crEAting Christmas ~ days 5-12

Hello everyone, I know it has been a while, unintentionally of course, and thank you for asking after me – I didn’t mean to raise any concern from my lack of posts – life just gets in the way sometimes and having my mum to look after for a few days took all my time and energy.

As I knew mum was coming to stay whilst my sister went on a short holiday I centered days 5 to 10 of my Advent activities around the visit.  She will be 93 in January and I was a bit concerned this time at the change in her and what she is able to do, or should I say what she is not able to do.  She has acquired a few new ailments, a swollen knee and swollen foot, added to her ‘dodgy’ hip that is painful in cold weather (she was knocked down by a five-year old who ran into her from behind with his scooter in the shopping precinct and knocked her to the floor last year – she fell on her hip and although she was lucky and did not break anything she has suffered from a bad hip ever since).  So walking has become difficult.

But my mum is a determined lady and likes to be out and about even at a hobble so we spent Friday shopping in our local town of Huddersfield, followed by tea at Compo’s fish and chip restaurant with my brother – I have the Broccoli and Cheese bake – they have the pensioner’s fish supper.On the Saturday the Advent activity was our traditional annual visit to Tissington in Derbyshire for lunch at Herbert’s Tea Rooms and a browse around the tiny gift shop in the village.  It was heavy rain and with mum’s inability to walk far we skipped the usual walk around the village which we love to do and moved on by car to Ashbourne.  Mum managed a few shops and the little Waitrose and then we came home for tea.

Sunday was much brighter, we hastily packed a picnic of homemade tomato soup, cheese and beetroot sandwiches and Higgedy’s Cheese and chutney sausage rolls.  We ate our little feast in the car parked high above Abney in Derbyshire and watched the hang gliders taking off over Great Hucklow.  Afterwards we visited more of mum’s favourite places – Pilsley farm shop and the Derbyshire Craft Centre.

We had a lovely day and once back home my daughter and SIL joined us for tea and a chat.  It was the perfect time to fulfill day nine’s activity which was to cosy down in the evening with a hot chocolate and watch a Christmas film.  A good laugh did mum the world of good as her lack of mobility has been making her feel upset and frustrated.

On the Monday we took mum home to North Yorkshire and then called at our younger daughter’s house to see Little L and Sweetie.  We were out much longer than planned so the advent activity for this day was abandoned as was the following day mainly due to me being so tired after looking after mum and all the travelling up and down – I just needed some time to get the house straight and my brain back into gear.

Day 12 – I was super excited on Wednesday knowing the Advent activity was our trip to see the Winter Light Festival at Dunham Massey (a National Trust property in Cheshire) with two of our lovely friends.  We were picked up at 3pm for our timed tour at 5pm.  Everything went exceptionally smoothly and although the roads were busy thankfully, we had no hold ups and parked easily. The lights which are accompanied by music were quite spectacular – some are activated by and keep time with the music and were pretty amazing – we followed the trail around; each section just as breathtaking as the last. (Did you spot the picture just for you Sadie if you are reading this!) So it has been a few hectic days and I am now having a quieter time of reflection.  Mum is becoming increasingly high maintenance now when she visits and needs a lot more attention to help her do all those little things that she would have done herself at one time – it can be a bit exhausting.  On the other hand though how lucky am I to still have my mum around and that she is still able to look after herself in her little apartment with a little help from my sister.  But I do fear for the future and how she will continue to cope.

During these last few days it was also the anniversary of when my dearest  friend and colleague Helen passed away. I made two tiny posies – one to give to her mum and one for her two daughters in remembrance of Helen.  I just quietly leave them on the doorstep – it is just a little something to let them know we are thinking of them.

Again it made me think of how lucky I am to see my two daughters and granddaughters growing up and that we can be together at Christmas time.  So although I am tired at the moment beyond belief I am certainly counting my blessings.

Must go now I have 25 robins drying in my craft room and needing my attention before bed.

I have a bit of catching up to do in blog land and I will be back and commenting in the next few days and hopefully posting pictures of my Advent crafting. xx