THROWBACK THURSDAY - ANGEL

We have been invited by MerrilHope to join in with some Christmas nostalgia and to focus on “The Spirit of Christmas Past” - so this is my contribution.

This angel was made at school by our older son, Martyn, when he was about 5 years old and ever since (and he won’t like me for saying this, but it’s almost 40 years!) it has taken pride of place on top of our Christmas tree.

I know it’s all the rage to change the colour of Christmas decorations to match the décor of your room or whatever colour seems to be in vogue but that’s not something that we do in our house.  We love having all the old and familiar Christmas decorations on our tree and around the house so although this may not be a great photograph, it is a reminder of times gone by.  Somehow there is comfort and security in the old traditions and in this day and age, we all need plenty of that.

Until our boys left home, Martyn to get married and Julian to travel the world, we had wonderful Christmases together and it was always a time of great fun and laughter with the occasional fight - as brothers do - but on the whole, we enjoyed each other’s company, giving and receiving presents, eating lots of food and playing lots of games.  

We still enjoy being with Martyn and his family on Christmas Day and will probably play the same games we played all those years ago, but will miss Julian, who will probably be a lot warmer than we are, now that he lives in Thailand, but I am sure we will raise a glass to him and to all absent friends. 

Thank you, Martyn, for making this in the first place, for being a great son, a fantastic husband and a wonderful father to your two children - we are very proud of you!

It comes every year 
     and will go on forever. 
And along with Christmas 
     belong the keepsakes 
          and the customs. 
Those humble, 
     everyday things 
          a mother clings to, 
               and ponders, like Mary, 
                    in the secret spaces of her heart.”
Marjorie Holmes


P.S.  Just shows what a great Dad Martyn is, he has taken Joshua, Charlotte and her boyfriend, Jordan, to the cinema to watch the new Star Wars film - starting at midnight - no doubt he was quite happy to go anyway!