Merry Christmas!!!

Back from Christmas morning service, husband down the pub (having put turkey in the oven and left everything else ready), daughter and sister moving partly done jigsaw from dining table to jigsaw board so that we can eat later. We didn't go to midnight service as I was too tired but there were a lot of people at the morning service as several families have relatives staying. I was woken at 7, not by my daughter who as a student is not into early mornings any more, but by my sister and niece in New Zealand. It was Christmas Day evening over there and so they rang up to say Happy Christmas and thank you for their presents. Caitlin, at two and a half, was very excited by it all and I do not envy her mum trying to get her to sleep that night.



Holly's campervan teapot!

 We have opened our presents and are snacking on a variety of things prior to dinner at about 3. The weather is glorious - sunny and clear - but Nick's car themometer said -10 on our way to church so I may just look at the day from in here!

Advent has been strange this year without Holly to share in it, I think next year I will try to find or write a set of daily things which we can share even in two different places. I have a service next week at Acocks Green and am thinking I might use the service in Magnet about the kings gifts.

One cello, two lamps and three sets of music.

Feeling very tired now. One of the problems of a lack of oxygen and an excess of willpower is that when I stop, I really stop! On Sunday, the choir were singing in the morning service and the younger children were using clay models they had made to act out the Nativity. This involved Nick making up a long lead to allow Hannah to video the scene at the front but still be connected to the gubbins at the back which then projected it onto the screen. It was very much a 'seat of the pants' service but all went well. Then home to eat a lovely roast dinner - the blessings of an oven-timer and a husband who can operate it.

In the afternoon, Holly and I set out for Acocks Green with one cello, two lamps and three sets of music. I used it as an opportunity to get Holly to drive in the snow and she managed very well. A short rehearsal and then candlelit carols at 4. At 5.15, after a cup of tea and a mince pie (or two) we set off for Dorridge with one cello, one set of music and two lamps. The choir were only singing a few items in Dorridge candlelit carols - we did our carol concert last Sunday - and Holly was going to sit in the congregation. 7.30, time for more tea and mince pies before setting off for home.

There was no Mustard Seed on Monday due to the weather and so I walked into the village with Holly for her dentist appointment. I did some shopping while she was poked and prodded and then back home where I tried to encourage her to start one of the four essays she has to do before January 13th. In the evening she went out to the Solihull Scout Network Christmas do and I drove to Heartlands to sing some more carols around the wards. The roads were OK apart from the traffic jams.

Today I drove us all into town as there were cheques to pay in and Holly was meeting up with some friends to see a film and stay overnight. Nick and I abandoned her there and then went to Tescos to do the final bit of shopping and fill my car with fuel. By the time we got home my body was telling me I needed to stop. Tomorrow's planned trip to Bicester to be a LAM lady that lunches has been cancelled due to weather and illness so I am going to have a quiet day - as long as the buses are running, otherwise I will need to go and fetch daughter!

Right now I think a cup of tea, the Telegraph Toughie and a long hot bath followed by an early bed.