Categories: uncategorized
Date: 19 December 2004 22:20:54
I did want to organise a few thoughts before posting again, but I thought I'd just say 'hello' from Manchester. It feels strangely different blogging from somewhere other than my room in Swansea! But now that I'm here, I might as well go for it, in which ever way it comes out...
Arrived back on Friday to a cold and frosty manc (yey- see earlier post!), got home in time to see Mum off to a work crimbo thing, leaving me and Dad to settle down with a curry, beer and a film! Saturday continued cold, and we bundled up in coats and gloves and spent a happy few hours wandering round Castleton and admiring the Christmas lights as dusk came. In the evening we headed to a friends house for a Christmas gathering. Good to catch up with people, but a little disconcerting when people no longer ask 'which school/college/uni are you at?' but 'what do you do?' I must at least look like a grown up then!
Anyway, today was church as usual, and having been in the door 5 minutes I was conscripted into the praise group for a few songs! Always nice to be appreciated! I always feel at home here, immediately I walk in, and this morning I knew that this was what I had been waiting for, and needing for so long this term. To be back here with my 'family', and to feel the love of God which so easily and willingly comes form each person there. Not that I don't find this in Swansea, but this is such a part of coming home, and being home, especially at Christmas. This afternoon was the 'decorating party' at my Grandmas, as we covered a modest bungalow with all manner of sparkly shiny things, and enjoyed a glass of wine and mince pie as a reward! Back to church again for the carol and christingle service, and now home again.
Phew, now that I write it all down, that feels like quite a weekend! This is why I love Christmas, and coming home, running round and seeing everyone that I haven't in a while! Ah well, down to the work again tomorrow hopefully, so I deserved a bit of time off. I was going to try to put into words somethihng meaningful about the services today and being with family, but I've been here a while now, and have other things to do, namely Christmas cards to write and post tomorrow!