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Thursday 18 December 2008

Little Things that Warm your Heart

I suspect am going to be alone on Boxing Day and until this morning I didn't quite know how I felt about it.

Traditionally, until mum died two years ago, Boxing Day would be spent round my mum's house with my sister in law and nieces and much womanly and girly jollity would be enjoyed by all. I'd give anything for just one more Boxing Day like that ... but then would I? Maybe not. Maybe those types of Boxing Day belong in the past, just like the Boxing Days of my childhood, all warm and fluffy to be plucked out of the memory box when feeling gloomy. The songs may have ended, but the melodies linger on.

It's only 8.30 am and three nice things have happened already.

1. Barney arrived for his day with Zak (Barney is my son's dog and we have him during the day so he's not alone in the house). He tried to get on my lap and then snugged his head into my neck and licked my ear. Aaahh. There's nothing like a doggy hug!

2. My friend rang me. 'Look,' she said. 'I've been thinking. Why don't you come round to mine on Boxing Day and we can have a game of Scrabble.' Now ... this is tempting. Could this be the first of many memory-making Boxing Days, I wonder to myself? My friend is single and has devoted her life to her disabled brother, who despite his learning difficulties is a demon at Scrabble!

3. I had a Christmas Card 'To my Special Friend'. It was from a Councillor. I am not supposed to be 'special friends' with Councillors - because the Member/Officer Protocol for Local Government says so. Stuffy local government gets right up my nose sometimes!

I shall now look forward to my different kind of Boxing Day this year, whatever I decide to do with it, and I won't sit and feel sorry for myself because my lovely family appears to have deserted me - I shall just thank my lucky stars for good friends and the good health to enjoy it.

Have a fantastic Christmas and New Year, and thanks to all my blogmates for their friendship and support.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I take it you're not a fan of shooting. If I were in your shoes, I'd go and see my friend and play scrabble.

Have a great Xmas and New Year, if I don't find you in a chat room somewhere.

Pat Posner said...

Aww, those cherished but hurt-a-bit memories. But, you're right, Annieye, we should start to make new traditions when loved ones have left us.

Have a great Christmas and New Year and happy writing, too.

xxPat

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

I think I wouldn't mind spending Boxing Day alone with maybe It's a Wonderful Life, box (big)of chocolates and some warm dogs for company.

DAB said...

Annie, hello m'dear nice to see you're blogging again :) Alas, we cannot turn back time on the old days, if only, but we can march foward into the future. Fionna's suggestion sounds good to me. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. BTW I'm off to bake a Christmas cake ;-) (TF you can't cook, so what!) TFx

Lane Mathias said...

All those memories:-)

Hope you have a lovely Boxing Day Annie, whatever you decide to do. And a wonderful Christmas day too of course:-)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I hope you have a lovely day, whatever you decide to do.

I would love to be alone, in front of the fire, watching tv, or reading a good book. x

Anonymous said...

Well Ive given up trying to make Christmas as much fun as it was when I was little. My mum made it a lot of fun.
I hope you and your family have a great time and Tylers spots start to clear up! xx

HelenMWalters said...

Sounds like you're going to have a fabulous day. Best wishes for the New Year.

Unknown said...

Traditions are made as well as kept. Have a great boxing day, ... as well as the Christmas and the New Years to go along with it. :)

Annieye said...

Captain - I've not nothing against shooting as long as we eat everything that is shot, and it's not killed just for sport. I couldn't kill anything myself though.

Pat - you're right. And I'll be thinking of you this Christmas Day too, and all the other people I know who have lost their mums (you too Biddy)

Fiona - alas the dogs are going too!

TF - I'm sure your Christmas cake was great - I'll pop over and visit you over Christmas. My friend Heather loves your blog - she's a photographer too.

Lane - good memories are worth all the money in the world, aren't they.

Debs - sounds tempting, I must admit! (But would need Thornton's chocolates too)

Mother X - Tyler is better, thanks, but his mum has had mild pneumonia - they couldn't do an x-ray to confirm it though. I'll be thinking of you on Christmas day, but let's make a pact to remember the happy memories our lovely mums have left us with and not feel sad because they can't be with us.

Helen - and Season's greetings to you and your lovely pussies too.

Dar - Hi, thanks for the good wishes - all the best to you and yours too. (And keep shovelling the snow!)