A different Christmas poem.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the garden to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Grandfather died in France ' on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gran always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Burma
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his pack,
The red, white, and blue of a Union Jack.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a trench with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbour no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Please remember all our Armed Services men and women who may be away from their families and loved ones at this special time. And let us never forget those who have given their lives so we can celebrate in freedom.

It's a cold start to the month!

Yes, it's definitely looking like it's winter. It seems so many years since we had a cold, harsh winter but I feel we really need them. The freezing cold helps get rid of all the bugs and germs which linger around and often kills off a lot of the 'nasties' which we can manage with out. We had our first snowfall on Monday night and today has been freezing. It is a bit lethal out on the pavements although most of the roads are clear in our area. However it is looking like there is going to be a massive snow fall overnight so I am keeping my fingers crossed! I could do with some decent 'snow' pictures to scrap!

I have signed up for Shimelle's 'Journal your Christmas' this year. It is something I have been meaning to do for a few years but have never got round to it. As this is really the boys last Christmas at home I thought it was about time I knuckled down and got on with it. Shimelle sends you prompts and tips everyday to help you create a layout and put down on paper what that day / theme actually means to you. The first prompt was the manifesto for the journal but I have kept a separate part for that so I have a space for December 1st. I do have a couple of ideas but am waiting to see if Shimelle uses them on other days first.

The prompt for December 2nd was 'Weather' and as I said earlier we had our first snowfall for years so that was an easy one to do!

I am using a Heidi Swapp 9 x 9 album so I have a decent sized page to work with. I have journaled my thoughts about Christmas weather and added a couple of photos in a pocket. The snowflake is a chipboard one covered with white Bazzill and with a few sparkly gems added. I am allowing myself a set period of time each night to complete the page so there won't be time to be too fiddley with things! Overall I am happy with how this one has turned out. I will try and keep you updated more regularly with my progress!

On the university front things have moved on a pace. William has had offers from Leeds, Lancaster, Durham and Warwick and we are off to Cambridge next week for an interview at Emmanuel. Thomas has been to Ambleside and has received an offer from them so that is really good news. He liked it a lot and I think it will suit him as it is small and cosy but they have a good reputation for turning out good teachers. But as he said...it's not Plymouth! Never mind we will just have to keep our fingers crossed for both their interviews and hope they do well in them.

Well, off to do some scrapping now. See you later!

Another week nearer Christmas!

Yes, the days are rushing by quicker than ever! I have managed to buy some presents so am not totally behind with everything but I do need to get my finger out and get a bit more organised. I have so many things to do, and so many events coming up in the next few weeks I have had to draw up a couple of planners and stick them to the fridge and then everyone can write on what is happening when! That may go some way to helping me out a bit!

Parents night was great, you will be pleased to know! Both the boys got glowing reports and it was a pleasure to be parents for once. Between the five of them we have had some disastrous parent's evenings through the years. A couple have even left traumatic scars in my subconscious! Thomas is working hard and should get the grades he needs to get into Uni and William is continuing to baffle everyone with his abilities and thought processes. He baffled me years ago so I just nod with a (hopefully) understanding look on my face when he talks about anything college related. Thomas was overjoyed to get an interview at Marjon in Plymouth (his first choice) on Dec 10th. Hopefully this will not clash with Cambridge or John and I will have to toss a coin to see who takes who where!!

On the scrapping front I have been managing to keep going with the 'old' photos. This is one of my Dad with Daniel.


He was so pleased to have another grandson and was more than happy to spend ages, when he had time, just sitting and cuddling him. I love scrapping photos of my Dad as it seems to bring him a bit closer to me every time. Unfortunately I haven't many more of him left to do......so I may just do them all again! :)

We didn't get any Hallowe'en photos of the family this year but I managed to find these two photos from long, long ago. That was when I had legs which I didn't mind showing occasionally!

A few of the girl's from the road decided to have a bit of a 'witches night in' and felt we should dress appropriately. As we didn't have any outfits we had to make use of the odd bin liner or two!! Still, from what I remember we had a good time, though the clothes weren't up to much by the end of the night!

A layout with a new photograph, which I scrapped yesterday, is this one of our Adam. The photo was taken by Laura, one of his friends, and I absolutely love it.

We can rarely get Adam to have his picture taken, except when he is 'with drink', so it is lovely to see one of him looking so handsome. I sometimes have to pinch myself to realise that these gorgeous grown up people, I am scrapping photos of, are my babies! God, I must be old!!!

Anyway thanks for reading and I will be back soon.

Grandad Charlie.

I may not have posted for a couple of weeks but don't worry, I have not been idle! I'm still making good headway with scrapping old photographs and managed to get 10 double layouts done and quite a few single ones. One of my favourites this month is one of my paternal grandfather. My sister had this very old photograph and you could hardly see anything of the actual detail so I sent it off to Giselle at www.fixyourphotos.co.uk and she waved her magic wand and here he is in all his glory!


He really was a bit of a dapper young man on that day but we can only think it must have been for his wedding or something equally important as they were not the richest of people at all. So it is a bit intriguing what the occasion was! Unfortunately he is no longer around to ask. I have gone for a bit of a vintage look with the layout, leaving my edges rough and tearing and rolling the paper. I have used one of MM metal alphabets for the word CHARLIE. I must admit I really love this photograph and am pleased that I have achieved everything I wanted in the layout.

Everyday life is rushing along at it's usual speed. On the university front William has had offers from Leeds and Lancaster but he is still waiting to hear if he is going to get an interview at Cambridge. (We are still living with fingers crossed.) Thomas has an interview next Wednesday at Cumbria so we are off up there for the day. I am hoping to get to Lakeland to get some bits but may not have time. We also have parents evening coming up next week so that will give us a chance to chat to Thomas' teachers and get the low down on whether or not he is likely to get the entry requirements needed. He certainly has been doing a bit more work but maybe it's me but I think he is capable of more.

With Christmas coming up the calendar is getting rather full with one thing and another. We have a couple of festive outings planned in already and more to book. I am starting a new role within the company in the New Year. It is a full time joba bit of a promotion, so will mean a bit of a shake up in family life! I'm looking forward to it though as it seems to be something I can really get my teeth in to. I have just about closed the shop now as I don't have a great deal of stock left and it was becoming a bit of a bind with everything else going on. However if there is anything you want just give me a shout and I will sort out a good price for you.

To keep me crafting during the run up to Christmas I have signed up for Shimelle's 'Journal Your Christmas'. Prompts sent each day will hopefully make me look at my time in more depth and get it down on paper. I love Christmas and the whole run up to it but it always goes so fast. I'm hoping to savour it, and everyone around, a bit more this year.

Anyway bye for now....back soon.