Tis the season....

We put up our Christmas decorations at the weekend

I wasn't really in the humour

And the thoughts of getting in the Christmas spirit made me want to curl up in to a ball and cry

But 

As the day went on

And we went through the attic

And found all our decorations old and new

I managed to cheer up a bit

I did the whole tree

Draped lights over the hall stand 

Lit cinnamon fragranced candles

And all of a sudden I felt really Christmassy 

We are having a quiet Christmas this year 

There will just be the six of us

And my elderly neighbour is coming for dinner

But I can't see her staying too long

As she likes a drink

And we always have an alcohol free Christmas 

I think back to Christmas growing up

It was always a wash out

My father would get horribly drunk 

It was always best to stay away from him before four drinks and after eight drinks

He would usually insult someone 

I can remember one Christmas when we all had to move to my sisters apartment because my father was on such a bender

Tough times needless to say

But now 

Well none of us drink anymore

So we have a quiet but civilised Christmas 

We have learned the hard way 

That alcohol just does not suit us

I've been thinking recently 

That I really don't  miss alcohol 

I mean 

Nothing is real when you are drunk

It's like everything is fake 

And I don't like that 

This country has been battered by two storms over the last week

First

Was storm Clodagh

Followed by storm Desmond 

The west bore the brunt of it

Rivers burst their banks 

Fields were flooded

Roads too 

Trees blew down

Poor animals had an awful time 

And worst of all 

Peoples houses were flooded

I was speaking to a woman in the supermarket yesterday

And the whole ground floor of her house was completely flooded

She showed me a video on her phone of the damage 

It looked just horrendous

What sort of Christmas will she have now?

I count my lucky stars that we weren't effected by the storms 

In other news 

I found out about a writing group in my area that is starting in January

It sounds great 

They meet every second Monday 

And there is no pressure 

I'm actually really looking forward to it

Bredas words yesterday really resonated with me

She said that I am too young to sit and home and waste my life 

I need to get out and about more 

Meet people 

Socialise 

Expand a little bit 

Because at the moment 

Short of walking my dogs and blogging

I am doing very little 

I need something to take me away from myself

And out of my own head 

Also 

On Thursday 

I am going to get another piercing done

Either my septum 

Or my upper lip

I am super excited to get it done

And of course 

I wil document the whole thing for you 

My parents despair at why I am doing this

And I am secretly kind of enjoying that 

It feeds my need to be a bit of a rebel 

So that's it from me today 

As promised 

I will do a Christmas survival kit post sometime this week

As I know it can be a really tough time of year 

There are not many of us bloggers left 

Do we need to stick together 

look out for each other 

And support each other 

Christmas can really be a lonely time of year 

Maybe you're recently bereaved 

Or estranged from your family 

Maybe you're dealing with illness

Mental or physical 

Maybe you have no one to spend Christmas Day with 

Maybe you are struggling with food

Or your mood is low 

Maybe the thoughts of Christmas send your anxiety in to over drive 

Maybe you don't even want to celebrate 

Because you can't find a reason to 

I think it's so important to reach out to the vulnerable at this time of year 

Call in to an elderly neighbour

Maybe get them a little gift 

Maybe invite them over for dinner

Or help them with their shopping 

It really is the little things that make a huge difference

Saying hello to someone on the street 

Giving them a smile 

It may be the only human voice they hear all day 

And it might just brighten their day

One thing I like to do at this time of year 

Is leave an anonymous letter for someone to find 

A really positive letter to make someone feel good 

I've left them before in car parks 

On windows of cars 

In public bathrooms 

It's just spreading a little bit of love

At a time when people are so caught up in themselves and their own lives

I truly hope that you have a relaxing and peaceful Christmas this year

God knows you deserve it

I hope you get to spend time with the people you love

And tell them 

Tell them how much they mean to you

That can be the greatest gift of all

Usually at this time of year 

I use it as an excuse to over take my meds 

And generally be a bit out of it

But this year 

I am going to do my best to be present and lucid

So I can really be part of things 

And enjoy it 

I am so blessed to be able to say that my family are doing well at the moment 

Between addiction, mental health issues and resentments 

My family really has been through the wars 

But 

We have managed to get through it

And come out the other side

I am eternally grateful for that 

And as my mother often says

Given what we have been through

We are not doing to badly at all

Merry Christmas

To you and yours....