Christmas - Shopping and Planning

Less than four weeks and it will all be over... so I thought I better get started!  Off to Solihull we went, in search of suitable seasonal purchases.  I did find a present for the youngest grandson, and a gift we hope will interest the oldest one.  Something I hope will be to my husband's taste, was also purchased - but I cannot divulge details at this stage in the proceedings....I have also begun sneezing :(

A rather cute Christmas decoration was bought, which may be revealed on Friday morning, and not before! In our house Christmas is banned until December. This becomes a bit tricky when Advent Sunday falls in November, but that is only the start of Advent. According to the church calendar, Christmas does not begin until Christmas Eve, staggering to a conclusion at Candlemas on February 2nd.  Meanwhile, the world has rushed madly on, into the next few seasons. The only Christmas folks may consider, is the next, and not even that if they can help it!

A diversion to Hobbycraft enabled the purchase Christmas Card making supplies. Long live double-sided sticky tape...

After an unusually early tea, we headed out to a meeting to make arrangements for Community Carols on Friday 8th December - less than two weeks away!  It doesn't seem a year since we rolled up in the shopping centre, only to discover as the darkness fell, that the lights were not working.  After ten months of chipping away at officialdom, they have finally been fixed. Many thanks to the electricians who sorted out that nightmare!

We had planned to attempt a Quarter Peal this evening - which is a set length of ringing.  After weeks of juggling diaries, we had finally got six ringers committed to being in the same place at the same time, and the tower was available. Then news broke of the Royal Engagement, between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, so there was a consensus that our ringing should be in celebration of this happy event.  After a couple of rocky starts, the ringing settled down, and we were able to claim our Quarter Peal. Whatever my views on the Royal Family, I wish the couple a long and happy marriage.

In the last days of November, we look forward to the hope of Advent, of counting down the days of December, and the gaudy brightness of Christmas decorations.  Maybe this year there will be peace on earth.