Three Weeks to Christmas

As the year draws to a close we think of the coming year and we are inclined to also look back, you may not be where you want to be, but you are not where you used to be. Sometimes you have to remember how far you've come and how far you can still go.

My daily swim over the last few weeks has been amazing, cold, and daunting and if it was not for Jenson willing me on, I would maybe have stopped. Today was one of those days when the skies were clear and the wind, was a mild breeze. The water was around 13 deg C and the air temperature, according to my car was 7.5 deg C. That you might say is extreme but you know what, it was one of the best swims and walks I have had for a while. Michael and Gary walked with me in the summer but life has taken over and they do find many reasons to decline my invitation for a walk, maybe in the summer again.

I do agree, it is not how far you have come but how far you can go. Hopefully, I will swim through Christmas and the New Year.

Gingerbread houses are waiting on planning permission. We have a number of boxes in our house waiting to be assembled into gingerbread houses but hopefully, we will get the required permission to build in time for Christmas. We are expecting elves from all over, hopefully, suitable constructors who want to have an afternoon of Christmas cheer and lots of gingerbread and chocolate. Making gingerbread houses with the people we love is what life is all about and as this is the second year, it is almost a tradition. We do have a special organiser, who will coordinate the whole process with the most amazing grace, only she can give. This is a time we make good memories, memories are not something you can use up, they grow and grow.

We are there for the people we love, sometimes we have the question put to us, who has you?

In life, we make the choices we think are right, why? Because when we made them we never would have, imagined that they lost the stars. I say that the way of life is committing to be true, no matter the price, even if the cost can not be known, trusting, in the end, it will be worth it. Sometimes the cost is high, we know it is. We have little choice but to keep loving and I for one will see to it we will make the end worth the price. Come what may.

I have created an amazing solution for who we do business. Deal with small companies, but go easy on your cost and sometimes they will not be able to pay on time, have patience. Be aware of large corporates, get as much as you can up front, sometimes they are too big to bothered. The medium size clients understand the journey of success and they will pay on time and be grateful for your work. The lessons from the past are not something you want to let go of, but learn from and grow.

Our Christmas tree is up, thanks to the talented Alex and helpers. Yep, went up last night almost like magic. It is now a beacon of light to any angels who are in need of comfort. Just to clarify, it is the fake tree we have had for 23 years and when covered with all the decorations and lights, looks as good as the day it was bought. Thanks, Mark, who would have thought the tree you bought for Christmas, all those years ago would become a tradition worth keeping.

This year we are all going to have a secret Santa present, it cuts down on buying many presents as you get the name of the person you will be buying a gift for. I know, we will only get one present but at my age, presents are a little overrated. I do believe Susan will break the rules but then what rules are for? I cannot tell you who I have been allocated but they will get an amazing gift, worthy of them. Quite good the way I did not put a gender to that statement.