To the horror of my Scottish friends I confess that I do like to partake in 'Stir-up Sunday' (an informal term in 'Anglican' churches for the last Sunday before the season of Advent). Whilst it may get its name from a verse in the Book of Common Prayer, which begins with the words, "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people", these days it's all about the making of Christmas puddings on that day.
For the uninitiated, this modern ritual basically entails getting a whack load of ingredients, including a healthy splash of booze, and chucking them together in a large bowl. Then everyone gathers round whilst the stirring takes place and wishes are made. Then its steamed for 8 hours. Its quite an epic ordeal but definitely kick-starts the festive season is style.
(Apparently in recent times, two-thirds of British children surveyed, revealed that they had never experienced stirring Christmas pudding mix - so its not too late - get stirring everyone!).
Hot on the heels of autumn’s finest comes the start of the festive season…I’ve been feeling remarkably unprepared this year but in actuality it bizarrely appears I am as prepared as I’ve ever been. And so it begins…
The frosts are here, the crunch of the last November leaves, and a trip for Niomi to see The Snowman on stage. Niomi loves watching things on stage – she sits enthralled – but as I watch her watching what’s happening I wonder what is going through her mind. I’m never quite sure if she’s thinking ‘wow – this is really exciting’ or whether it’s more ‘what on earth is going on over there’. Dancing snowmen, people flying, motorbikes on stage and a very strange cat – all make me wonder that it would be entirely understandable if she was just thinking – ‘what on earth is that!’
Still we have a lovely day out…and at the same time Emily went ice skating with Mummy for the first time. (And seemingly she was much better than Mummy too.)
So what else is in store? Well this weekend is stir-up Sunday, then it’s Christmas Fayre’s and tree-buying, Christmas-ifying the house, lights switch on, Christmas shows and films, cooking, mulled wine and stollen, friends, lights, crafting and glitter….and so it begins…and I am really ready this year. Can’t wait…
Autumn ever year seems to flash by in less than 2 months. Its kinda sandwiched between the last lingerings of summer (yes we do get them here) in late September and the onslaught of Christmas from middling November.
Its a great time though - I love when the weather is crisp and the leaves are crunchy. The smell of fireworks in the air, coupled with the wood burners getting lit and the darkening evenings, makes for an air of mystery about the season. It reminds me of my childhood - slightly Tolkien-esque in the south of Birmingham.
This year's been kind of business as usual, but with a twist of wonder. Halloween was great, Emily's birthday was greater, and fireworks at our 'nearly' neighbours Maurice and Jules just topped it off. There was a lovely vibe in the autumn air.
So this year for some reason, autumn has felt mighty fine. Niomi's development is rapid at present - like everything is clicking into place; Emily is a pleasure once more - the feisty late 6's seem to at least temporarily have eased; and the pair of them together seem to generally muck along in kind of happy go lucky fashion. Tanya seems really content with a whole range of wothwhile stuff in the community; and for me, the all encompassing YourKirky crusade seems to be going really well. Life is good - very busy, but good. And this autumn has made me reflect on its finest offerings.
Halloween disco diva
Upside down pumpkin after Blue Dog ate the lid
Birthday Girl - full of books
Autumns finest 1
Autumns finest 2
Litter picking on your birthday!
Sparkle, rainbow, unicorns abound at a 7 year olds birthday
