Hello my friends to this, the Christmas week episode of WOYWW. Thank you so much to everyone for all your comments last week. They were great fun to read. The good news here is that I found the missing folder! Yes, Julia, it was indeed in a place I had already looked. The not so good news is that the poem wasn’t in it! I can only remember the first verse that I wrote. Oh well, never mind.

Anybody here in Britain knows this week “What a difference a day makes”!! I know that I had already taken the decision not to travel to Nottingham and meet up with my family for Christmas Day, but I cpuldn’t have gone anyway! Wales is now in lockdown again. Local travel only, can’t cross the border into England, only very limited mixing on Christmas Day, shops are shut… So very difficult for many who live on their own and don’t cope well with prolonged periods alone.

So let’s have a look at my desk this week and think about something different!

So, what have we got here… Scissors, needle, 2 pairs of glasses, lots of bits of knitting, the pattern for Mr Jolly Jingle, and there on the left… his left foot! Yes, I am still working on finishing him. The idea was to get him to the local children’s hospice – but that won’t happen now. I’m not allowed to travel that far! But I have been busy continuing to make him up.

He’s getting there. Mr snowman and his Christmas tree are stitched together and on his head; his scarf is finished and the bells are attached to the end; the holly and berries are now on his hat; and a long walking cane is attached. This will hold the lantern currently sitting on my desk awaiting the second mistletoe berry. A robin will sit on the branch of the cane, and a parcel will hang from it. His other hand will hold a stocking filled with knitted candy canes. On his shoes will sit Christmas puddings; and his pocket will have a letter to Santa. I have just, as I write this, realized I have sewn his pocket on the right of his jacket and it should be on the left!!! Obviously not reading the instructions carefully.

Last week Sue commented she would like to see my new Christmas jumper – so here you are, Sue! Nothing too bold – quite subdued, really…

I have finished and am currently wearing, a sweater I knitted for myself. It’s beautifully warm and cosy! Sorry about the photo. How do you take a picture of yourself, first thing in the morning, when all the lights have to be on because it is so very dull outside?! Anyone who has met me knows that my hair is usually quite short… this shows the result of lockdown on and off since March! It now can make quite a presentable ponytail as you can see… The beauty of it is, that even at 70 it still has its red colour! Much faded these days, but still there (mostly!)

So that’s about it here in Wales this week. The weather forecast for Wednesday is rain and more rain, so I will be able to get around to lots of visits to you all.

Whatever you are doing this Christmas Day, be it staying at home, celebrating in a minimal way with some family or friends, or even not celebrating at all, I wish you a day filled with peace and joy. To me it is one of the most important days in the year – the day I celebrate and remember that a baby was born. Born into a world filled with disharmony, wars and rivalries. Born in a stable, homeless, dispossessed; his family and nation under the rule of a harsh regime. He came because He loves each one of us, and proved that He wanted to see our relationship with God re-established, through His death and resurrection some 33 years later.

Take care each one of you. Stay safe. God bless you all.

Margaret

Hello my friends. I trust this finds you well and safe. I was missing last week – I was busy sorting. Julia thinks – probably quite rightly – that to be doing sorting this close to Christmas means I am completely nuts. … but, you see, there was a really good reason. Daughter number 2 suggested that we did a family advent calendar together this year. We, in turn, would post something on the family whatsapp group each day. It could be funny, serious, photos, videos, music… anything. I immediately knew what I would post. A poem I wrote nearly 20 years ago for Radio Wales. I knew where to find it! I knew which folder it was in. Could I find it? NO!! Have I searched for it? YES!! I have turned the house upside down, opened cupboards and drawers, hunted in boxes. Looked everywhere. Have I found it yet? NO!!!

This all means, of course, that very little artycraftystuff has been done. It also means that I have discovered lots more of my unfinished symphonies (large and small!). So today my desk has two faces – this morning (Tuesday) and this afternoon! Here goes…

So from left to right this morning, you could have just seen the unfinished symphony – a small cross stitch picture of a child on a sledge, a pile of thank you cards – in anticipation! – a folder which contains loads of family games and silliness which proved to be one contribution to the advent calendar, family photos, phone, two pairs of glasses, and a huge ruck in the carpet where I keep rolling the computer chair (oops!)

And by lunchtime … you can still see the edge of the folder, my phone, the family photos, the thank you cards and the green cutting mat. The cross stitch is finished and Mr Jolly Jingle has been unearthed from the cupboard with all his little bits and pieces and a carrier of wool in case I need any extra. He is the next project to complete!He still needs his arms, Christmas tree perched on his head, Christmas puddings on his shoes, a letter to Santa, and all sorts of fun bits. I shall try to get on with him – he should have been finished for last Christmas….

And that is about it from me this week. I have done and posted my cards, sent off all my parcels, decorated the house, done all the shopping, bought a Christmas jumper, so I can now relax and simply enjoy a few days off. Yes, I shall still keep hunting for my poem. No, I’m not travelling anywhere. I am staying put and not visiting the girls. So Christmas will be different. We are planning a whatsapp video call pub quiz between us – that will be fun as I simply adore quizzes!

Take care of yourselves, everybody. God bless you all.

Margaret

Hello my friends. Well, what can we say… Firstly, an enormous thank you to our Julia for having the bright idea of photographing our workspaces all those years ago. Who would have thought, that, 10 years later, it would still be so incredibly popular; that so many of us would gather each week to gaze at one another’s messy or tidy spaces.

I haven’t been in the group since its inception, but have been around for nearly 8 of the 10, beginning with just peeping, then being brave enough to make a few comments, then to actually have a site myself where I, too, could photograph what I was up to and receive comments. During those almost 8 years I thank you for your friendship and support. You are a great bunch, being there for folks when they are struggling, and there to rejoice with people. You send cards, gifts, ATCs; you encourage, laugh and cry together. The picture above shows just a few of the ATCs and gifts I have received over the years. Thank you.

The very first blog I ever commented on was Patsy’s in the Philippines. Remember her? She used to have a giveaway of one of her paintings to one of the folks who commented. I couldn’t believe it when, that first week, I won! What a treat.

Over the years I have had the privilege and delight of meeting many of you – in your work spaces, in cafes, in garden centres, even, Shaz in Oz, in an airport, at a railway station, and at crops.

Thanks, Julia, for bringing us all together. Have a great day with all your zooming on Saturday!! Thanks everyone for your friendship.

Take care. God bless you mightily!
Margaret.