What a difference a year makes! Remembering Christmas a year ago with husband, children, partners, my siblings and a lodger to boot! Chaos, stress, exhaustion but fun, family, familiar. Every year I say I want a break and this year I got it whether I wanted it or not!
I missed the usual. I certainly missed not having 3 of our children with us but did I miss the stress and expectations – no! It was so lovely being with our eldest daughter. I wasn’t sure how it would be. Her flat is very small for three. But then we are used to living on a narrowboat! There was no fixed timing for anything, even when we ate. We just were together, chatting, watching films, listening to reggae Christmas carols (they took a bit of getting used to!) and enjoying the luxury of lots of hot water and a full size bath! H found a ‘live’ service at a nearby church which we walked to and were even allowed to sing the last carol outside, with our masks on! Lots of ‘Zooming’ enabled us to feel a bit connected to various family members, it really was a unique and individual Christmas day!
Our own Christmas fairy! 
Brockwell Park
Not being accustomed to listening to the Queen’s speech, R being a closet republican, I was heartened to hear her addressing the nation in such a positive and christian way. Her frequent references to light encouraging us all to keep going and not become discouraged and despairing of a brighter future filled me with the hope that we will, to paraphrase Winston Churchill “keep on beggering on”.
NarrowboatTLC 