Kitchen Garden Forum

I must admit i didn't think there would be so much responce to this topic, i hope you can all get a little bit of moral support from each others replies, i know it's helped me.
I should think myself lucky really, as its only freinds and not close family like some of you.

Maybe I am a bit different but at Christmas time I don't tend to dwell on friends and family that have passed away to any degree...maybe its that my own grandchildren are so full of Christmas in all its aspects that it doesn't seem to click in.

However I do find that during everyday life something that I do or say will trigger a memory...

The classic is planting spuds on Good Friday....a practice I enjoyed every year with my own Grandfather

Well said Weed. We remember them every day. I prefer to remember that the Winter Solstice was two whole days ago. The days are now lengthening by 1 to 2 minutes every 24 hours.
The holiness of this festival is that new life is about to burst with the coming of the light back to the world. Remind you of what the Christians say?

Cyntaf ei og, cyntaf ei gryman.
First with his harrow, first with his sickle.

I do remember my dad and other long lost friends at other times during the year, it's just somehow worse at Christmas when so many people expect you to be relentlessly happy.

I expect you're right about the child aspect of things; I don't have children and Christmas is different with youngsters around. If I had a houseful of them I doubt I'd have time to think about the missing.

Anyway, today is going well as I completely lost it last night after talking about my dad so it's out of my system, I hope.

Put me down as one who longs to get on into the New Year, longer and warmer days, back to the gardening.. The winter solistice was noted long before Christians decided to hijack it for their own purposes and now we have all the commercial exploitation added on.I can't afford any adult present-giving and don't expect any.
If anybody likes harmless fun please let me have your e-address and I will send an animated scene at no further cost to anybody
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Allan

allan i love her stuff

Anyone see the item about the "pagans" who turned up at Stonehenge a day too soon.

I too get a bit down at Christmas, mainly because all my family is in America. It was difficult this year because I got to see my Mum when my seedling Aidan was born, but she couldn't be with us for his first Christmas. Luckily we both bought webcams so we got to see each other for a bit.

I also dislike all the commercialism of Christmas. I really just want to spend time with family and friends and this year all my DP's family wanted to be on their own with their kids and presents. Luckily his sister and her partner and daughter wanted company as well so we got together.

Lizzie, I only send paper cards to my friends and family abroad with a letter that is usually well overdue. Instead of sending cards to people I'm going to see over the holiday season, I make a donation to a charity - usually one connected with what's happened to me that year. That way I feel I'm giving a bit back to the world. When two of my friends' mothers died of cancer I gave to Marie Curie. This year I want something baby related.

Being a bit of a pagan myself, I'm looking forward to the longer days. My DP suffers from SAD as well, but this year due to the baby he seems to have it less. So bring on the light.