A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

 

My friend Della from the village, came with me to the carol service in Llanasa tonight. Llanasa is a picture post village located a mile and a half Northeast of Trelawnyd and its Norman church remains open, unlike our own . Della and I both miss the Trelawnyd service, with Church Warden Christine Davis proudly carrying on the peanut sized baby Jesus.as Gaynor the mad Organist looked on with pouting lips and a wry look, and so we went tonight which was sweet.

One of the most moving  readings came from Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It tells of the time poor siblings Francie and Neeley Nolan take part in a local tradition where Christmas Trees were given away to the poor, but only after they were caught after being thrown by a fierce tree seller. 

The Christmas Tree is a metaphor for hope and I was rather pleasantly surprised to see it quoted tonight.

 Earlier today my friend Colin dropped in unexpectedly bearing gifts of scotch eggs and a Christmas card, which was lovely and the treats continued as the Cameron’s ( one of my favourite of village families) dropped off a family made wreath at the kitchen wall……

It’s feeling rather festive today all told , and the garland of Christmas cards just under the living room ceiling is almost complete.