December 2025 (taken from The Link Magazine)

And here we are in the silly season! Must be an age thing….this feeling of spinning through a year at grease lightning speed.  Do I feel ready?  Definitely not! But then again isn’t that the point of Advent?  To prepare us for the oncoming birth of Christ.  Unfortunately (and I am on of them)…all the fru fru stuff gets in the way – the Christmas Cards writing, the present searching and wrapping, the multitude of services to attend (not moaning….just cuts down on a much needed me time), and I can understand the overwhelming feeling of being on a hamster wheel and not being able to run fast enough! But the upside is reaching out to others who are feeling left out and alone and to celebrate the birth of Christ and when better than at our Crib Service. On my ALM course last week we had a chat with each other as to what music is provided in churches in our Diocese and oh boy that was a revelation in itself.  One comment:  we couldn’t afford an organist so had to dispense and now only have recorded or no music.  So Sad.  Another:  occasionally we get a musician in otherwise we just free wheel it.   Another: Organ is broken, cant afford to fix it.  I had to shut up because I probably would have cheesed them all off with how great and blessed we are with Tim, with our Choir, with our Youth Choir and Junior Choir (thank you Lynne and Sarah) and of course with our strumming guitarist JP and the Reflections.   At the amazing high standards we achieve.  With our Choral evensongs, with local choirs like our Soul Survivors who come in to support events like Festival of Christmas Trees.  Thank you to everyone involved in the music at our churches. 

The course is coming to an end sadly.  It has been very interesting with a variety of clergy taking the courses each week – my people watching skills on high speed alert!! Lol  Some stick to the paperwork like glue, others freewheel it, some enjoy our interactions, others “Mutes on please”.  The only thing we have in common with each other is a desire to help spread the joy of our love of Christ and I hope we manage to do that.  My last assignment?  To write an Advent Service with choice of hymns and readings again of our choice.  Watch this space (all in my free time of course). 

A friend asked me to meet up sometime in my free time…..I asked her “can you explain the concept of free time as I am not sure I have it in my vocab?!!!

Without wanting to make any of you sad I have to share that my dear little tomcat Tommy has joined my beloved Tilly the springer in heaven just this last week.  Sad and heartbroken does not cover it and it has been a struggle to get through the week.  Many of you have reached out with words of comfort and support and for that I thank you.  It doesn’t stop me gazing out of the patio window envisaging that he is there asking me to let him in, or looking for him as I come back from work.  He was the most loving, loyal, devoted little puss cat I have ever known.  Bless him. Do you remember Bill Peters at every funeral service of an animal lover saying that all our pets are waiting for us in Heaven and will come bounding towards us when we get there…..I sincerely hope so.  Will I get another?  Maybe…..need to find another very special one needing our love and care.  Muff has felt it keenly too (not sure if that isn’t about the fact that he got very used to cleaning up Tommy’s bowl twice a day!)

I look forward to sharing our journey through Advent with you all in body, mind or spirit and before I can blink again, I will be writing a Ramble wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Meanwhile I wish you all Peace, Joy and Happiness in this Advent season and when it comes A Very Merry Christmas.  (Don’t get me started on “Seasons Greetings”…lol).

Love

Dee