Christmas thread to share greetings and plans.

[SweetPea]

Happy Christmas to all R&E-ers

Have a good one and enjoy.... wherever you are and whoever you are with. Susan, a good friend of mine, also in her eighties, spent Christmas last year on her own and loved it, so hope you do too.

Sassy.... lovely message, thanks.

Brownie, I love reading your rambles. Two Christmas trees, eh? Can't be bad...

Ad_O, great to hear you have an OH! We said it would happen, remember?.... (vhen zee time is rite).. good stuff!   Hope you are both feeling better and enjoy a good Christmas.

We're going to my sister's tomorrow, and then children and grandchildren (including the latest edition)
are all coming here on Boxing Day. We'll be having jacket spuds, cold meats and salad followed by trifle/Xmas pud/mince pies and or cappuccino pavlova (courtesy Ms Nigella). Then there'll be crackers and cheese, and not forgetting the after 8s and no doubt more choc.... and.....

..... then perhaps a day's fasting might be a good idea on Tuesday??

 

[Brownie]

Ad_O will be celebrating Christmas on January 4th!   
We must remember him on that day (Orthodox calendar).

[Sebastian Toe]

Normal Xmas for me and the Mrs.

Her mum will visit us as usual, she's never missed a year since we got marred 37 years ago.
She's 85 now and cant drive anymore so she has to get a taxi. The charges are phenomenal!
Even worse this year as we moved another 13 miles further away.

But she's a stubborn old bird, I'll give her that.
I was thinking that this year for the first time ever, I might seriously consider actually inviting her in for lunch and a sherry before she gets sent back home!
 

Have a good one,everybody.

[ad_orientem]

Ad_O will be celebrating Christmas on January 4th!   
We must remember him on that day (Orthodox calendar).

Orthodox in Finland use the Gregorian calendar, so we'll be celebrating tomorrow.

[Brownie]

Oh  , shows what I know.
Theo will be celebrating 4th Jan I think, well he has done so on other years....

Hope you and significant other have a lovely time, Ad_o.

[Sassy]

I hope everyone will remember the homeless tonight and tomorrow.
They wouldn't mind an invite to a warm house and a lovely meal.
We are blessed thank God for our blessings and pray for those less fortunate.

[Alan Burns]

Our Christmas has been especially blessed with the arrival our new grandson, Charlie.  Just returned from Christmas Mass earlier this evening (he slept through it).  And it was a wonderful joy to be able to give thanks for this precious gift of new life.

Wishing you all the joy and happiness that Christmas can bring.

[Sriram]

Merry Christmas everyone!  In India also everyone is celebrating Christmas too (though the christian population is only about 2%) . Malls and streets are grandly lit, lots of colour, glitter, santas and general good cheer.  We only need a reason to celebrate.

[Brownie]

Wonderful, Sririam, and thank you for greetings.
All the people near me (I love in boro' Greenwich), who either come from or parents/grandparents come from, anywhere in Indian subcontinent, have Christmas trees up and are celebrating, regardless of religion.
I like the inclusiveness of Christmas, always have.

Observant Jews are celebrating Chanukah.  My neighbours for example, he said to me,"We do both".

I must seem quite sad posting until late last night and early this morning but I do it in between other things.  I spent a lot of time yesterday sorting some Christmas stuff (& husband was asked by son, "Can I have an   your time?", which translated into a few hours!  He was running about all over the place), was up at 4.45 and again at 6.45 but now everything is done, don't have to be at son's until 12.30-ish.

Cooked nice dinner last night, steak, chips, red onion, chestnus mushrooms and salad;  it was really tasty and I am not a great red meat person but, as I had it in fridge, I cooked it.  Lovely!

Gonners, I have some really nice sausages in freezer and over the next couple of days, will take the sausagemeat, season, and make into square!

Currently surrounded by pressies and decs and have had a little mulled wine at 5am but hopefully will go back to sleep for a couple of hours.  My work is done!

May you all have a wonderful day.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Merry Christmas to everybody :-)

[Hope]

Merry Christmas to one and all, and may you all know the joy of the season, and understand afresh the reality that exceeds the happenstance that so many want to believe in.

[Sriram]

Wonderful, Sririam, and thank you for greetings.
All the people near me (I love in boro' Greenwich), who either come from or parents/grandparents come from, anywhere in Indian subcontinent, have Christmas trees up and are celebrating, regardless of religion.
I like the inclusiveness of Christmas, always have.

Observant Jews are celebrating Chanukah.  My neighbours for example, he said to me,"We do both".

I must seem quite sad posting until late last night and early this morning but I do it in between other things.  I spent a lot of time yesterday sorting some Christmas stuff (& husband was asked by son, "Can I have an   your time?", which translated into a few hours!  He was running about all over the place), was up at 4.45 and again at 6.45 but now everything is done, don't have to be at son's until 12.30-ish.

Cooked nice dinner last night, steak, chips, red onion, chestnus mushrooms and salad;  it was really tasty and I am not a great red meat person but, as I had it in fridge, I cooked it.  Lovely!

Gonners, I have some really nice sausages in freezer and over the next couple of days, will take the sausagemeat, season, and make into square!

Currently surrounded by pressies and decs and have had a little mulled wine at 5am but hopefully will go back to sleep for a couple of hours.  My work is done!

May you all have a wonderful day.

Great.... Brownie! Have a good day! 

Some Hindus even go to church (I have too). Jesus is a teacher like so many others. So...why not?!

There is a church of Infant Jesus and Virgin Mary called Velankanni in the deep south which many Hindus visit as a pilgrimage.

 

[Gordon]

I'll add my voice to the general felicitations - hope we all have an enjoyable Saturnalia 

[Anchorman]

Just off to Church; but before I go, may the wonder of the Incarnation; God made man, fill those who Know Him today, and may everyone else have a great, and not too sensible, time as well!

[jeremyp]

Yesterday, my parents' village church held a candlelit carol service. Actually, no they didn't, they held two identical services, one at 4pm and one at 6pm. Why? Because, although the church has a capacity of over 450 people, they were turning latecomers away at the door for both services. They are thinking they will need to do three services next year.

I am an atheist, but I like my traditions and it was warming news that people actually preferred going to the church for a good sing song to sitting at home and watching the telly or whatever.

Merry Christmas.

[SusanDoris]

Yesterday, my parents' village church held a candlelit carol service. Actually, no they didn't, they held two identical services, one at 4pm and one at 6pm. Why? Because, although the church has a capacity of over 450 people, they were turning latecomers away at the door for both services. They are thinking they will need to do three services next year.

I am an atheist, but I like my traditions and it was warming news that people actually preferred going to the church for a good sing song to sitting at home and watching the telly or whatever.

Merry Christmas.

Yes, I agree and it just goes to show how non-belief needs all the music, ritual, colour, etc of a traditional Christmas but without the inclusion of God, miracles, etc. Then it will be something that can provide all the good things about beliefs while being based on truth!!
Ah well, that is going to take a thousand years or so!

[Hope]

Then it will be something that can provide all the good things about beliefs while being based on truth!!

Any evidence that what you are keen to see is based on truth, Susan?

[torridon]

Yesterday, my parents' village church held a candlelit carol service. Actually, no they didn't, they held two identical services, one at 4pm and one at 6pm. Why? Because, although the church has a capacity of over 450 people, they were turning latecomers away at the door for both services. They are thinking they will need to do three services next year.

I am an atheist, but I like my traditions and it was warming news that people actually preferred going to the church for a good sing song to sitting at home and watching the telly or whatever.

Merry Christmas.

 

[torridon]

Merry Christmas to one and all, and may you all know the joy of the season, and understand afresh the reality that exceeds the happenstance that so many want to believe in.

Yes I also find it hard to understand why so many want to believe in the improbable happenstance of a universe creating superbeing just existing out of nowhere for no reason.  Baffling.

Merry Christmas to you too Mr H. 

[Shaker]

Yes I also find it hard to understand why so many want to believe in the improbable happenstance of a universe creating superbeing just existing out of nowhere for no reason.  Baffling.

Nice one Mr T 

[Sassy]

Went to Church last night but had to leave before communion as my daughter became distraught. Cried most of today with pain in her feet.
 Settling now but very tired. Lunch went well and I am glad everything went well.
Mince pies and coffee with my aunt and then help with cooking lunch.

I hope everyone has had a good day. Had five and a half hours sleep in the last 48 hours but have to drive to Wales tomorrow. So will get some sleep tonight.

A good Christmas though busy. Hope everyone is having a good evening this Christmas day.

Best Wishes.

Sassy

[Sassy]

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL...
May it be peaceful, prosperous and a healthy one for everyone.

Love Sassy and Family. xx

[Anchorman]

A guid Bew year tae ane an a. Lang may your lums reek. Alba gu brath!

[Nearly Sane]

A guid Bew year tae ane an a. Lang may your lums reek. Alba gu brath!

indeed all blessings to all for 2017

[Shaker]

A guid Bew year tae ane an a. Lang may your lums reek. Alba gu brath!

I don't speak Bulgarian but the sentiment seems nice so here's to that!