2025

 

This was the year that was not the year

This was the year that was not the year

I repaired the bathroom tap

and emptied out the kitchen drawer

of a lifetime’s worth of crap. 

This was the year that was not the year

in which I launched a new career. 

A West End hit eluded me 

as did Time Person of the Year. 

This was the year that was not the year

I became a household name. 

Action figures were not sold of me. 

I wasn’t made a dame. 

This was the year that was not the year 

I spent less time on my phone. 

Nights of passion did not happen

in boutique hotels in Rome. 

This was the year that was the year 

I didn’t get that much done – 

much the same as the year before, 

much like the one to come.

Brian Bilston

Words

I'm sure you've noticed the number of bloggers who have been writing about the period we are now in.  I've been looking though blog posts and comments and I've found a few names for this time.

Slack water

In-between days

End of the year

Towards next year

Decenuary

Twixmas (or Twixtmas)

The late December gap

The lost week

I'm sticking with the Daft Days but does anyone have other names for them?  Or maybe a favourite among the ones I have found?

The Daft Days

They're more usually called the Twelve Days of Christmas around here but in Scotland (apparently) they are also the Daft Days.  There's even a poem called The Daft Days by Robert  Fergusson.  I've read it but can't recommend it!   

They are convivial days with the New Year right in the middle.  They are the time to reflect on the year which has passed and maybe make plans for the coming year.  Holiday companies seem very keen for us to do this!

I am spending some time sorting my finances, sorting my cupboards, sorting my diary.  I'm giving thanks for the year which has been, as I plan the year which is to come.  

I'm writing thank you notes or making thank you phone calls.  I'm putting away the lovely things I have been given.  I am enjoying my hibernaculum.  

And I plan on being very lazy.  How about you?

St Mary's, South Kelsey

 I've been taking services at South Kelsey, on and off, since 2011.  When they haven't had a regular vicar I would go quite a lot.  Today I offered to give M, their present vicar, a well-deserved day off.

The population of South Kelsey isn't large, around 650, but it has had two Anglican churches and three Methodist chapels but just St Mary's remains today.  It's a big church for such a small village.  Parts date from the thirteenth century but the church we can see today dates mostly from around 1795 and uses stone from St Nicholas church when that was demolished.

I thought this modern lectern fall was lovely.  I didn't check but I'm pretty sure that it shows St Francis.  

This is adapted from the Blessing I used today

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary and the peace of the Christ Child, be ours this Christmas and for evermore.  Amen.

Thoughts from my hibernaculum

 I don’t know if it’s just because I have decided to do a hibernaculum project, but I have noticed more and more books and articles about wintering.   I may write about some of them sometime.

So much of our conversation about winter is about how miserable it is, but I  started with the basic idea that winter is good, that it can be used creatively, that I need to adjust myself to its rhythms.  And I read about Roman soldiers who went to their hibernaculum, their winter quarters, and did winter things.  They maintained equipment, trained, had time to socialise and probably time to think.  It was a good time, an essential time both for their own welfare and for the good of the army in which they served.

Some animals hibernate while others enter a state of torpor when they sleep for short periods while food is scarce and they need to conserve their energy.  I do sleep more in the winter than the summer but I don’t really go into torpor (still less do I hibernate) but maybe nature tells me to conserve my energy a little in the winter.   I plan, reflect, sort things both mentally and physically, and maybe reminisce with old friends.

Those soldiers of old maintained their equipment and I am trying to ensure that when summer comes, I have everything I need to go on spontaneous days out or to do things in my garden without fretting about things I haven’t done. 

 

Merry New Boxing Day

 

The day for going for a walk, or having a lie-in, for starting on the leftovers, or a eating the meal which you always have on Boxing Day, for regretting yesterday's excess or starting to plan New Year's Eve, for playing with new acquisitions or finding places to hide them.  

I've enjoyed Advent.  I start my Christmas preparations very early so that December is free for me to enjoy Advent for its own sake.

And I've finished my personal Advent alphabet.  Here's a reminder.

Advent Sunday

Blogmas

Candles 

Decorations. 

Elves

Feliz Navidad

Gnome

Hope 

Imagination

Jesus

King’s speech

Love

Memories

Nativity set

Offerings

Presents

Quiz

Reindeer

Sprouts

Tree

U is difficult

Visit

Wreath. 

X Factor

Yule 

Zonked out 

And now I've got to start thinking what to write about!

Z is for Zonked out!

 

I have every sympathy for Santa!  

I hope you have a joyful and blessed Christmas Day.

Love, FC.

Y is for Yule

 

When Yule gets mentioned I can be pretty sure that we are not talking about Christmas 2025!  Yule is a nostalgic word, evoking well-dressed, jolly ladies and gentlemen shown on tins of Quality Street.  It's about an age of innocence when children thought themselves lucky if they got an orange and 6d in their stocking.  

I have a strong suspicion that it's nostalgia for a Christmas that never was.  

When I was a child in the fifties I remember my parents talking about the Christmas of their childhoods, Christmas before the Second World War and during that war.  And the theme was that we, as children, didn't have the pure, authentic Christmas which they had as children and it was far too centered on presents and glitter and excess.  In fact, they were making the same sort of remarks about Christmases past as I hear being said today as we oldies look back to our childhoods.  I'll add to the chorus by saying that the plastic tubs of Quality Street aren't as nice as the tins we used to have. 

In fact, I wonder how long saying, "It's not like the Christmases we had" has been as traditional at Christmas as mince pies!

X is for the X factor

 

Quite easy to think of this one - X means Christ in Xmas.  Faith is the centre, the fabric, the past, the present and the future of my Christmas celebrations.  

But there are little things which enrich the annual celebration of Christ's birth.  When I was in the regulars I lead Christingle services on Christmas Eve and the memory of the wonder on children's faces as we sang "Away in a manger" by candlelight is something I still treasure.  

These days I cook quite a few Christmas puddings (fifteen this year) and give most of them away but in return I get home-made mince pies, sausage rolls,  things which I don't make but remind me of my friends on Christmas Day.

There are decorations given to me by friends over the years, precious bits which lack commercial perfection but which bring the perfect gift of love.  And it is the gift of love which matters.  

 

W is for Wreath

 One of our local churches has a brilliant fund raiser every year.  The churchwarden has a friend who is a florist and she organises a wreath making session.  We pay for the session and there is also a raffle.   The organiser provides wreath bases, ribbon and a few essentials.   Everyone takes greenery and whatever bits and pieces they want to decorate their wreath.  The organiser provides wreath bases, ribbon and a few essentials.  And somehow we also take nibbles and drinks for a pleasant evening together.  

Except that this year I booked my place, paid for it, and then was ill that day.  There isn't a loo in that church so I just couldn't go.

But the organiser sent the wreath which the demonstrator had made.  How kind is that!!!

V is for visit

 

Yesterday it was hard to write a post about "U" but today I had a choice for "V".  The obvious subject was the Virgin Mary, but instead I wanted to share the Advent Collect with you.  In many Anglican churches it is used throughout Advent in addition to the collect for the day.  The more modern version omits the word "visit" but I remember being struck by it as a child.  

Almighty God,

Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness,

and put upon us the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life,

in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility;

that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead,

we may rise to the life immortal;

through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

Another thing I remember as a child is being taken on seemingly innumerable visits to people I didn't really know but who were known to my parents as people who would have a lonely Christmas.  It's a custom I still maintain as do many others.  

The posh gentlemen have got fed up with walking as their feet are so sore and they are considering giving up the idea of visiting.  (The camels went on strike a while ago.)  They've now hijacked my car and my trundle truck.  And it would appear that they pinched some Elastoplast for their blisters!   

And I've just had a visit from Jack, not to sort my garden but to exchange presents.  Jack, thank you for all you do.  I hope you (and all my readers) have a blessed Christmas and a peaceful 2026.  

U is

 difficult! 

When it comes to Christmas words I found seeking words beginning with U to be an Unpropitious aim.  Urged on be my determination to give no-one chance to take Umbrage at my failure to post a full advent calendar, I tried to Use my brain.  It is an Uneasy exercise.

Unity would be ideal, with all people being Unified for the common good.  Ultimately.  Unwrapping Unity from the parcels Under my tree would be wonderful.  It would truly make this Christmas Unique.  

(Sorry, don't know what the posh coves are doing today as Holly Dog needs me for day care.)

T is for Tree

 

At last!  The posh coves are on the move.  At the moment they are travelling through a magic forest of fir-shaped trees covered with holly leaves and stars and with bright stars twinkling out of it.  They've checked it out and decided these are not the best stars to follow unless they want to go around in circles.  

So, onward they go.  They're not sure where they are going but they are going.  

The tree looks suspiciously like a coloured version of the tree I made last month, courtesy of Holly Dog

S is for sprouts - of course!

 

The love/hate vegetable to end all love/hate vegetables.

Sprouts aren't among my favourites but Christmas dinner wouldn't be the same without them.  When I was a little girl they were straight from the garden: these days they are Christmas loss-leaders in every supermarket.  I was going to order just six loose sprouts but that would cost more than a 500g net so I've ordered the net and found a recipe for sprout soup.   

The posh chaps are huddled around a campfire doing a meal plan for their travels.  They sorted a route (sort of) but none of them is much good at map reading so they might just follow a star.  They've decided to include sprouts as the camels quite like them as an occasional treat.  They wanted chocolate but I'm not letting them have any.  I remove the chocolate from the cupboard each morning and dispose of it Carefully.  That's my job as a responsible adult.

Sorry this is so late in the day.  I've had problems with uploading photographs.  

R is for reindeer

 

Time for some crummy cracker jokes.

Why did Rudolph get a bad grade in school?  He went down in history.

 What do you get if you cross a reindeer with a bell?  Jingle all the way.

 What did Santa say when he and Mrs Claus gazed up into the sky?  It looks like rain, dear!

 Sorry.  A terrible joke mood overtook me.  It is nearly Christmas.   You'll have to forgive me.   

Q is for Quiz!

 1. Which country is credited with starting the tradition of decorating Christmas trees?A) England, B) Germany, C) Norway, D) Austria

2. In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” how many total gifts are given?

A) 78, B) 182, C) 364, D) 432

3. What popular Christmas beverage was originally marketed as a medicinal tonic in the 19th century?

A) Mulled wine, B) Hot chocolate, C) Eggnog, D) Wassail

4. Which author wrote A Christmas Carol?

A) Oscar Wilde, B) Charles Dickens, C) Mark Twain, D) Hans Christian Andersen

5. In which modern-day country was St. Nicholas born?

A) Greece, B) Italy, C) Turkey, D) Israel

6. Which Christmas song was the first to be broadcast from space?

A) Silent Night, B) Jingle Bells, C) White Christmas, D) O Holy Night

(Answers below.)

But what are the posh chaps and their animals up to?  

I was rather worried about them yesterday as all three of them are rather portly gentlemen and chocolate can't be good for them so I confiscated it.  I allowed the carrot to stay.  

Today they are consulting a map.  It won't get them far but I'm not sure if they could charge their SatNav on a camel's back.

1.B) Germany, 2C) 364, 3C) Eggnog, 4B) Charles Dickens, 5C) Turkey, 6B) Jingle Bells

P is for presents

 

For several years I was in a Santa Sack Swap which was organised on line.  There are blogs which I first read while getting ready for a swap and which I still read today.  The participants were all crafters, usually sewers, and I got some lovely hand made things.

One year I was chatting to a friend and she thought it a lovely idea so I now have a swap with her.  The rules are that things must be mostly home made, but re-gifting and used things are OK with the odd low-cost bought item (OK, I mean chocolate!) being allowed as well.  We have a stocking and a sack which we swap each year.  There is a distinct possibility that C may read this so no piccies!

Today's news about the posh gents is confusing me.  Another one has arrived and they're having a meeting around a bar of chocolate while the animals are meeting at one end of a carrot.  Are these presents they are planning  for someone?  It all seems a bit odd to me.  I hope time will tell.

O is for offerings

In many households Christmas is a time of abundance.  We’ve thought about it, budgetted, saved and planned and Christmas is the time when we enjoy a few extras.  That’s how it is my house and probably yours too.  I’ve got some special things stored in the freezer and Mr Sainsbury will bring a few more before the big day.

But it’s not like that for everyone.  Many will rely on foodbanks and other charities for Christmas dinner, and many will be worried about paying for the fuel to cook it.  Tiny Tim is still around.  Special shelters for homeless people will be opened and doubtless will be very well used.

When Christmas is over there will still be great need and aching poverty.  Many will be malnourished or cold or frightened.

Over the next few days Eric Milner-White’s Bidding will be used at many services.  We are called to worship but reminded that “because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children”.

Remembering is not enough.  Generous offerings of our money, our resources, our time and our prayers are called for. 

N is for Nativity Set

 Odd things are happening in my sitting room.

It started with someone deciding to build a stable.  I don't remember being asked to comment on the planning proposal.  It just appeared.  

And then animals arrived.  Last Saturday we had  three sheep, one horse, one donkey and one goat.  We now have a shepherd and a chap with a lantern and he has a faint odour of beer around him.  The shepherd looks more useful.  He may be needed as one sheep didn't survive the whole scene spinning on its axis to reveal the remaining cupboards and it's now laying on its side.  And, as Catriona commented, someone will be needed to clean up the mess produced by three sheep, one horse, one donkey and one goat.  

But what is happening here?  All this week people and animals who look far too posh to live in stables have appeared.  We have two upper class gents, two camels and two horses.  The gents are trying to look busy but three of the animals are having none of it and are having a sit down.  The angel looks rather bemused.

What can it all mean?  I'll let you know when I know myself.  

M is for Memories

 I think memories are one of the most important parts of Christmas!

I have memories of being a little girl and being taken to see Father Christmas and then he came to visit me while I slept.

My nephew in disguise.  He's now 53.

Memories of my teens and twenties with parties.  And Christmas in Nigeria when my Christmas dinner walked into my flat for its last jaunt on its own two feet!

Memories of my nephew having Christmas with us and delighting in his excitement. 

Memories of going home from work in my early working life on Christmas Eve knowing I had a run of two to four days off.  That was brilliant.

Memories of doing six services between lunchtime Christmas Eve and lunchtime Christmas Day and then cooking Christmas lunch for twelve.  Then leaving everyone else to do the washing up while I went for a snooze.  

Memories of board games and other silly games before making sure all eleven of my guests had everything they needed for the night.  And then cooking bacon butties for twelve on Boxing Day.

And now I have quiet Christmases reflecting on previous years and the love I have received from God throughout my life and especially in the last year.  

L is for love

 Right at the heart of Christmas there is love.  

Love shines on despite tangled lights, overcooked sprouts or dreadful jokes from crackers.

Love is hidden in wonky gifts made by children, jumpers lovingly knitted by grans, and hours spent by dads assembling easy-to-put-together toys.

Love sustains us through traffic jams or train cancellations as we struggle to join our loved ones. 

Love is in community events, making sure people who are elderly and infirm can get to church or Christmas concerts.

Love is in increased donations to food banks and charities.

Love is served up with the turkey and Christmas pud eaten at home or taken to a housebound person.

And love is available to every one of us, wherever we are.

May you know love this Christmastide and always.  

K is for King's Speech

Except that most of my memories of this are of the Queen's Speech!  It is properly known as His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech but I had to look that up.  Everybody calls it the King's Speech.  

For non Brits or those not living in Commonwealth countries (I think it is broadcast overseas, maybe you could comment) The King's Speech is a Christmas Day event when the monarch reflects on the past year and often on the Christmas gospel.  

It was originally just on the radio but since 1957 it has also been on TV.  It's pre-recorded.  When I was a child I seem to remember that the Queen sat behind a desk to speak to us, but the speech has gradually become less formal.  These days it usually includes video of royal events during the year.  

Back in 1932 the script was written by Rudyard Kipling but King Charles writes his own Christmas speech.  Last year he reflected on the 80th Anniversary celebrations of D Day and on war in our own times and he spoke of Christ entering the darkness of the world.  He went on to speak of the care and support he had received while being treated for cancer.  He reminded us of the communities who were determined that civil disorder and destruction should not prevail against justice, care and concern and so got out brushes and shovels and cleared the mess.  There was footage of him being surrounded by a group hug and of Prince William wearing a pinny and helping to serve meals in a community kitchen.

When I was a child we always watched as a family, including members of my extended family who had come for lunch.  It was a fixed point in the afternoon.  These days I'm more likely to watch a streamed version.  

But watch it, I will!!!

(I've included a link to last year's speech which includes a British Sign Language interpreter.)

J is for Jesus

Even if you haven't guessed what I would write about so far in this Advent Alphabet, you probably guessed this one.   Maybe to you it sounds a bit trite to say Jesus is the Reason for the Season, but so he is.

Many of my readers share my own faith but many more want to hear the Christmas story.  When I was in the regular vicars I introduced a service of Christingle on Christmas Eve because parents wanted their children to hear the central story on Christmas Eve and they wanted to hear it in church, from the vicar and not just from the telly.  I know it was a high point of Christmas for many parishioners to the extent that I had to do the same service twice every Christmas Eve so that everyone could get in.  If I'd stayed longer I think we might have had three sittings!

I know that commercial tat screams louder than Christian truth but the excitement around Christmas means that most people do hear the spiritual message, and many who do not come to church regularly, come at this time.  Few people can tell me the story of the Ascension Pentecost or the Resurrection as confidently as they can tell the Christmas story.  If they don't know the Nativity story it's highly unlikely they know the others!

I is for imagination

Imagination is the key which unlocks the magic of Christmas.  Much of Christmas looks like a pile of tat to the critical adult observer, but with a child's imagination comes magic.  That fairy on the tree may grant your wish, Santa will come but you must go to sleep first

And we all love the magic.  Even the most cynical adult feels a little sadness when a child no longer believes in Santa Claus.

We adults use our imaginations to appreciate truth.   As the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols puts, it, "Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmastide our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger."

H is for Hope

The advent wreath has four candles and in many traditions they represent Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

Hope is a small, single candle, shining boldly against the darkness.  It doesn't pretend everything is perfect, rather it trusts that God is at work even when we can't see what he's up to.

Today's candle, peace invites us to slow down and make room for Christ's peace to enter us and show in our words and actions.

Next week's candle, joy, won't mean loudness either.  It's about God stepping into our imperfect world, and about seeing him in kindness offered, in moments of peace.  Joy strengthens our hearts as we journey towards Christmas.  

The final candle, the fourth Sunday in Advent, speaks of love.  God draws near us in quiet ways, for love is never forced, never loud, never distant.  Advent love is patient. It makes room. It listens. 

May you know hope, peace, joy and love this Advent.

G is for gnome

Elves aren't the only magical creatures to have muscled in on Christmas.  Gnomes have established themselves too!

I made these two fine fellows to adorn bottles of prosecco.

And this Dopey one to hang on my tree.  

This seems a good opportunity to check on the stable which has appeared in my sitting room.  

With three sheep, one horse, one donkey and one goat.

But it's six chocolates lighter.

F is for Feliz Navidad

 

Feliz Navidad; or Frohe Weihnachten; or Feliz Natal.  That's Merry Christmas in Spanish, German or Portuguese.  May Christ bring us joy whatever language we speak.

I love to use the NORAD Santa tracker on Christmas Eve and have done so for many years.  It reminds me just how far Santa travels, how many people he visits.  

Click on the link and it will take you to the Advent countdown and Santa tracker.  Norad  (The North American Aerospace Defense Command) exists mainly to provide aerospace monitoring of aircraft, missiles and space vehicles so tracking Santa is well within its remit.  Santa's mission is, of course, considered not to be hostile and Norad will offer any necessary assistance should he find himself in difficulties.  They have been tracking Santa every year since 1955 so their archive of information is extensive.  By Christmas Eve the team will be on full alert and minute by minute reporting of Santa's journey will be available.  In the meantime games, music, movies etc are available.  Do visit!