A family Christmas

I'm not a big fan of Christmas, never have been really, well not since I was a child.

I don't believe in God or the bible so it's always seemed rather hypocritical to celebrate a custom from a religion I really don't agree with.

But what I've always wanted was a family to have Christmas with, and to enjoy spending time with.  

Since both my parents have been dead for years, and neither I or my brothers have children, Christmas has always seemed like a big let down to me.

Alison and Mike have been amazing friends, and the last couple of Christmas have been wonderful, but something seemed to be missing.

So this year, I was due to spend the festive season with my step-mum, but a week before Christmas I got a text to say that due to her having her new kitchen fitted she was cancelling Christmas (or rather, cancelling having anyone to stay) - so it looked like another let down, and that I'd be alone.  Although it didn't fill me with particular dread (especially since I'd be in my own house), the thought of knowing that Nick was just across town with his family would have driven me mad!

But yet again the generosity and welcoming nature of his family have blown me away - the kids said they were happy for me to spend the holidays with them, including Christmas day.  Now remember that this is the first year since their Mum passed away, so it's a big deal.

However things got even better, as the the day after boxing day Eleanor's family (parents, sisters, brother and associated children) all came to stay - you'd think that having me around would be really difficult for them - but no, they also welcomed me.

We took Bubba and Lola for a walk as a sort of ice breaker, and then I spent loads of time at Nick's with them all.  I immediately felt like part of the family, but I guess a lot of that comes from the fact that I've spent a fair amount of time at Nick's and know my way around the house (it feels like home).

It's been an amazing Christmas, the best I can remember.  I've laughed and felt part of a proper family for the first time in many, many years.  And how many people can say their Christmas involved pole dancing!!  (Nick bought the pole for Alex (his youngest son) and Flossie).

I hope that we've started a new tradition, a couple of days before Christmas we were trying to decide what to have for Christmas lunch dessert, and Flossie was flicking through a baking cookbook.  I just said, 'oh I don't know, just cook whatever's on page 54' - which just so happened to be Battenburg cake.  And here it is -

Oh, and by far the best present was from Liz, personalised Marmite jars -
HOW COOL ARE THEY!!?

A day in Sheffield

Siege is a great friend, one of a handful of my close friends, and she's here in Sheffield which is lovely.  On Friday it was her birthday, but on Saturday we spent the day together to celebrate.

We met in the morning in Tamper, which was lovely as the coffee is great, but hard as I couldn't have any of the fantastic food.  We were joined by Siege's school friends Ellie and Jo.

A few months ago I'd introduced her to geocaching, so she'd decided that's what she wanted to do.  We quickly found the one by the Hallam hubs (which I'd found before), then more on Leadmill Road, Farm Road and the Cholera Monument.  We found ourselves at the amphitheatre park behind the station, where there was a feté.

Complete with coconut shy (both Ellie and Jo won coconuts), and hoopla.  There were stalls of bric-a-brac, tea and cake, and a woman doing henna tattoos.  I bought a metal tin from the 50s (I think), and an Observer book of Astronomy.

We then went up to Jo's absolutely gorgeous house near Norfolk Park for tea, birthday cake (not me), and to play a game that Ellie and Jo had bought Siege (they used to play it when they were children).

It was a lovely day.

Church goer

I'm an atheist, I always have been.  As I've got older my lack of faith has increased, but so has my tolerance.

I used to have a special hatred for religion, especially the Christian church as an establishment.  I still have no belief in god, and can't for the life of me work out how otherwise intelligent people can believe in something that there is absolutely no proof of. Whilst also being amazed that anyone can believe in any religion that teaches intolerance and guilt, I can appreciate the joy and comfort it brings to many people.  

I have friends who are believers, one of them is even a vicar.  Sue was until recently an associate vicar in a busy church in Sheffield, but whilst I was away she was promoted to Vicar of the church (the previous vicar retired).  She'd been unsure whether she wanted the position, and worried that she wouldn't do the job well.  I have no doubt she'll make a fantastic vicar.

I'd joked with her that I would go to her 'institution', and probably be the only atheist in the room!!  As it was I sat at the back with the local councillor (also a non believer)!  I enjoyed listening to the singing, and as usual in these situations, a lot of people watching!

Sue looked so happy, my only fear is that she won't get any rest or breaks - seems to me that vicars are never off duty.

This made me giggle!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of wearing Mèabh for a while, and Jen took a gorgeous photo of us.

But she doesn't want images of her online, which I totally understand.

So I thought I'd share the photo in a way she wouldn't mind! I'm actually tempted to do this with more photos!

Weekend with a wonderful friend

I met one of my best friends in the first week of uni, in the queue for registering with the doctor - I have a vague memory she was holding a pot of wee - but that could be a bit I made up for dramatic affect?!?

Anyway, Christina and I have remained friends ever since (15 years so far), and chat regularly.  She's always totally accepted me as I am, but also always been completely honest with me about everything - even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear at the time.

We hadn't seen each other for a while, we're both busy and she often works weekends; but this weekend she came to visit.

Nothing special happened, Bubba got walked a lot (Christina loves dogs too), we watched tv, chatted and went out to Brodsworth to visit Colin's dig (they've always got on really well).

I still feel privileged to have her as a friend and hope (and believe) we will be friends for many more years to come.

Tough Guy

Sometimes I'm so in awe of my little brother!  He's so fit, but not only that, he's really got the right mental attitude for sport.

Today I went down to Wolverhampton to watch him run Tough Guy for the fifth time (the third time I've watched).

Rich has lost a load of weight again and is looking good, his muscles are incredible (not what I'd find attractive but certainly impressive!).

He did the race in two hours three minutes - he'd hoped for under two hours, but I suspect that the mud and subsequent slipperiness of the course slowed everyone down.

 

It rained for most of the day, thank bob I'd taken waterproof trousers, but I really must get some wellies.  My walking boots kept my feet dry but they are wrecked!!

When we got back to the car we quickly discovered that we were struck!  In order to get out we had to reverse up hill and that so wasn't happening, we'd have to wait for the owners of the car in front to return so we could roll out forwards - after about 40 minutes the car next to us moved and we managed to get out - it could have been a long wait.

Home now I'm exhausted - and all I did was watch!!

I & I

Birthday walk

For all my complaining about some of the people in the team, there are some who I really like and have a lot of time for, one is Pip.

When she joined she was really quiet and withdrawn, it took I while for her to share that she'd just lost her Dad to cancer.

Since then she comes and goes with skating but everyone loves her; she's so positive and full if life.  She's set herself the challenge of raising money for cancer charities, and done some brilliant events.

This week was her 30th birthday and she decided she'd like to go for a walk in the Peaks, Padley Gorge to be precise.

John and I went along with the group of rollergirls, rollerboys and other friends.

Various kids of friends came alone and John quickly scooped them off and took them geocaching whilst the rest of walked and chatted.

At the National Trust visitors centre I bought Pip a pencil and the list the organisation have published if things kids should have done before they are 11 3/4 - basically outdoor activities such as climb a tree, skim a stone, pick a wild blackberry, wild camp ....Although she's done many in the previous 30 years, she's going to try to do the whole lot again before she's 31!

One thing that wasn't on the list was 'encounter a cow'. We were sitting having a rest after a long climb, Nick and Caroline were changing Indy's nappy, when two cows and a bull wandered along the path - bloody hell they a big creatures!!

So nice to do something relaxing with a group of friends, I really enjoyed myself. I even amazed myself by being able to vault over a five bar gate like I could when I was a teenager!