Merry Christmas with 2020 Vision

The title above, 2020 Vision, is probably going to be a well worn ‘cliche’ by the New Year. As 2019 passes and we face into 2020, some of us contemplate the chance to make some real positive change in our lives (if, of course we can persuade our ‘protective’ thoughts that we are ready to make that leap, change, decision.) A recent post may help you here

In 2019 I continued to post ( this will be my 9th. in 2019) but did not annoy you all with emails about the posts. If you want you can follow the blog and new posts will be automatically communicated to you. If you are an accidental ‘Blog’ reader then wait for my email’s which is perfectly OK.

Well it’s a Sunday morning, 15th. December and here in Carrigaline, Co.Cork, Ireland it’s a very dark (for 9 am), cold, very rainy, sleety, winter morning.  The Christmas tree lights add a welcome splash of colour to these mornings. Christmas beckons. So does the Solstice. 

Taken at 0900 Sunday 15th. December 2019.

Solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium, meaning sun standing still. ( I’m one of the few eejits who did ‘Latin’ in secondary school. Another blog). Our modern calendar is slightly out of synch with the solar year, so although we celebrate the shortest day of the year on 21st. Dec it can actually occur any day between Dec. 20th, and 23rd., but most often it is the Dec. 21st. or 22nd.

Through history, this period has been celebrated by many cultures. Norsemen worshipped the Sun as the wheel that changed the seasons. During the Feast of Juul (from which we get the term Yule), people lit fires to symbolise the heat and light of the returning sun and a Yule log was brought into the hearth to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck to the coming year. This, and many related traditions of decorating evergreen trees with colour (Estonia, Latvia) and then those trees into the house, (Germany aristocracy) and lighting them with candles. A relatively new tradition , 1850-1899. Their relatives in the UK, the royal family followed the tradition and it spread quickly in UK and globally. The Solstice for me is the very welcome  climb back towards the long days of spring / summer and a swim in Kilkee. I am not alone in struggling through Irish winters. Remedy, moving.

Keep Moving – get out for a walk.

Not a very flattering selfie and also being soaked to the skin, temp 4 deg, did not help. But the great bonus is that I came across a small piece of lovely holly with berries. 99% of the holly on this Carrigaline / Crosshaven walk is berry-less. The greatest benefit / bonus is the well-being boost that you get from the simplest activity, walking. I do try and avoid the rain but sometimes…. it’s Ireland after all and it did bucket down this morning.  Christmas is a beautiful time and we should enjoy it, but for many it will not be the most wonderful time of the year. I’m not going to put a damper on anyone’s Christmas spirit, but say a quiet prayer for the people who struggle at this time of year, for many reasons.

To our families everywhere, you are in our hearts, thoughts and minds this Christmas.

A short few days to go to Christmas. Get the tree up and get the Christmas spirits rising. I adore this special feelgood season (while dealing with the chronic heartache for those I miss so very much). It come at the end of two tough months of October and November. Somehow I can manage January and February which many more find the bleakest of months. Just managed to get the Christmas cards written and now off to the post box.

Let me introduce two very special people.

The Roars, (aka Rory Benson Draper), resident of Sydney, NSW, Australia ( appeared briefly, at the very end of above video en-route home from Malabar beach. Visited us in October with his beautiful Mum, Elaine

And I hope it happens that I get to meet and greet some recipients of my Christmas blog. It’s been a while and also I’ll have, please God, the little bundle below from another beautiful Mum-to-be, Louise. In the meantime I’ll whisper a quiet prayer for you all this Christmas.  Happy Christmas.

And finally a great Christmas Story from Sunday Miscellany, RTÉ Radio 1, Sundays 9.10 – 10am (enjoy)

https://www.rte.ie/culture/2019/1213/1099034-listen-tins-a-hilarious-christmas-tale-from-paul-howard/