All I want for Christmas

.... is a mouse pad

Some Other Carol

It went quite well, as far as PCC meetings go. The rector mentioned in passing that one of his neighbours was about to cut down some over grown Christmas trees and was happy to donate them to his three churches if they would like them. We all nodded in unison. The weeks flew by and it was the day of our Carol Service.

The church warden popped down to the church a couple of hours before the service was to begin, just to check that the heating had come on properly and that everything was as it should be. Aw no! A huge Norwegian Spruce was lying prostrate, sprawled out in the aisle, blocking all access to the front of the church. The branches flopped across the pews on either side so nobody could sit down either. Racing outside to find a container, she thankfully discovered a biggish blue plastic bucket by the tap under the yew tree. No time to lose, she filled it with some liftable stones. Picking her way, over the prickly branches, with panic beginning to rise like high tide, she tugged and she pulled, pushed and grunted. She was only five feet three and this monster had to be all of eight feet. Supreme effort and dripping in perspiration, she managed to get the thing to as near the lecturn as she could. Bucket filled and tree at last upright even if it was leaning drunkenly against the north wall.

At this point, the door creaked and a lady walked in. She said that she lived a distance away and had come as she did every year to visit her husband's grave. Noticing the lights on, she ventured into the church. They chatted for a little while as she shared her life story. After she left, the churchwarden zipped home to take the decorations off her own tree and attempt to cover some of the nakedness of  the inebriated giant.

Breathless, churchwarden finished and hoovered up minutes before the first of the congregation arrived. Goodness knows what she looked like. The service progressed. The last lesson read and the last carol sung. The lady sitting in the seat behind, tapped me on the shoulder. She said how shocked and disgusted she was to see almost nothing on the Christmas Tree. Considering this thing, (like I said) was towering eight feet and our own tree, less than three, it didn't really come as a big surprise. So I just nodded in agreement.

All the way to Hereford

We went down to Hereford last week. When I'm somewhere where I'm not sure of my bearings, I take a picture of the street where I'm starting out - I find it helps you to find your way back.

We were near to Hereford Cathedral. The wrought iron and

the architecture were just amazing.

A heavy studded wooden door from the Cloister Cafe led out into a small courtyard.

A saint in the garden - but I don't know which one. An ancient stone too.

  We went back through the narrow passage way to the library. (Not allowed to take photos in there) But we saw 13th century Mappa Mundi - Map of the world as it was understood then. Went through the chained library. The books were chained on the shelves by their spines. Learnt a little of the history.   The cathedral had  been built as a dedication to St Ethelbert who was beheaded by King Offa. 

Hereford Cathedral link can tell it better than I can.

We wandered down into the crypt. Stone cold in Hereford

We were told how the cathedral had flourished on the wool trade. The colours of the wool displayed in a glass case were beautiful.

 As were the stained glass windows.

We stood on the bridge and watched the rolling waters of the Wye

in the November sunshine.

The Colour Red

The last time we went food shopping, O/H put this poinsettia in my shopping trolley just for me. I love it. The bright red leaves come out a bit more every day. Red is my favourite colour.

Silence of the Trees

Went for a walk today


No sound, except a rook for a few seconds warning its predators to keep away.  It was wild.

The Best Things In Life Are Free

Like my blogging friend Perpetua who lives a bit higher up Mid Wales, we took time out and went for a walk after dinner too.  You just couldn't live around here and waste the glitches of  November sunshine  - we don't get too many days like this at the end of the year.



There's a sloe tree, dripping with sloes in the hedge along the lane. I made some sloe gin one year. You collect the sloes, wash them and then prick each one a couple of times with a sterilised darning needle. Sterilise a few clean coffee jars with lids. A few sloes in the bottom (about a quarter of a jar) Equal amount of sugar. I don't usually bother  measuring, though if you want to, there are some good recipes on the internet. Top the jar up with gin and screw the lid down tightly. Keep turning the jar end to end every day for two weeks. As the juice turns to alcohol it takes on a deep rich ruby colour. Strain the juice into a sterilised bottle. Need to keep it for at least  three months before using. The longer you keep it, the better it is ........



There are masses of rose hips and berries in the hedge - should keep the birds happy through the winter.






Another little bit of joy, finding mushrooms in the hedgerows near the gate. Not knowing  much about identifying  fungi, I looked them up. The nearest description I could find was 'Parasol'  which are supposed to be a delicacy.I would never eat any mushroom I wasn't sure about, so for me it was just nice to see them growing.




There's the view across the field



Trees on the 'Moely -y'



The Long Mountain on the southern side.









Pampas Grass swishing in the wind, in our neighbour's garden

Then the trot back home, down the Mill Bank.

'How much for all that?'
 'Nothing - it was all for free.'

Time Slips Away

I've been to a funeral today. I'd known her for over 20 years. She was such a lovely lady - a real character, a zest for life. She was the same age as I am. There must have been around 400 people there, so they obviously all thought the same as me. I think that it was one of the most poignant, moving service I've attended and I'm so glad I went. At the end of it, the 'Sunset Poem' by Dylan Thomas was read out and the above song was played during the Commendation. When she was in hospital going through a dodgy time a couple of years ago her husband used to play it as he travelled to Stoke to see her. She got better. She was a walking miracle ..... everybody said. I saw her a couple of weeks ago in the supermarket.

RIP Dot - it was a privilege knowing you. You were a beautiful life.