, I am taken in, I fall for it, and it makes me feel all warm inside.....Joy to the World....

And to share, a festive picture, of presents under the tree..and can you see a present which is fast asleep..on her 15th birthday no less?????