Ring out the Old, Bring in the New

 

 

  

As we approach the end of another year

And anticipate the new

We think of those we hold dear

Although the hours we have spent with them, seem so few

We should not place so much importance on the time we have spent apart

But the fact that we have a place in each other's heart

So wherever we are when the the midnight bells start to ring

We know whatever words we say, they will mean the same thing,

Happy New Year

Sounds Familiar

   

 

    The presents were exchanged,  the turkey was eaten, and the crackers pulled. The table was now deserted of diners, but was strewn with empty, plates, glasses, crumbs and spills.

    The family that had gathered earlier in the day were now playing parlour games in an attempt to keep themselves from falling asleep, after consuming too much food.

    It's a story that resounds all over the world, the day that many of us join together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

    A day to touch the lives of others, in return they touch ours; a day for peace and goodwill to all. I hope you had a great day because I most certainly did.

Hope I'm not on Santa's Naughty List

   It's the time of year that we all want to have a bit of fun. So I decided today, to put together a montage of photographs loosely based on the English Christmas song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. The song first published in the book, Mirth without Mischief, in 1780 describes the gifts given to someone by their true-love.

    The twelve days commence Christmas day and end on the Feast of the Epiphany (January the 6th). 
   

Partridge looking for his Pear Tree

Lone Turtle Dove

Water Hen. Yes should be a French hen 

 

Calling bird or blackbird was a little camera shy

 

 



 Golden Rings
 

 

 Geese swimming rather than laying

 

 Swans a Swimming!
 

 

 A Guy a Milking, rather than a Maid (Equal Opportunities)
 

 

Ladies and Men Dancing

 

 Gnomes a Leaping (No Lords applied for position)
 

 

   

Piper Piping and a Drummer Drumming

 

     Hope this doesn't mean I'm on Santa's naughty list. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Express Myself

   

   Before I started clicking the keys on my keyboard yesterday, to write the draft of this blog, I dithered about for ages. My pen hovered constantly over some of my ideas I have jotted down in a notebook, and I doodled alongside my favourites whilst I continued to ponder.

    But that little voice inside just kept on dithering and asking, "Should I write about this? Should I write about that? The same little voice that can take on any character role I have the mind-set to do.

    Suddenly the voice asked, "What if you weren't allowed to choose what you wanted to write about? Whether in blog form, or book. What if you couldn't freely express yourself?

    No matter how many times I tried to come up with an informed answer, I couldn't. Why? Because I can write responsibly about anything I want and any restrictions therefore are fully self imposed.

    However there are many writers in the world who do not have this right and that's why I count myself lucky.

   

   

    

Picture Postcard From.......

Montana Rojo, El Medano, Tenerife

    Before I set off on my recent vacation one of my friends said, "Remember send me a postcard."  She was only joking but whilst I was away I found myself looking for shops that sold picture postcards.

    Because it suddenly struck me that sending picture postcards to friends and relatives from your travels had died along with letter writing. We have substituted this form of communication with Instagram, Flikr, Facebook, Twitter, email and the rest.

Harbour, Las Galletas, Tenerife

    The plus side to this is that our loved ones can instantly share our vacation experience with us.  No waiting for the postman to drop the card through the letter box. That's if it arrived, as many that I sent in the past, never did. There were occasions I felt that some kind of mail monster had eaten all my carefully chosen and sometimes overpriced cards up.

    However, there is a big downside and that's in my opinion that we are slowly strangling the art of the written word.

   

   

      

Stealing the Limelight

Yellowhammer and Chaffinch being neighbourly

   
    I love wild life especially birds and I could spend hours watching them in my garden. However at this time of year many of our garden birds in the UK pack there bags and head south for the winter in search for sunnier climes.


Blue-tits enjoying a peanut feast

      Something that you will know I am inclined to do my self  on a  regular basis.


Sparrows

     But there are some of my feathered friends that thankfully stick around and I wanted to share a couple of photographs with you.



Robin makes sure I capture his best camera angle, his buddy the blackbird looking on

    You will see that the little guy with the red breast loves competing for favourite all time Christmas character. He sometimes finds that auditioning can sap his strength, so he makes sure he grabs a bite when he can at his local take-away.

                                                                       

Grabbing a bite between auditions

       I can't resist him stealing the limelight, because he's gorgeous. Although he does find that the costume department fails him constantly.

 Don't you have the shoes in a smaller size ?

Words of Wisdom

   

    The world is in mourning this week for an inspirational and brave man, Nelson Mandela. He once said, "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
   
    As well we know life isn't always plain sailing and for Mr  Mandela it certainly was not. But when he fell he definitely didn't give up.

    This statement is relevant to us all and I for one plan to recall them on the occasions I feel I have failed. Because they are words of encouragement and strength; helping us all follow his lead with grit and determination.

    R.I.P Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 18 July 1918- 5 December 2013.

Normal Service Resumes

    

Mount Teide  before the storm

    The last two weeks I've been having some chill out time in Tenerife, the Canary Islands, but as from today normal service will resume on this blog. That means if you're a new follower, posts will be updated Mondays and Fridays. If you're a regular reader, thanks for hanging around.

    The weather on my trip was a pretty mixed bag, as was my Internet access. If it hadn't been for obliging friends I wouldn't have been able to publish my last post. Gracia amigos.

Mount Teide after the storm

 

    The storms I experienced on vacation decided to catch the five hour flight home with me and is battering most of the UK progressively today. With winds recorded in excess of 100 miles an hour in my area and 146 miles an hour in others, things were a little scary around here last night and this morning.

    The rail network in Scotland completed grounded to a halt today, flights have been diverted, roads and bridges such as the Forth Road Bridge have been closed to traffic. Unfortunately lives have also been lost, so I need to count my blessings that I only had a few large puddles inside my home to mop up.  The important thing is that my family and I are unharmed. 

    Catch up with me on Twitter @RowellChristina  and make sure you drop by Monday.