0623 and I woke after sleeping the sleep of the dead since I put my head on the pillow at 0047 this morning. What is it with this digital age that has robbed us of 'around twenty past six' or 'just before 1 o'clock this morning'?
I had switched off the 'do not disturb' on my phone so that I could hear when any emails came in. The last thing that I did before I went to sleep was reply to an email from Spesh on Lewis. Her news was that despite the world creaking around them they were safe and sound and had electricity. Gaz's news was pretty much the same. No ferries and the Braighe (between the Eye Peninsula where my house is and the rest of Lewis) was closed because of the storm.
I woke, picked up my phone and there was an email from Spesh saying that all was well and the storm was abating although it was predicted to pick up again at the high tide.
This year as I look out at a fairly chilly (for us) morning and drink my first cup of hot water and lemon I have been reading and watching the BBC news on the laptop and thinking about all those who have had their Christmas - and sometimes their lives - turned upside down. It would be just as bad to me at any time but somehow being Christmas it adds a new dimension to it.
To all my friends who believe in celebrating this day as being special in the calendar for religious purposes I wish you the peace to do so. For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas because it's not part of your culture I wish you the peace to carry on as normal. For those of you who are just hoping to have a good time with family and friends and eat too much and indulge far too much in the excesses of wanton materialism then I wish you a happy day nonetheless.
In the meantime spare a thought for the millions in our own countries across the world who would like to celebrate but who have nothing at this time (or any other time come to that): those who have no one with whom to share Christmas; those who are too poor to indulge in the rampant materialism; and those who have no food on their plate (indeed no plate even).
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Graham, your mind must definitely be on Lewis this Christmas with those storms. A nice contrast you make between our connection and our disconnection in the world today. Have a happy day :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol. I wish you contentment and happiness.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you. I wish you a peaceful and happy celebration.
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Thanks Mersad. A good time was had by all. I hope the rest of your Christmas holiday is equally enjoyable.
DeleteMy world is filled with the realization everyday that there are others far less fortunate than myself, and I always spare a thought and a prayer for them (and help whenever I can.)
ReplyDeleteGlad to know that your home on Lewis is okay after the storm....you must have been worried.
I know, Virginia, that your whole ethos is to help those less fortunate (and those who just need a helping hand occasionally). I'm glad that my Lewis home is safe but I'm fortunate in not really being a worrier.
DeleteIt's all relative! We are indeed very fortunate. When we compare ourselves to others we have much to be thankful for and should seriously think about more sharing.
ReplyDeleteToo true Red. As individuals within nations most of us don't do as much as we could and should. Sometimes I ponder on the magnitude of the problem and it overwhelms me.
DeleteI consider myself very fortunate and never stop feeling grateful for being able to live where I live, the way I do, with the people I know being part of my life.
ReplyDeleteChristmas serves to emphasize all that. And I am also aware of the contrast between lucky me and millions of people who don't know how to make it through yet another day, never mind that day being Christmas.
Glad to know your friends on Lewis are safe.
Yes Meike. We are,at this point in time, fortunate to live where we do and be who we are.
DeleteHot water and lemon......I need a couple of espressos to kick start my day. Each to his own.
ReplyDeleteI don't do coffee before 10am as a rule Adrian. I've no idea why. By 9am I've usually had two mugs of hot water and lemons and one tea. Then I start on the coffee.
DeleteI drink hot water with lemon to, it helps start the day.
DeleteIt does indeed Cat. I hope you have a plentiful supply of lemons. Living in California I assume that you do.
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