I suppose it\u2019s been a comparatively quiet month; a bit like the calm before the storm.\u00a0 It feels like the country is gathering itself together for the seasonal onslaught.\u00a0 I have spent quite a lot of time sorting my gift lists, adding on the 3 December birthdays which are always a challenge. \u00a0Fortunately, my 21 year old granddaughter has taken on the role of on-line shopper.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got mixed feelings about that way of buying goods.\u00a0 I like the idea of going into a shop, looking and touching items and trying on.\u00a0 I do see the advantages of buying electronically, one being that things are always cheaper.\u00a0 Why is that?\u00a0 On the subject of shopping, in spite of my intention not to get caught up in the feeling of urgency, I find myself unable to resist the \u2018must get now\u2019 air.\u00a0 Of course, TV advertising doesn\u2019t help, telling me I need to have everything in the world in time for Christmas, from a 3 piece suite to a car! And whatever you do, I hope you didn\u2019t forget black Friday!<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t let the month go by without mentioning about the weather.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been lucky in that there has been no flooding where I live but I\u2019ve been thinking about those who\u2019ve been affected.\u00a0 If you have, I hope you\u2019re safe and well and are being helped and supported.<\/p>\n
At the end of October, I had the trees in my garden lopped and trimmed.\u00a0 The tree surgeon who did the work was a giant of a man and I was astonished to see him climbing my huge willow tree.\u00a0 My mothering instincts kicked in and I nearly ran into the garden to tell him to be careful but I thought better of it and stopped watching.\u00a0 All was well and although the garden doesn\u2019t look very pretty at the moment, I\u2019m already looking to the spring when I know all will be well.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not really a rugby fan but I just had to watch the final on the 2nd<\/sup> November.\u00a0 It\u2019s just there\u2019s that patriotic something that is connected to sport.\u00a0 The atmosphere in the stadium must have been electric and while on that subject, I watched the ATP Tennis final on the 16th<\/sup>.\u00a0 I do love tennis and I can remember the atmosphere in the 02 Arena when my son treated me to the same occasion (can it really be 2 years ago!!)\u00a0 Of course, the TV coverage is wonderful for viewers, especially when accompanied by a cuppa and an egg custard!<\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure it really qualifies as such but on the cultural front, my film club showed Random Harvest this month.\u00a0 This was a 1942 war film with Greer Garson and Ronald Coleman.\u00a0 Does it ring a bell for you too? The plot was a bit thin but I did so enjoy seeing some of the golden oldies, in black and white too.\u00a0 I was also fortunate to see a wonderful production of Evita, performed in the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, just inside Leicestershire by an amateur group.\u00a0 This was a disused hosiery factory which was bought with a loan, gutted and refurbished by volunteers and now seats 400.\u00a0 It was astonishing to see non-professionals performing which is by any standards a really challenging musical play \u2013 more like opera really.\u00a0 Costumes make up and music \u2013 an amazing experience in good company.\u00a0 It was worth the journey on a cold, wet evening.<\/p>\n On the subject of exercise, Julie has been showing on Twitter how even 10 minutes home exercises can boost our feeling of well-being, if sometimes a visit to a class isn\u2019t always convenient, especially when shopping lists grow longer and more complicated at this time of the year and there are other calls on our time.\u00a0 And there are the usual exercises like ironing. \u00a0I\u2019m actually getting a good workout sweeping leaves. I shall be almost sorry when that chore comes to an end within a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n For Awareness this I\u2019ve chosen 29th<\/sup> December which is Winter Walks Festival organized by The Ramblers Association.\u00a0 If any time is good for walking, then surely that date in December has got to be a winner.\u00a0 I shall be joining in, even if it\u2019s a walk round the block.\u00a0 That will do nicely as I wave a fond farewell to all those special meals which are part of the celebration.\u00a0 I wish you all a happy Christmas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I suppose it\u2019s been a comparatively quiet month; a bit like the calm before the storm.\u00a0 It feels like the country is gathering itself together for the seasonal onslaught.\u00a0 I have spent quite a lot of time sorting my gift lists, adding on the 3 December birthdays which are always a challenge. \u00a0Fortunately, my 21 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"\n