Saturday, 24 December 2011

The ghosts of Christmas

Yesterday, on a trip to spend time with my family in Oxford, I went back to the small village where I grew up.  The children wanted to visit this place that they have heard of but never seen.  I felt like it was a good time to reminisce.  It is twelve years since I was last a visitor there, and twenty-one years since I last lived there.

Durham Leys Farm

Pollarded willows on The Green



Around the village green

Cricket pitch on The Green

Home

On the bridge in the middle of the Green

Graham and Cam outside the school

It was unchanged, English, rural, muddy, quiet, pretty, remote, emotional and a little bleak.  It took me approximately one minute and forty-five seconds to remember why I love living in London so much.

Today we are back home, the Christmas linen is on the table, the angel chimes are singing and I can hear someone playing Jingle Bells on her recorder. At 3pm this afternoon there is A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings on Radio 4, which I shall listen to while I make the mince pies.

Livvy plays the recorder

Christmas table

The Ghost of Christmas Present is a much more comfortable companion than the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Swedish angel chimes on the mantelpiece

~~~~~~~~~~

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas wherever you are.
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9 comments:

  1. Mocha Sticks24 December 2011 at 13:35

    I have a friend who moved to MB from London!

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  2. Mocha Sticks24 December 2011 at 13:38

    In fact if that's the school in one of the pics, you captured her house as well!!

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  3. Ali24 December 2011 at 13:42

    Merry Christmas xx

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  4. kristina24 December 2011 at 14:53

    Merry Christmas to you too! K x

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  5. Simone24 December 2011 at 16:13

    Happy Christmas Nancy! I have enjoyed visiting you over the past year. x

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  6. Anonymous24 December 2011 at 19:09

    Big hugs to you and your family, Nancy. Loved seeing your photos (like always), and laughing at your choice of Framboise... haha

    Thanks for the beautiful card we got in the mail. A treasure.

    Happy holidays to you guys,
    Love,
    Ann

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  7. Annie24 December 2011 at 21:54

    A very Merry Christmas to you and yours Nancy x

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  8. driftwood24 December 2011 at 22:35

    Merry Christmas Nancy, hope it is a truly lovely day x

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  9. dottycookie27 December 2011 at 13:23

    Hope it was a lovely day! I thought of you as I made soda bread the other day. What a fab recipe - thanks again. Walnut bread today, yum.

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Even though I often do not have the time to reply to everybody, I really appreciate all your comments so much - thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts on what I've written.

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