Autumnal Blog

We have been having an odd chat with regard to Christmas, as one does this time of the year. The usual, when to put up the tree? In our case, it is when to bring it in, we have a tree which we bought two years ago, still in a pot and we will hopefully bring it in and decorate it. If not that one then it is up into the loft to get our 22-year-old fake Christmas tree that Mark bought for his first Christmas in England. That is an old faithful which has seen many a joyful festive season and has come out the other end relatively unharmed.

We did have an idea for decorating the tree, the usual decorations and then a small photo of random sons and daughters, with the odd child and dog. I will keep you posted but this has merit.

The growing tree will be covered with Christmas lights suitable for the outdoors and will shine brightly for all those cold, lonely travellers passing our humble home. Reminds me of a song which tells a tale of an angel looking down on earth. ‘See amid the winter's snow, Born for us on earth below, See the tender Lamb appears, Promised from eternal years.’

There are a few tasks to plan, what to cook and who might be coming. I am reasonably sure Angela and her family will not be making it over, they are saving for Italiangate, as I am sure many others will be doing as well. Michael will be around over that festive time, as will Robert and Lauren, I am sure we will see them when will be decided, but then there is Gary, tricky, Bruno and Pricilla will be here but he does like a good roast, I will drop the odd hint about how excellent it will be this year, that and the promise of a good bottle of whiskey should do the trick. Maybe let Robert know that we have bought him a pack of boxers, our Robert does love a good pair of boxers. I am going to take it as it comes but will plan a menu for Christmas Eve, the big day, leaving Boxing Day to sort itself out with leftovers. As I said at the beginning, we are still in the early chat stage, things change and we must embrace change.

Talking of festivities, Hanukkah begins on the 18th of December. Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival with the first day known as Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, and the Feast of Dedication. I did blog this last year and it is worth remembering people with other beliefs and celebrations. The Jewish faith has been around for a long time and has, as with all alternative faiths, normal, orthodox and radical elements, but on the main is a peaceful, loving belief in God without the Jesus factor.

Morgan Freeman wrote;

It is okay for you to believe what you believe but it is not okay however for you to insist that everyone else believe the same as you. Wiseman.

In ending this rambling blog, Susan and I went for our daily swim this morning. Even with the sunshine, the outside temperature is dropping, today a pleasant 5 deg C and the water temperature is 14 deg C. It is still fun and I will hopefully swim through the winter this year. When looked up the sea temperature it did give me a warning, a little too late as I had already had my 5-minute swim but is worth keeping in mind.

Today water temperature in Poole is 14.2 deg C. Water of this temperature is considered cold enough. Dipping or immersion in such water is possible only for a short time. Staying in such water for more than two hours can lead to loss of consciousness