Advent. Christmas Starts Here

Advent

When I was very much younger and a regular watcher of Blue Peter (a Children’s TV show for non UK readers), I knew Christmas was coming when John Noakes lit the first candle on the The Blue Peter Christmas coat hanger advent crown.

Well I no longer watch Blue Peter or even know if it still exists but today is the first of December, and it seems I can no longer pretend Christmas isn’t just around the corner.

And so it begins; lists of gifts to buy, cards to be made/bought/written/posted, stamps to be purchased, edible gifts to be considered, social gatherings to be arranged, food to be thought about, shopping – lots of, and of course my December blog schedule to be carefully considered! In the ideal glossy magazine version of my life I would have started planning all of this long before now. In my actual, slightly disorganised far from perfect life I haven’t done a thing!

It can feel overwhelming can’t it. Now I know it shouldn’t feel like that.  I know, I mean I really know Christmas is about so much more than all of the above.  As a Christian I believe Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus.  I don’t believe Christmas is about giving or receiving the perfect gift, or producing the perfect meal or even having the most stunningly decorated Christmas tree, even thought I do get side tracked by all of these!

If I’m honest, Christmas actually makes me and I’m sure many others a little sad.  It’s not uncommon for me to sniffle my way through the odd carol or nativity service. There is something very emotive about twinkling lights, candles, familiar words and music.  Christmas is a reminder that life hasn’t always worked out quite as I might have hoped and it’s a time when I especially miss those who are no longer with me.

However, Christmas is also a lovely opportunity to celebrate and be with the people I love and hold dear.  It’s a time to take stock and be thankful for the many, wonderful things I do have.

With that in mind, I shall take a deep breath, pour myself a seasonal Baileys and start on those lists……

remembering-blue-peters-advent-crown
John Noakes and that coat hanger advent crown

Image, Changing-pages and retrobabble

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6 Comments

  1. Karen
    December 1, 2015 / 6:43 pm

    Make sure that the lovely Mr V isn’t in charge of the baileys measures or else nothing will get done!!! X

    • Angie
      Author
      December 1, 2015 / 6:48 pm

      Very good point! xx

  2. December 1, 2015 / 10:26 pm

    I remember the blue peter coat hanger contraption!

    • Angie
      Author
      December 7, 2015 / 6:19 am

      It really was quite a contraption wasn’t it. I wonder how many people actually made them at home!

      • December 7, 2015 / 8:01 pm

        we never even attempted it!

  3. December 6, 2015 / 5:44 pm

    Oh, Blue Peter! I loved that when I was young. Tim Vincent was the first man I ever loved. I think they lite the candles then too.

    I’m a weeping mess at Christmas too, my emotions overrun. I love a Victoriana sort of Christmas – with candles, decorations – the chocolate box sort of thing. It’s a bit rose tinted glasses really, but it makes me happy.

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