Christmas Lights

I see from your comments yesterday that most of you agreed with my rant.  There were those that said custom and tradition is still strong in their areas, I am glad of that. However, do not be complacent, it is an ever spreading menace.  Things are changing.

Nathan's concert went well yesterday and Daniel is having his on Thursday.  You should hear that boy bellow a song, he certainly has a loud voice.

Now for some Christmas lights.  The first picture is of our outside lights.  We are limited on what we can do on a small bungalow but they are adequate and look much better in real life than they do on a photo.  The other photos are of our visit from Santa (collecting for charity) and some of our neighbours' lights.  They can do more because they live in houses.  Lots of mixed types of properties around here.

We have not yet got around to taking photos of our inside decorations, hope to do that in the next couple of days. Some of the old favourite things come out but we do try to vary a little from year to year.

All our Christmas cards have been sent. There are only the ones to neighbours to hand deliver. We shall get the presents wrapped soon so that we can sit back and relax a little. Always used to leave everything to the last minute but now we are older we prefer to get it all done.

The only present left to buy is a new collar for - well I cannot call him little Leo because he is getting very big.  We already have stockings for Jesse and Jack and Leo.  Leo recently presented us with his fourteenth mouse.  Strange thing is he does not kill them.  He carries them in, lets them go in the hall and then runs after them, round and round.  Mike has managed to catch and release all but one.  Alas, that one died, probably of fright because there was not a mark on it.  Let us hope the other thirteen are not all the same mouse that keeps getting caught again and again.  Leo should have been a ship's cat!

Hope you enjoyed the photos.  Now for a nice cup of tea.

Love,

Monday Musings

I wish the weather was really like this.  It would be preferable to the torrential rain and gale force winds we have at the moment.

Mike has asked me to thank you all for the Birthday wishes you sent him, he was very touched.

Now for a bit of a rant.  I was reading in the newspaper recently that undertakers are now using pallbearers less and less.  Neither family, friends or undertaking staff are going to be allowed to do it in the future.  Why?  Health and Safety regulations.  Someone might hurt their back.

More and more towns are dispensing with Christmas lights. Why?  Health and Safety. The lights could fall and injure somebody.

Children are no longer allowed to play the age old game of Conkers.  Same reasons as above.

Children are no longer being able to take part in Nativity plays.  Why?  Political correctness, it might offend other religions.  Office workers are told they cannot send religious cards to one another for the same reason.  The Christian religion is not taught in schools for fear of offending. Whether you are a believer or not, Christian principals are good standards to live by and children should be taught them early in life.  After all this is a Christian country. I have lived by those teachings all my life and have always known right from wrong and to honour my fellow men and women and to do good where I can.

Oh my friends, I could go on and on.  The list is endless.  Is this the land in which I was born and which I have always loved ? - no, not any more.

Christmas is no longer a celebration of the birth of Christ. Christmas nowadays has little or nothing to do with religion at all.  Three out of four children do not know where Jesus was born or who He was. 

What a sad state affairs.  What have we come to?  People mock at the "good old days" saying there was never such a thing but, believe me there was.  When I was a child there was none of this nonsense.  We loved the nativity plays, the carol singing, the Christmas Story which was central to the festive season.  You did not start preparing for Christmas (apart from the puddings and cake) until a week before.  That was a week of great excitement and joy. The Turkey was not purchased until Christmas Eve and all fruit and vegetables were bought fresh on that day as well.

Now Christmas starts at the end of September.  It is just an exercise in economics.  People getting into debt and spending the New Year paying it all off.

We are being turned into a Nanny state where we are told all the time what we can do and what we cannot do.  Children can no longer play in the streets for fear of abduction.  Children can no longer play the games they did for fear of injury.  We also live in a "someone might sue me" society.   The land I love has changed beyond all recognition and not for the better.

Where is our patriotism.  Why should we be ashamed to fly our own flag?  I have nothing against immigrants.  They have been coming to this country for hundreds of years and many have enrichced our culture - but never before have they come in such numbers.  Never before have they been responsible for slowly destroying our customs and traditions.  We are gradually being stripped of everything.

I hate to think what it will be like when Nathan and Daniel are men.  Maybe there will not be  a Christmas then, maybe it will have been abolished and some multi-faith festival  will take its place.  Like I said, a sad state of affairs but these are just my opinions.

O.K. rant over.

I made my appointment for the blood tests this morning.  The earliest they can do it is Friday morning at 8.20 a.m.  I could have it done sooner if I went to the hospital but believe me that would be impossible.  You often have to wait there for three hours in an endless queue.  Last time I went I was number 396!  For a standard blood test I could do it but not for a fasting one.  The diabetic nurse told me to get an appointment at near to 8 a.m. as possible, came straight home, take my diabetic medication and eat.  So the hospital is out of the question.

This now means my medication will not be sorted in time for Christmas, short of a miracle.  Tests done Friday.  They take a week to come back making that the following Friday.  Then I have to make an appointment with the nurse but she finishes up for the festive season on the Thursday of next week.  That takes us into Christmas week.  So it is very doubtful it will all be done in time and it will be hanging over my head throughout Christmas.  Still, I take it one day at a time. No good worrying - that will not change anything.

Anyway, I must away.  We are looking after Daniel this afternoon and he will be here in a few minutes.  Nathan had his singing concert  (carols not allowed)  at nursery school this morning and I am waiting to hear all about it.

Have a good week my friends.

Love,

 

Sunday Birthday

Late in the day but I wanted to once more wish my wonderful Mike a very Happy Birthday. 

He is 70 years young today. The family were over and we had a lovely time and Mike received some really nice gifts.

We spent Friday and yesterday getting all our Christmas decorations up at last (late for us this year) so the house looked so pretty for today and, of course, Nathan and Daniel just loved it.

I spent an hour with the diabetic nurse on Friday evening and we were able to chat about everything. She is not increasing my medication until I have some blood tests. Have to book an appointment tomorrow to have them done.  I hate these because it has to be fasting.  It is strange that I never want to eat after 10p.m. at night unless I am having this particular test.  It is sod's law that when you are told you cannot do something, that is when you crave to do it.  I also cannot take any of my medication, so I know it will not be easy.  I have felt faint on the last two occasions I have had this test - but it has to be done.

The results should be back very close to Christmas.  Based on those results she will know exactly how much to increase my medication.

Dean and Becky are away next weekend to Butlins where Father Christmas will be visiting.  Nathan is very excited about it.

So, the house is decorated inside and outside.  Hope to get some pictures soon. Hopefully, when these blood tests are out of the way I can relax a little more.

I would like to wish the other Jeannette a very Happy Birthday as she shares it with Mike.

So, Happy Birthday dearest Mike and many many happy returns. I hope the year until your next Birthday brings you nothing but joy and happiness.

Thank You So Much

Mike and I would like to thank all those who left Anniversary wishes for us yesterday.  It was so nice for both of us to sit and read through them.

We had a nice, if quiet day.  Becky and the boys were over and Dean was able to spend a few minutes as well.  Nathan told me he loved me lots and that was a wonderful present to have.

I know you will all wish me luck tomorrow when I go to see the Diabetic nurse in an attempt to get my blood sugars sorted.  The worst thing about it is that my appointment is not until late evening, just when we are normally having our dinner and I have all day to become even more apprehensive.  I actually had to see the doctor last Tuesday morning regarding another matter and, on checking my blood pressure, he found that elevated as well even though I am on medication.  Everything seems to have gone to pot with me at the moment.

It will probably mean a total rethink of all my medication and I am only praying that I do not have to go on insulin.  To say this has been a bad year is an understatement!

Anyway, I can only take it as it comes.  I have gone completely off the subject.  I came on here to thank you from both of us.  We feel that you are all extended family.

So, thank you for helping make our day even more special.

For My Beloved Mike

Dear Mike,

On this day we celebrate 37 years of married life.  It has flown by so fast.

In these years we have built up so many memories, shared much laughter and many tears.  We met in circumstances different to most people, I remember now with a full heart how many times you asked me to marry you.  I always said no.  You said you would never give up, you would keep asking, you knew we were meant to be together.  You were right. Even though both our families were against our getting wed they also came to know you were right and my parents looked upon you as if you had been their own son and I will never forget the kindness and help you gave to them.   I am so glad that I eventually said yes.

For many years of our marriage we were apart a great deal due to your work, those were not easy years for either of us but we stuck with it. We struggled to build a home.  I know you remember, as I do,  that when we wed, we had nothing, our furniture was second-hand, we had no carpets on the floor.  We waited three years to be able to purchase a three piece suite.  Times were hard but we were blessed with a beautiful daughter in the first year of our marriage.

Now we are blessed with two wonderful Grandsons. We have had many ups and downs and life has not always been easy.  But you have always been there for me, always been my rock, always done whatever you could for me.

Now, in what should be our golden years, I have developed many health problems.  You do so much for me, things that I used to be able to do but now cannot do any longer.  You remain my rock.  You never complain.  You simply say that if the situation was reversed, you know I would do the same for you.

We continue to weather the storms together.  I want you to know that I could not have found a better husband.  Kind, gentle, considerate, patient, always willing to help others, liked by all who know you.

So, my darling, on our special day, I just want to tell you that you mean the world to me.  I love you as much today as the day I walked down the aisle on your arm as your wife.

There is no greater gift in this world than love and you have given me that in abundance.  God bless you for being you.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DARLING.

All my love now and forever,

Jeannette

Photos By Mike (Local) Sixth Attempt!

I do apologise for the multiple alerts you have received.  I tried to upload these photos five times using Photobucket twice and AOL pictures, three times.  I tried again using another programme and was successful.   Never had problems with photos before.

Well, hope you enjoy them and that all the hassle has been worth it.

Thank You And Overseas Posting

I just had to pop on and thank you for all your good wishes, they mean so much to me.

I was feeling very down yesterday as you could probably tell and needed to let it out.  Today, my throat and ears feel much better but I have the inevitable stomach upset caused by the antibiotics.  It never fails. Always on day three I  feel nauseus and my stomach feels raw plus other things and it lasts from then until I finish taking them.   I do not know which is worse, the illness or the cure!  Still now I am on the course, I must finish it.

I am afraid I will not be sending cards overseas this year.  It is now just too costly as we are charged for size as well as weight even on Christmas cards. I shall also not be picking up Christmas cards from the Post Office sorting office if we are notified they are holding one or several there for us.  If the incorrect postage is put on cards now, the recipient of the card is informed there is a card to be picked up.  Then you are not only charged for the incorrect postage money but also have to pay a £1 fine to get your card.  Scandalous. No way Jose!

Last year it cost me £40 (around $80 then) to send cards to my U.S. friends.  I also have about sixty people here in the UK that I have to send to.  The budget will just not allow.  I am very sorry I have had to make this decision but a piece of elastic will only stretch so far.

I will put up a Christmas message for you all on Christmas Eve.

I do hope that you all understand.  It does not mean I do not care because I consider you all my dear friends.  Your love and support mean so much to me.  Once again thank you for your good wishes.