Christmas Celebrations

Christmas Celebrations

So where has the past month gone?! The days, weeks and the month since I posted a piece on my blog back in November - about our visit to Chartwell, followed by a short item on 4 December, about migrating violas, blossoming in a flower basket hanger in which they had not been planted - have flown so fast, but it has been a very happy time, culminating in a joyful festive season.

It's also been lovely to record our interesting visit to the Draper's Hall in November, and then of course I had a further delay caused by problems with uploading photographs - I just hope that doesn't happen again!

So here I am, back on track at last. Thinking again of our Christmas celebrations, I felt really pleased this year, in that I had been so well organised, and so early! I had bought a fresh tablecloth, and had it all laid on in good time, with crackers and Christmas serviettes; a lighted candle completed the festive show.

Al was working - he always volunteers to work over Christmas and New Year, so that colleagues with children have the chance to spend some time with their families; I'm sure that when he has children of his own, people will do the same for him - at least, I do hope so! - and he was able to phone us during a break from work, so at least we had that precious contact with him.

We are quite traditional - Wendy bought a fresh turkey for us, which I roasted with all the trimmings - I am assured my roast potatoes are truly first class, soft yet crispy…(I shall have to go off now, and cook some more!)... Yorkshire puddings, and a variety of veg. Wendy is very partial to Brussels sprouts, but not the usual frozen ones, or even the fresh sprouts that come loose in a bag; she buys Brussels sprout "trees," and I just cut off however many are needed, before boiling them up in lightly salted water. They certainly taste totally different to the others! We had carrots and peas, sage  and onion stuffing, and gravy; it all came together in good time, and we really tucked in. This was followed by a slice of Tunis cake, and Wendy had also brought along a delicious chocolate log; we were well supplied with treats!

We also made a few phone calls on Christmas Day, to dear friends who live abroad - in Europe, and even further afield - making sure we were ringing at an appropriate time, remembering which countries are in time zones quite far ahead of us! Happily, I don't think anyone was woken up at 2.00 in the morning, "their time," and it was so good to be able to "touch base" with them, to hear their voices, and wish them a Happy Christmas.

We never forget the true meaning of Christmas, and how delighted we were when we opened all the presents we had been given, some of which were beautifully handmade. We were delighted with everything we received; what a treat it is, and what a blessing, to know we have such wonderfully kind, loving and thoughtful people around us; and that got me thinking, about ephemera.

People make such an effort to please us, and wrap everything up so carefully, with thoughtfully written messages attached, and it never seems right to me, just to tear off the wrappings and throw everything in the rubbish bin. I know many people enjoy making scrap books as a hobby, and I have done this for years, preserving these happy thoughts and messages for other folk to read at some point in the future.

With this idea in mind, I was inspired to write a Christmas poem this year; it's called:

EPHEMERA

I love ephemera. I collect

Things other folk throw away. I select

Sparkling paper from presents, tinsel-wrapped,

And gifts tags, with loving messages: if these are scrapped

Then the moment’s forgotten and joy’s just a shade

As life swiftly flies, and our memories fade.

 

Without ephemera, where will historians find

Primary source material, from an old humankind?

Will they investigate in electronic cyberspace?

They’ll find it harder, to find clues left behind.

In my scrapbooks, letters still quietly exist

With postage stamps, cancelled, securely affixed

On hand-written envelopes, precisely inscribed,

With tender love notes, nestling inside.

 

Under layers of dust, in some basement or attic

Treasures remain, as a spider runs frantic

For cover. Turn over the pages; re-live times long gone

Of friends and of lovers; prove what they have done.

Historians will read, and sense their quintessence;

Feeling their presence, from the ephemera of presents.

Alexandra Wilde

December 2021

 Christmas Day 2021

Why There Was Such A Gap Between Posts!

Why There Was Such A Gap Between Posts! 

So, there I was, merrily tapping away on the computer, writing my latest ideas for something people might find interesting to read on my blog; the piece was about our visit on 1 November to Drapers Hall in London, and everything was going well. I also had several photographs to insert to illustrate the article, and after several editorial checks and re-writes, I was ready to add the pictures, before clicking on the "publish" button.

I have been writing my blog for a few years now, and I reckoned I had got the routine for adding photographs to my text, down to a fine art: click on the "insert image" button, ask to "upload" it from the computer, "choose files," and then press "select;" and, hey presto, as if by magic, the picture appears wherever you placed the cursor on the page.

The computer had other ideas. I went through the routine correctly, and it appeared to upload the photographs, but then, when I wanted to copy and paste everything into a word document - so that I could print a hard copy to proof-read, with both pictures and text - it produced only the text, with great gaps where the pictures should have been. 

Clearly, this was most unsatisfactory - I am not comfortable reading articles straight off the screen - and a way had to be found to allow me to have a full draft of my blog, complete with photos.

Up until a few days ago, I had been using my old tried and trusted (trusted? well... maybe not!) web browser, but the emphasis was on the fact that it was indeed, very old. After much head scratching and searching for a solution (not by me!), one was found by transferring my blog to another, more modern, web browser.

 Happily, there are not many differences in the way it works, and I have just had to learn where my blog is "sitting" - in the bookmark section - and it now seems to be fully operational once more, which is why on 10 January, I was at last able to post my article about the Drapers Hall visit.

This is the trouble with computers, though. They get old and then they become obsolete, pack up working, and very often need "mending with a new one" - at a great deal of expense, plus the aggravation of having to learn the intricacies of a new system and new layout - when all I need is a "QWERTY" keyboard and being able to print out what I've written.

I must admit the facility of being able to "cut and paste" text from one part of an article to another is very useful, and if I change my mind about the juxtaposition of one paragraph with another, saves me having to type the whole thing all over again; but most of the fancy tricks available just pass me by, and I just want to use it like a glorified typewriter - without having to think about getting replacement black and red typewriter ribbons. Does anyone remember those, now? Or the little white plastic strips you could use to correct a typo?  Happy days. Simple days! 

I am presently writing about Christmas and our happy festive celebrations, which will be next up in the "Wisdom of Mum" saga. Mum may not be with us in a physical presence, but we think of her - and my Grandma, and Uncle John - so much, and we all feel my blog is still influenced by them, and all the other lovely people who have a positive influence on our lives. 

 

We Have Lunch In The Draper's Hall

We Have Lunch In The Drapers Hall 

Drapers Hall is not open to the public, but tours can be arranged in advance, and we were lucky enough to be able to join a small group on 1st. November, and to enjoy lunch afterwards. 

We are learning so much from these wonderful events; knowing how we are surrounded by our history, which is still relevant today, and having a knowledgeable guide walk through the magnificent rooms with us, explaining the background as we went, really made it come alive. 

The Guild of Drapers is one of 12 Livery Companies in the City of London; it is the third one the list, preceded only by the Mercers Company and the Grocers Company; others include the Fishmonger's Company,  the Goldsmith's Company, the Haberdashers Company, the Salter's Company and the Ironmonger's Company. What an amazing heritage we enjoy!

The art work in the hall is very interesting, too - I was particularly taken with this bronze of a man being bitten by a lion. I first saw it, "face on," as it were, and found the agonised expression on the man's face really startling in its intensity; but then, walking past the sculpture and viewing it from the rear, as it were, I could appreciate why he was so obviously in agony, with the savagery of the lion's attack.  

The bronze sculpture of man with lion...

...And the rear view explains the poor chap's pained expression!

There are many framed Royal Warrants hanging on the walls, each of them beautifully illuminated; one of them also includes a mention of King Edward VIII, for although he was King for less than a year, and never crowned, he is still mentioned in one of the Royal Warrants. 

My Mum would have enjoyed all of this visit, too; she loved chandeliers, and there were some magnificent examples hanging in the hall, and two either side of the fireplace: 

The picture above shows these chandeliers as viewed through a window from the corresponding hall on the other side of the courtyard. I think it gives a clear perspective of the size and elegance of the lighting!

The peaceful courtyard

 

Two aspects of the ceiling - the first with natural light, the second illuminated - and motto running around the hall:

 1866  UNTO GOD ONLY BE HONOUR AND GLORY  1910

This stained-glass window in the corridor contains the coats of arms of 

Prince William of Orange; Prince Carl of Denmark; HRH Prince Albert; HRH the Princess Elizabeth

After the tour, we had lunch of roast chicken, lemon tart and coffee (tea was made for Wendy and me) and petit fours, and I was really impressed with the way dietary requests had been complied with. Because it's impossible to ascertain before any function if the food will be as plain as I personally would like it to be, I never worry if it will really suit me on the day; if it doesn't, when I get home, I can soon rustle up something I do like! But on this occasion, it was so pleasing to have a decent lunch, with good company. 

My opposite number at the table was a lovely lady and we discovered we shared so many similar interests and experiences - including knowing the words to old songs from the Music Halls (my Grandma taught me so many, from all the shows she went to, as a girl) and well-loved stage musicals. We ended up  singing (quite softly!) "Oh, oh, Antonio, he's gone away... Left me on my own-io, all on my own-io..." - and how well I remember Grandma and me, belting out that particular ditty at full blast!  

I wish the lady from this lovely afternoon and I had thought to exchange contact details; we didn't, but we both agreed it had been a most delightful occasion. Perhaps we shall meet again at another event.

Because we were still wary of travelling by public transport, we decided to book a taxi to take us in to London; after the lunch ended, the driver also picked us up at 2.30, to drive us back home again. 

What a lovely time was had by us all!