Merry Christmas image – from the collection of Julie Goucher, 2021

I haven’t taken part or written any advent posts in the last few years. I thought that for this year I would revisit some of those earlier posts and switch around they days they appear and in some cases make tweaks to the original posts. There are also a few posts in my draft file and whilst some of those are not Christmas related, I may well publish them, that way they will at least see the light of day!

Christmas always has its sad moments, in that we miss our deceased relatives, and yet remember with fondness and love those who have passed away.

My Grandmother, always comes to my mind because her birthday, on 18th December was a week before Christmas and this will appear elsewhere during the Advent Calendar postings. The last Christmas my Grandmother was alive she came to stay with us. My husband did lots of recordings of her, asking her questions and listening to her remembering past times. Even now, more than 20 years on I can not listen to those tapes or watch the video. When my husband transfers it to DVD which he still hasn’t done yet, he’ll do it when I am out as I still miss her dreadfully.

Then in the late 1990’s my Nephew, then aged 16 years died on 18th December as a result of a tragic accident involving another school boy. His funeral was on Christmas Eve and although I was not especially close to my Nephew, my husband was, and my thoughts always turn to him and the fact that his young life was wasted. I find it especially sad that my Nephew has been gone for longer than he was alive.

In 2010 we lost my Father in Law and whilst he was elderly, his death was unexpected. Since then we have had a number of relatives pass away, my Mum included. More recently I have had two further bereavements, both  in Australia. Firstly, my cousin’s son, he was younger than me, and the death was a surprise. Then the wife of my cousin passed. We were very close, despite the many miles and I have lost a dear, dear friend. I shall raise a glass to her on 12 December which was her birthday.

Amongst that sadness is of course joy, as each of those individuals has a special place in our hearts and we have some wonderful memories, which, when the time is right will probably appear in this blog.

May they rest in peace, in the knowledge that they are missed everyday.