This time of the year is often ‘fuzzed’ by the festivities of Christmas and New Year – we can feel a bit numb to daily life as it enters into a whirl of activity. For some of us, it highlights our losses, our failures, adds pressure, the prospect of dealing with troublesome family members looms large and it can be a bit much.
It is often a time when we take stock of what has occurred in our lives in the past year. We usually assess our joys and sorrows, the good and the less good, in a variety of different ways.
For some, the landscape we find ourselves in can be comfortable, full of reassuring people and surroundings, the current social climate agrees with us and we feel confident in the future. For others, it can seem like the beginning of a nightmare, with times of trial ahead and dealing with things that can stretch our patience, our happiness and wellbeing.
St Peter’s Church Thurston is in URGENT need of an honorary treasurer. Is this a role you could fill? We believe there is someone out there who could help us.
One of my favourite things....
is giving myself a present. I don't do it very often, but I really appreciate the gift when I do. In October I decided that this was a good time for a self-chosen and self-presented gift; kind of an early Christmas present. I chose to sign up for a 6 week Writing Course offered by Thurston Library. What a great treat.
Years ago I took three writer's courses, at two year intervals, offered by Cambridge University. These were 2-night residential stays in Madingley Hall. Each course was lead by a published author, and they were terrific fun. The lectures were inter-active, and we had at least one written assignment per day. There were several courses run at the same time, so lots of opportunity to connect and chat with students from other classes. We had single rooms where we could work uninterrupted, and the food was GREAT.
Thurston Library does not offer a residential opportunity, but the leader is a published author. Dr. Pema Clark PhD is presenting "An Introduction to Creative Writing". I think there are 14 or 15 of us, ranging in age from about 17 to 80ish. I am definitely in the upper age range. She has us doing exercises to stimulate our abilities and imaginations each session. We occasionally work in small groups as well. THERE IS ALSO HOMEWORK. Whew. I really enjoy writing, but I like to do it when I please, and choose my own subject. (In point of fact, I really only like to do anything at all when I please, if I please.) So I am not completely successful with the homework. Still, I am truly enjoying my Tuesday evening classes. I find the other students very interesting and wonder why each has chosen to take this course. I hope I find out in the next four weeks. In the meantime, my early Christmas gift to myself is definitely a success already, and I am looking forward to each session, stretching myself mentally which is a good thing, and wondering what new things I might find out about myself.
The Christmas season has officially begun if I am thinking about gifts. Today was our Christmas Fayre in the Institute. It is good to have many people come together to raise much needed funds for our church. The buzz of conversation in the hall was great, possibly helped a bit by the mulled wine.
Advent is close; and the church will soon be decorated with trees, all sparkling in the dark of the year, with the crib reminding us that a Babe born over 2000 years ago is still relevant in our lives every day, in fact, a gift to us from God.
We are whizzing toward the New Year. I wonder what that will bring us? May God grant us the wisdom to greet each day as a gift, and the wit to use that gift well.
With love, Linda
From a Gardener’s Notebook December 2024 and January 2025This gardener’s note book covers both December and January, therefore I have selected two of my own poems with an Autumn feel and then to close, a few Winter garden notes, as some of you know this being my favourite garden season.
Firstly “ The wonder of an Autumn sky “ and secondly " A year in a country house garden “ I hope both bring you pleasure.
“ The wonder of an Autumn sky “
As the sun sets in a November sky, shades of orange, red and gold on flat fields lie.
The fields I know from a “ Window Wide “, outside the yard, a tractor, retired.
The house is old and filled with love, to grow the veg and flowers there.
How sad it is that life flies by at a pace too soon to die.
But we can live and aid the quest to bring for other folk much happiness.
“ All four seasons in an English garden “
Once upon a “ Garden “ broad and wide and tall,
With Winter light a paradise as much as in the Fall,
When Spring arrives, a new evolution, how wonderful.
Mother Nature is crafting again.
In June there’s roses simply everywhere, along the walls, the terrace, the arches too.
A special presentation took place at Montana Care Home, Great Barton on Tuesday, 3rd September. The Rt Rev Peter Collins, Bishop of East Anglia, awarded the community of Benedictine Sisters of Grace and Compassion the Diocesan Medal of Honour in recognition of their caring service at Montana Care Home. The Bishop presented the Diocesan Medal of Honour and the accompanying certificate to Sr Thaya Moses OSB, Registered Manager, Montana Care Home, during Holy Mass in Montana Convent Chapel. The Certificate certifies that the Benedictine Sisters of Grace and Compassion has been awarded the Diocesan Medal in grateful recognition of their generous service to the Church in the Diocese of East Anglia.
In earlier articles I have told you when and how to prune shrubs, but this month I am going to tell you about a particular shrub group: the Viburnums.
is Happy Family gatherings. I have recently attended two such gatherings; they were delightful. One was an 80th birthday party. It was particularly happy as the birthday "girl" told us that she was born with a serious heart condition, and her life expectancy was 5-7 years. She had pioneering surgery and excellent care, hence the many years she has lived -- so far.
She and her husband invited the 60 close friends and family, she told us, to thank them for helping to make her life happy. Well, it made me tear up. I was not a even friend, but there as the after-dinner speaker. Well before the evening was over I was wishing I had been on the Friend List.
Everyone I talked to that night was full of praise for this lady, telling stories of her escapades. It was a wonderful occasion, and I drove home with a big smile on my face, but no fee. They had to "borrow" my pay envelope to pay the musicians, as someone had counted the monies incorrectly. I am still chuckling about that. I am certainly not worried that the money won't be paid. At 80, we should be allowed to make an occasional mistake, and not have it spoil anything.
The second celebration was for a 50th Wedding Anniversary. Again, delightful and very happy. This time I was honoured to be an Invited Friend. I knew many of the other guests and some of the family, as well. I moved around between groups of people, and chatted to many, catching up on news of those I had not seen for some time. We did not have assigned seats for our meal, so I sat at a large round table with a couple of friends. The other seats were taken by out-of-town family.
I truly enjoyed every minute of the next hour or so, listening to four cousins and their partners swapping stories of their growing up years. What could be better than that? The sheer joy and laughter was irresistible. They were very patient about answering my questions when I misunderstood a word or phrase, or got lost in the twists and turns of a tale. But I do think that my open admiration for their family upbringing egged them on more than a bit.
With glasses held high, we toasted our Hosts on their magnificent achievement. A Happy Family gathering indeed.
With love, Linda
