Metheringham Highlight

Congratulations to those people and bodies responsible for the wonderful christmas tree in the grounds of the Metheringham War Memorial. The effect is stunning, especially when approached from Prince's Street. I have always been a great admirer of the Branston christmas tree but in my opinion Metheringham is more charming. In fact it is the nicest tree I have seen anywhere this year. Well done!

Global Warming?

Whatever happened to global warming? Have you noticed the weather this last two weeks? If this is global warming then God help us if it slows down. On a serious note, if you are entitled to a flu jab, either on the grounds of age or a qualifying medical condition, please go and see your doctor. It does not hurt, it will not make you worse and it just might save your life.

Thought For The Day

What's the best form of birth control after your 50? - Nudity

Christmas Poem

In January 1996 I wrote a poem entitled 'The Realities Of Christmas' and submitted it as an entry in a competition run by the Peterborough publisher Triumph House. Not surprisingly, it did not win but it was considered good enough to be published in a book made up from the best poems submitted. I have reproduced it below. I hope you enjoy it, if you do please let me know.

The realities of Christmas, like gifts beneath the tree

Hidden by festive paper, cards and greenery

Like the prickliness of holly

The bitter cold of snow

Christmas means for many

A cruel and bitter blow

The homeless with no fireside

The jobless with no means

Those grieving for the loved ones

Who once shared Christmas dreams

The ones who have no family with whom they can be merry

Find very little comfort in port or wine or sherry

Those who cannot see the church

Or hear the peal of bells

Who cannot rise up from their beds

Escape their lonely cells

For those who feel they cannot go on

That life is not worth living

Christmas time can seem to be so harshly unforgiving

And yet for all a star shines down

A reminder from above

Gods message sent to all mankind

Of hope and peace and love

Christmas Cheer

Over the Christmas period I discovered a wonderful recipe for Gluhwein, more frequently refered to as mulled wine. I thought this was really special. Try it and see what you think!

1 lemon, 8 cloves, 1x75cl bottle red wine, 4 oz sugar, 2 x 2 inch cinnamon sticks, 1/4 pint brandy

Spike the lemon with the cloves. Gently heat the wine, sugar, cinnamon sticks and lemon in a saucepan to just below simmering point for 10 minutes. Lower the heat and add the brandy. Warm for 2-3 minutes. Strain and serve immediately in warmed glasses or mugs.

Makes about 6 glasses or mugs. Preperation time: 20 minutes

Every day is deadline day

Isn't it funny how many people make Christmas and New Year deadline days. Apart from the usual Christmas rush, sending cards, buying and wrapping presents, stocking up the cupboards, many of us feel the need to spring clean the house and do those small repair jobs that have been needing doing since last summer. Come New Year we feel the need to make resolutions, lose weight, stop smoking, go to the gym, reduce our spending etc. It suddenly occured to me this morning that if we dealt with all those jobs, unrelated to Christmas, before the holiday we would enjoy the festivities even more. We would be more relaxed, better placed to over indulge, have more money available, feel more able to cope with the stress that Christmas can bring. Surely it would be better to discipline ourselves throughout the year and deal with things on a daily basis rather than leave everything to the last week of the year. After all, as someone once said "never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, then, if you like doing it today you can do it again tomorrow". How true!

Do you believe in ghosts?

Over the Christmas holiday I have been re-reading a book entitled True Ghost Stories from WW1 and WW11. Whether or not you believe in the existence of ghosts this book is a cracking good read. I bought it in a garden centre about 18 months ago and from the moment I started reading it I could not put it down. Second time around it is just as good a read as the first time. If this sort of thing is your cup of tea, I would highly recommend it! If any readers out there have experienced any supernatural happenings or have experienced anything at all they cannot explain, please write in. I would be most interested to hear from you.