My mornings have been blessed with the washing line acrobatics of my resident robin. My elevenses taken in front of twelve windows full of winter pink sky. All is well, but the slates fell off my roof and landed in my laundry room, my broadband connection is hopeless, and Christmas is but a sniff of sherry away…
And so yet again fate steps in and forces me out of my virtual world and into the one fragranced by mince pies. The universe says enough! Be in the moment. Laugh till you cry at the pantomine and cry till you laugh at the antics of your son dressed as a squirrel in his school nativity play. Brush off the over anxious diagnosis of dyspraxia by a nursery teacher clearly confusing chatty enthusiasm with the very modern need to label every child brimming with life as "special" and worry that you are going to arrive at Christmas morning having forgotten to buy something important for someone very special indeed. Attend yet another Hen night. Wrap the whole house up in brown paper and hope against all hope that in the blink of an eye you will be sitting at your Mum’s Christmas table watching your sister shove tangerines down her bra while your Auntie Barbie stashes all the Christmas Cracker gifts down hers, with the madness of commercial frenzy over and only the chaotic bliss of family to be enjoyed and loony amounts of chocolate pudding available to fill your thighs with.
All is well. Nature is rosy and strangely still. Society a teeny bit bonkers. Light bulbs keep popping and my text messages arrive via Saturn three days after they should. My computer doesn’t work and my tv keeps freezing. So I’m hearing the world loud and clear. I’m hearing promises of tomorrows and the giggle of my happy little robin doing his trapeze act. I’m missing you all. Missing my lifeline to the world outside my berry wreathed door and enjoying the peace that is always my calamity driven life.
This weekend there will be a German Christmas market and mulled wine in gloved hands. Gift wrapping and chocolate coated flapjacks. Stocking fillers and twinkly lights. A morning in the garden and the horror that is the possibility of snow or frosty car windows on the school run…
Enough I think. Enough for me at least. But back soon Sweeties, I promise.
I also have a hopeless broadband connection, so I know where you are coming from,
enjoy the calmness while you can, and we will await your return soon.
Good to hear from you! Yes I do understand… I haven't done a lick of shopping and I'm only now starting the Christmas cards.. however, I have enjoyed the decorated house, and listening to Christmas music.. that I wish would be here year 'round. 🙂 Before I know it, I'll be on my way home with the husband after a whirlwind 5 day visit to ALL of my family 5 hours away and we'll be chatting in the car about what happened over the weekend. 🙂 All is well and a New Year is upon us.
I am a dyspraxic adult in the U.S. and they don't believe in dyspraxia in the states, which is horrid when you do have it. Anyways, the biggest reason anyone would think someone would have it as a child is if Finley kept bumping into things as a child. However, most three year old boys bump into things a lot because they are too busy being normal active children and not always paying attention to the world around them. His being spirited should have nothing to do with it and if it did it wouldn't really show up till he was a teen-ager anyways. Teachers and nannies today seem to pick on boys because they seem to assume every boy has A.D.D. or dyslexia or dyspraxia. If he is very clumsy and continues to be until he is much older than perhaps you might then want to get him tested. I wouldn't be too concerned at his age, but I am posting this because if he did end up being dyspraxic there are ways to deal with it and there are great resources in GB and Ireland that just aren't available anywhere else in the world. In the states they have a different name for it, which I forget, and they believe you grow out of it always-which scientists in GB and Ireland claim is not the case. That you can have it right up into adulthood and I believe mine still bugs me somewhat. I don't mean to scare you but it has impacted my life , especially in the area of my self-esteem. It goes beyond just being seen as a clutz or clumsy. It has impacted my ability to drive and to type on a computer properly. I have to concentrate twice as hard in driving and limit my bad weather and night driving much more than the average person because it affects depth perception in the brain. I also had to create my own method of typing-which is not standard typing methods and therefor has limited my ability to work in an office. They worry I will get carpel tunnel easier and faster than the average person and have to have a surgery and won't hire me on the basis of my typing. I had my typing tested and its an average speed the way I type, and because my country doesn't believe in adult dyspraxia they refuse to let me type my way. I really hope that Finley is not dyspraxic and it is just a teacher being overly concerned.
I've so missed you. I'm glad to hear you're keeping happy despite all of the craziness not only of the season, but all that is happening in your life right now. Here's hoping your internet, roof, tv and all those scattered pieces driving you nuts, will soon settle into place just where they are supposed to be.
How bizzare: my broadband connection is misbehaving and my tv is always freezing aswell! Enjoy the weekend!
But you seem happy in spite of it. Each day has its negatives, for all of us, but I'm learning to be grateful for what I can be grateful for. You have robins. I have cardinals. And in Under The Tuscan Sun, she had ladybugs =) -Blessings… one by one..Polly
Glad your back Alison. We have only just done the Christmas shopping and wrapped everything last night. Here in Sunderland there is an open air market with stalls from all around the world, it is lovley to look at, but is over priced junk!
Take Care
Melanie.
Does this mean you're missing us 'cos you're hanging up your mouse now until after Christmas? If so, have a wonderful, fun filled, love filled, food and booze filled, laughter filled Christmas! You deserve it. xx
I can see your robin, in my mind's eye. 🙂 Don't be upset if you feel you have step back from the virtual for a while. As absorbing and fun as it can be, it has a tendancy to make you neglect other parts of your life. You don't need the attendant fall-out!
Best wishes for a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Ali Harriman
You can make ANYTHING sound absolutely heavenly! WRITE THAT BOOK ALREADY!!!
By the by, you've been tagged…I'm sorry. Check out my blog to see about it.
I love your glass-is-half-full view of life. Don't ever lose your optimism!
Have a lovely Christmas Alison xx
I remember that you once posted a video of you and Finley on your blog. I doubt Finly has developmental problems other than his digestive problems. His speech is perfectly normal.
May your Christmas be as lovely as can be Alison!
I've been missing you, too. Sorry to read about the computer connection difficulties, but they couldn't come at a better time for there's nothing worse than not being able to tear oneself away from the blogging community long enough to do the tasks the season demands. But most especially you shan't miss out on any of the fun! Merry Christmas, Alison!
I’ve been missing you, too. Sorry to read about the computer connection difficulties, but they couldn’t come at a better time for there’s nothing worse than not being able to tear oneself away from the blogging community long enough to do the tasks the season demands. But most especially you shan’t miss out on any of the fun! Merry Christmas, Alison!
LOL, your visions of sugarplums pretty much sum up the whole crazy season 🙂
I was so worried that you were being bothered by Mark. Glad to hear THAT is not the case.
Hi Alison..I miss your stories. Hope you get your internet up and running!
Your blog always gives me a good reading. Thank you.
Merry Christmas.
Hi Alison
Thank you for a wonderful and entertaining read throughout the year. Have a truly scrumptious Christmas and New Year!
Clare x
Hi Alison,
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season filled with joy and a Happy New Year!
Cathy
Have a wonderful Christmas Alison. It's a wish I extend to everyone for whom 2007 has been an appalling year. Here's to 2008 – we may be down but we're not out! 😉
Happy Holidays to you!! I look forward to reading your next post. You future book will be a permanent fixture on my nightstand. 🙂
Merry Christmas to my sweet Alison, dear little Finley, lovely sister, Mother, Father… I so wish you all life's best this year and forever. You have inspired and enriched my life so much, sweetie!
Have a lovely holiday, Alison and Fin. I hope it's filled with love, family, laughter, and plenty of tasty treats! -OohLaLaura
*Merry Christmas*
Have a wonderful time & I hope all your dreams come true.
Love Alison x
Thank YOU Alison for a fun and great year you gave us. One of your biggest fans…….Love Sherrie sewsherrie
p.s. living vintage since the late 60's and finding you was a joy!
have a lovely christmas Alison and Finley, hope it is a magical one,
mandy