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.
