I did not intend to start my post in this way, but events, as they say, overtook me.
Vaclav Havel, a former president of the Czech Republic and a great statesman, died today.
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I have some wonderful childhood memories of Christmas, spend usually in my grandmother's house, on the edge of a village, deep in the Czech countryside. These paintings by Josef Lada remind me so much of that place (less the ruins in the background). Yes, there was always snow. I remember the time my parents and I were picked up late in the day from the train station in the next village and driven in a horse drawn sleigh, through a spooky forest, the only light being a reflection from the white snow, and arriving to the warmth of my grandmother's country kitchen, smelling of baking and freshly cut Christmas tree. Memories......
I have always been fortunate to be able to spend Christmas with my family, be it with my Czech family as a child, and later with my own family in England. I have always tried to pass on that little bit of Christmas magic to my own children, and in the last few years to my beautiful grandchildren (although I could never quite manage the horse drawn sleigh here in England).
When my children were away studying, we told them not leave anyone on their own at Christmas time. So there was the time we received a call from our son, a day before Christmas: "mum, there is this girl from Australia, she has nowhere to go for Christmas". So arrived Katherine, with a bottle of Bundaberg and spent the holiday with us.
We have not always been able to be all together. There was that tearful "I miss you" phone call on a frosty Christmas Day from our offspring travelling in Australia. But we just put it down to those "few" beers on the beach :)
But Christmas can also be a difficult time for some people, those without a close family or friends, or those touched by a recent personal tragedy or loss, and feel that Christmas will never be the same again. Hope is a great thing and they say that time is a great healer...
In the words from Slade's Christmas song:
Look to the future now
It's only just begun.
It's only just begun.
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I wish you all a very peaceful and safe run up to Christmas!
I would like also to take this opportunity to thank you all for your friendship and support.
Oh, and talking about friendship.
I have just finished reading a beautiful book "Astrid and Veronika" by Linda Olsson.
It is about two women from different backgrounds, one young and the other old, who form an unlikely friendship and learn each other stories.
Thank you Gudrun for recommending this book on your blog.
