Cheer

 It’s been a pretty miserable set of night shifts. So I’ve bought a miniature Christmas Tree from Marks compensate, there’s something about fairy lights that make the whole world better.

Talia Grupo is at full lisp during this piece of English Eurovision 

You just can’t help smiling 

I’ve heard it said

 I’ve heard it said, that people come into your life…..for a reason 

Bringing something we must learn……..

I have lost two old friends recently. 

One hasn’t been a part of my present life the moment we left for Wales in 2005. 

The other stood next to me in choir and ballsed up many a song.

I had respect and affection for them both 

David was a charge nurse on the spinal injury unit in Sheffield. He was shy, intelligent, taciturn and patient focused. 

We were not friends, for I always thought that he didn’t know how to take my humour , but we were colleagues and I’d like to think that he respected me as much as I did him 

Peter was a local counsellor who enjoyed being on a committee. Elderly and carefully spoken , I always sought him out in choir where he was kind, and friendly and where he could always be trusted to get the more difficult bits wrong. 

Two men , not my friends

But two men, I think fondly about.

Thinking fondly about someone is such an importance 

And we are led…to those who help us most to grow

Advent Sunday

 I’m in the middle of three nights ( hence) the radio silence 

Thank you for your concern, I see I’m a creature of habit who blogs daily out of the enjoyment of it.

I just have not had the time. 

I couldn’t sleep today and moved into the spare bedroom ( which is darker) to see if that would help.

It didn’t 

Dogs and cat on a single bed does not promote sound sleep.

I was up showering a rather smelly Mary at three pm 

Then had to wash by double bedroom duvet after Weaver shat on it. 

I’m beginning to hate nights 

The one good thing is that I’m catching up with paperwork. On my break and in between jobs I’m getting things ticked off. Christmas cards designed with  The Trelawnyd Productions Logo have been addressed and written. Bank Statements have been checked and the backlog of correspondence caught up with. 

I’ve even almost written a somewhat banal blog post, just to prove that I’m still alive 

In fact my new German friend message me yesterday with the same thought and request to which I answered with a somewhat cryptic not really….

I shouldn’t be so uncharitable. 

Bollywood

The Village Show is slowly coming together. 

Mother and daughter Bollywood dancers took to the stage tonight and Chelsea Cameron ( daughter of the lovely Sandra Cameron aka Champion Boiled Egg Winner in the Trelawnyd Flower Show) completed her sound check as did her wife Nina who has prepared her reading which centres about a Filipino woman’s take on a Welsh Christmas. 

We now have a running list of performers and director Kira is preparing her backing track, ready for the night. The lighting is organised, bar confirmed and I’ve bought the raffle prizes ( including an inflatable Father Christmas !!!!) 

Only one act has not confirmed as yet and that is another local choir ( not mine)  

We are chasing it up…

Xmas Tree

 

Roger’s haircut ( Weaver sitting pissed off in background)

Roger had a haircut today.

Mary is going bald so needs no trim as yet .

I’ve got group supervision this evening, where all of the sessional counsellors at the charity I work for get together. This meeting of minds is a rarity, and I’m beginning to realise that counselling can be a rather solitary vocation .

My sister gave the front garden a good seeing too and the cottage feels ready for its first proper Christmas tree in years. 

If I have time I may buy one on the way home 

Counselling Session 12 September 2023

 It went something like this…

Wily Old Irish Counsellor : “ when was the last time you bought something nice for yourself?” 

John: “I bought myself theatre tickets last week”

Wily Old Irish Counsellor: “ something to wear” she countered quickly

John: “ erm…….erm…I’m not sure” 

Wily Old Irish Counsellor “ Something that made you feel good” she fingered her bright red scarf as a kind of metaphor 

John: I can’t remember 

Silence 

More silence 

But voices in my head saying

You don’t deserve anything nice ! 

You’d only ruin it! 

Reading the room the Wily Old Irish Counsellor said “ Why wouldn’t you warrant nice clothes?”

And my silence spoke volumes.

Today I went to Mostyn Gallery and I bought an Elin Manon scarf

https://www.elinmanon.com/

One of my clients noticed it today and said it was Very Me 

I laughed and agreed with her before we moved on 

Blue

 

She looked smaller than I’ve ever seen her. 

Dwarfed not only by a large woollen coat and her trademark erect arran bobble hat.

Grief had literally reduced her to a child’s size

Mrs Trellis had lost her greyhound Blue.

I heard through velvet voiced Linda that she had Blue put down after a short illness and had taken a plant around in way of sympathy. The old lady was bereft and shocked and upset that some in the village had made it clear that she should have done the deed earlier. 

Greyhounds look dreadful when they lose weight

She cried when she shared his last moments and was angry at the vet who came out, all emotions so normal but so unwanted. 

Her usually warm little bungalow was dark and cold and felt very empty when I turned to go

Christmas Challenge

 Most of the morning has been filled with show Admin. Chasing up acts, requesting music checking details , yes herding cats.

I’ve done all what I can do so my attention has been drawn to the knotty subject of Christmas . 

Now I’m working Christmas Day so practically I wanted to buy my family no fuss gifts, ones that I can get down to them easily .

And so the challenge this year is to buy gifts that will fit inside a 2x1 inch box🤪

Everyone will get the same box but each one will have something different inside.

My sister Janet, for example will get a miniature ballerina with tickets for the Royal Ballet ( Giselle) and a room booked at Z hotel in Covent Garden, I can tell you this as she already knows the contents but the further challenge is that I need to find some more things to accompany the gifts…