A Secret and A Wish

Calm and Light.

White and Bright.

This year for the first time in my life I have not wanted Christmas to come and yet of all years it seems to have been rushing headlong with arms outstretched.

After Christmas our everyday lives will change drastically.

I keep telling myself that there are plenty of people worse off than we but still I can't help feeling a little sorry for myself. Craig, finally sick of running between no less than five casual jobs and making no headway has decided to move to Young in New South Wales and take up shearing again. 

How long this situation lasts we do not know but for me it is like losing a limb.

I feel like my chain is slipping it's anchor.

My mother is in Sydney looking after my nephew while his parents work to set up Circus Oz at Darling Harbour (that's another story) and let me tell you tickets to the Circus would be a stunning Christmas present.

I miss her and the Christmas traditional routine.

Her job each year after my Nan died has been to make the Christmas Cake. Each year she panics that the cake is not right, so she cuts it to see....then she has to make another one....but the next one looks burnt (we try it an it is just fine)...so she makes another one!

Mum ends up making a minimum of three cakes at least and spending a small fortune on dried fruit and nuts. This is a pattern that has become part of Christmas now for me.

I must tell you about my Nan's Fruit Cake making some time.

Another tradition is the day set aside where we both sit to polish all the silver. 

I have missed her this year.

I have whispered to myself "this is what it will be like when she is really gone", but not yet.

Craig helped me make the bon bons this year.

He says; Never Again!

Here is the post last year about how to make them.

This year they are finished with vintage silk and satin ribbons too worn now for apparel adornment.

We will be nine at table this year. Two tables will be set end to end and covered with white cloths and white napkins and centrepieces of mirror and silver and pearly beads.

Serene and Cool

I have taken down the heavy chocolate velvet curtains and replaced them with oddments of white fabric to drift and suck and billow at open windows freshly painted in white by a husband frantic to leave his nest neat and trim.

Even the dogs have caught the serenity of the cooling white around their day bed in the window. 

This is their favourite spot and from here they can keep an eye on the street and stand guard of their property. I am hoping they will catch some of the laziness of shimmery summer and not feel the need to tell me about absolutely every movement in the street.

It's been so lovely having you all over this year and I hope you will come back and keep me company next year too. We have met some wonderful people this year and have had great feedback from the Living Better With Less classes and I look forward to continuing those next year. 

There will also be an opportunity to meet up with some bloggers in the area so if you live locally stay tuned and I will co-ordinate something very soon with Loz and Dinny.

I had a very pleasant evening last night dining with some interesting ladies, one of whom was Fiona from Apple Island Wife and she introduced me to my new mantra for the coming year...

The Secret Of Happiness...

Something To Do,

Someone To Love 

and 

Something To Hope For

I hope you may all find happiness,

this is my Christmas Wish

xxx