The trees are trimmed
The Christmas tree lights are all working!
Vintage decorations bring back happy memories of Christmases past.
Cards from near and far bring greetings from family and friends
The china children have their carts loaded with festive greenery
My little fairy (who is as old as me) is working her magic
'Tis sweet when Christmastime is here
To call to mind companions dear
There's gladness in remembrance.
Have a Very Happy Christmas
Thank you for dropping by. I'm happy to tell you that Christmas is slowly arriving at Flutterby Patch.
I've decked the hall with boughs of holly and a tree
Flicked cobwebs off the lantern in the porch
Lit the lamps
and photographed my favourite glass bauble to show you.
I still have two more trees to decorate and have found a willing little helper but I think she might prove to be more curious than helpful.
There are freshly baked mince pies and a something 'warming' to drink.
Perhaps you'd let me tell you a poignant tale about the Christmas tray you can see at the back of the picture. It was about 80 years old, made of paper mache and very battered when I bought it from a 'junk' shop many years ago. Covering it with pictures cut from old Christmas cards and 3 coats of varnish gave it a new lease of life. I remember the day I did it very well. It is a day I will never forget as you will see.
It was 20 years ago, a Wednesday and 4 days before Christmas. The children’s last day at school and my last chance to indulge myself with a bit or creativity. By early evening I had almost completely covered the tray (back and front) in Christmas scenes. I was working at the dining room table surrounded by colourful cards and glue. The children were happily playing upstairs, their squeals of laughter punctuated by my young daughter’s occasional squeaky rendering of carols played on her recorder. I could hear the TV in the sitting room but was paying very little attention to what was being shown until I heard the chilling words, “we interrupt this programme to bring you a newsflash”. It seemed a plane had crashed in our region. I guessed it might be a light aircraft but I was wrong.
It was a Boeing 747.
Twenty years ago, on 21st December 1988, Pan Am 103 left London’s Heathrow airport just after 6pm bound for New York’s JFK.
38 minutes into it’s a flight and at a height of 31,000 ft a powerful explosion shattered the aircraft which came down on the small town of Lockerbie in the Scottish Borders. So enormous was the explosion that debris was scattered over 81 miles of Scottish countryside.
270 people lost their lives that night. 243 were passengers, 16 were flight crew and 11 were residents of Lockerbie.
The mere numbers are easy say but if you follow this link you will see just what those numbers look like as actual names. I was very touched when I saw the list.
Lockerbie is just north of here and this weekend will be particularly poignant as a great many families from around the world will be visiting the town for a 20th anniversary memorial service.
We use the tray every Christmas and it never fails to bring back memories of that fateful night. Our thoughts this Christmas are with the many families who lost a precious friend or loved one in the Lockerbie Air Disaster.
You can see through the study window that our pretty festive pre-Christmas snow has all melted and we are now back to dismal days of drizzle and mist. Never mind, we are keeping snug and warm indoors and there is plenty to do. Thankfully the newly re-decorated study is finished and is ready and waiting for the Christmas decorations.
We are very pleased with the oak floor my husband spent so long stripping and polishing and the new rug makes a welcome change from fitted carpet.
Although the rug is 'Persian' in design it has never been anywhere near near Persia! It was made in Belgium and very nice it is too.
After he'd finished stripping and polishing the study floor hubby decided it might be a good idea to do likewise in the dining room. The old carpet (and it was old) was lifted and a new carpet/rug ordered. That was 3 months ago and we are still waiting for it to be delivered! After a very heated conversation last week with the supplier I have been assured that it will arrive before Christmas. I don't want to decorate the dining room until the carpet is here, so watch this space!
Meanwhile my job is to lengthen the dining room curtains which are too short now the old fitted carpet and underlay have gone.
After a grumpy week of carpet chasing I needed cheering up so treated myself to a box of 'Quality Street' chocolates. I read in the newspaper that Cath Kidston (the much revered interior designer) decorates her home at Christmas in 'Quality Street' colours. I thought that was a wonderful description.
I never decorate the house until 3 or 4 days before Christmas but when I do I can guarantee you'll find plenty of Quality Street colours (baubles not chocolates as the box will be empty by then).
There are still quite a few things to attend to before the big day. For example, this little knitted fairy must have wings before she can fly onto the tree and I have dining room curtains to stitch, so excuse me if I get back to work.
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