"Somewhere In My Youth or Childhood...." Christmas Part 2

....."I must have done something good." So goes one of the songs from The Sound of Music (oh, just remembered, I went to one of those singalongs things once and it was dire!!) although I sang "wicked" childhood until I just checked the lyrics! Where was I?  Ah yes, discovering boys and ignoring toys.  Being a teenager (in or out of 'love') was sooo boring and Christmas was one big bore and my sister and brother were such a bore and a real pain in the bum and my folks were major boring too. Best to skim over those Christmases then - ha!

I try not to have regrets, or at least, to not dwell on them too much, but there is one.  I was 21 and married.  My mum had cancer (although she was home) but that Christmas was spent with my in-laws and I saw my family on the Boxing Day.  Mum died in the following February and I didn't see it coming.  Although all the signs were there you never think your mum is going to die and I so wish we had been there and I had known to make it a special one for her and my family.  Logically I know it's silly but I guess it plays a great part in why I feel so strongly about seeing and being with those I love over the Christmas period and why it has such meaning for me.  I think the strength of this has only occurred to me as I write this.

This year there will be about 14 of us on Christmas Eve and we will be at mine.  With the 'children' living in different areas (and countries!) it is a great time to catch up, have a laugh and remember family tales and gossip! My lovely future daughter-in-law, sister, sis-in-law, brother and niece will be here too.  Plus me of course, burning something in the kitchen and deciding more mulled wine is the only way to go!  Boxing Day is similar but with my Dad and Rosie too, bless.

When Joe was about three years old and at playschool, he became friends with Shereef and this has remained the case ever since.  His adorable folks, Amira and Rafeek, are two of my closest friends and our families (together with other friends) have spent most of the last fifteen or more Christmases together at their home, with sometimes as many as twenty or more of us.  Now they have grandchildren who add a new dimension to the day - and make us feel a bit old! We eat, drink, laugh and sing all day.  My son, David and sister Karen are both great musicians so the range of music is wide but we still have to sing "Liverpool Lullaby" at some point! 

Last year, Amira and Raf did all this without hot water and with a massive hole in the kitchen ceiling and the year before, some of us were (unknowingly) in various stages of having the dreadful Norovirus, so it can be eventful!

In the buildup to Christmas, my pals and I all try to find time to catch up, have lunch or drinks and exchange (small) pressies.  We are always busy but it can be a real mix of sadness and happiness for some and we all appreciate and acknowledge this.  

I don't think I've had a particularly easy life. I have endured my share of grief and sorrow and money is often in short supply. But, as someone who is more inclined to see a glass half full than half empty, I count my blessing on a regular basis - and as you have read here (and in other blogs) there are many.  Money is not the measure of every (any?) thing, trust me on that one, although it can 'oil the wheels' somewhat.  A good family and dear friends make you rich beyond words, so nurture and treasure yours whenever possible.

Tomorrow I am being treated to lunch at Jamie O's in Liverpool and really looking forward to it.  Perhaps, as the song says,  "Somewhere in my youth and childhood, I must have done something good."  I still have a sneaky feeling that Santa actually does exist - and why not!

Christmas Is Coming - Part One

As I continued to write this blog, I realised it was too lengthy for just the one so I am doing it is three parts - Past, Present and Future.  Feel free to share your experiences too, would love to hear them!

I am quite a sentimental, silly ol' sod all year round so Christmas is the icing on my (sloppy, gooey) cake - although on reflection, I think my sister, Karen, might be even worse! Old films, sherry (just at this time of year) ancient Chrissie decorations, lights that never work, recycled cards and family and friends all around.  Even now, the sweet anticipation and excitement is still in me.  With some loved ones living here, there and everywhere, it is a time to touch base,  enjoy a bit o' bonding and have some fun. Emails, phones and letters are all very good but you can't beat a touch or a hug.  Last year my lovely stepdaughter, Sally and her family couldn't fly out of Paris due to the snow and ice, no matter how hard they tried, and the disappointment was immense.  But, dear reader, please don't think that we have always (or ever?) had extravagant, carefree and joyous Christmases because that isn't the case at all, as I will mention in the coming blogs.

The first Christmas I can remember was when I was four.  Together with my mum and dad, I lived in a tiny basement flat in New Brighton.  I was so excited and had asked for a doll's house for my 'big' present.  I woke about 5am and there is was!  Of course I had to wake the folks up and it was some time later that I learned my dad had only finished making it at 3am - ah, bless! I am sure that stories like this abound across the country - aren't parents clever! 

From then and until I stopped believing in Santa (did I ever?) there was always the book - Bunty, Dandy, Beano - a tangerine, nuts and chocolate money in with all the other 

gifts and all from Father Christmas.  I knew he existed because mum and dad couldn't possibly have found the money for such things.  I remained adamant about this until I had a fight with a boy at school (I was ten!) about it and it was only then  that my folks sat me down and told me 'the truth' and I was gutted.  The first big disappointment in life..ah.  I laugh and cringe at this now in equal measures.

Just after that, I can distinctly remember being taken to Lewis's toy department (it was a wondrous place for a child) in Liverpool, looking all around and thinking there would never be anything to take the place of toys in your heart, ever, ever. Not too long after that I discovered boys and realised that certainly wasn't true!  This was followed by playing the same, parent/Santa role with the four children in our life.  I hope they have forgiven us for the lies!!

This photo shows the picturesque St Bridget's Church in West Kirby.  It was taken in about 1970, not the distant past but any excuse to use it.  Please note how many others ran out with their camera in the freezing snow.  This is one of my best selling cards at Christmas so it was worth getting cold for!

Workshop - Success!

I love doing and making and designing................. and children.  Put all these elements together and today's Hallowe'en workshop (with very simple designs) at the Tam O'Shanter in Bidston was right up my street.  I was a bit apprenhensive because they said there could be between 20 and 100 turning up, depending on weather.  In the event it was between 35 - 40 so that was fine. I did panic a bit but then I remembered that I'm a woman and so multi (multi) tasking (more stereotyping) should come easy! The children were so sweet and the parents did as much folding, sticking and glueing as their offsprings. They want their own 'grownup' workshops too, so more opportunities to start those Creative Hubs I keep waffling on about.  Procrastination............The Art of Delaying Action............who me?  I'll keep more on that for another blog, another time!

I haven't taught workshops like this for a while but after today's fab response, I think I'll start to for look for more venues ..............and Christmas is coming - yeahhhh!!!