Is it really Christmas?

I’ve been saying Happy Christmas to everyone recently and everyone has said the same in reply.

It is awful. I find it really difficult. No joy just a miserable y
old man to contend with. But when my little grandsons come in a few days it should be better.
I think my daughter is working over Christmas. That's nurses for you.

April, maybe shop assistants and passerby’s are not outgoing people either?

Not been very Christmassy here. The village tree is pathetic this year. It's a bush srrounded by a fence!

We used to have carol singing in the square on Christmas eve but that's stopped. Now it's a formal event in the church last Sunday.

There will be a community meal tomorrow for anyone on their own.

Just the other day I thought how cheerful and happy everyone seemed when out and about (despite the rain), greeting one another, passing the time of day and wishing each other Merry Christmas.

And although I was careful to send our Muslim and Hindu friends seasonal greetings cards, I notice they have sent us cards saying Merry Christmas.

I wonder if carols outside were transferred to the church because of the weather? I can't see ours taking place outside tonight because it's lashing down with rain, the wind is blowing and we could sink into the mud on the green.

I must admit I was a bit disappointed in our church's carol service on Sunday night. We have a beautiful atmospheric old church and yet they held the service in the community room this year. They'd obviously got more attendees than they expected (not sure why, it's usually popular) and ran out of chairs. Half of us were tucked around corners, not able to see the musicians. The singing was good though, and we had mulled wine and mince pies, so I'll stop mithering!

Mither away, that was just not the same.

fiorentina51 that’s especially good to hear. People at the DWP are mainly contacted by people who are in difficult situations and their own jobs must be very stressful too, so it’s heartening to hear of a cheery response.

I haven’t been out much, but just come from a lovely nativity service in the local church and people were all enthusiastic ’greeters’.