Hello Everyone and Happy New Year,
And the same to you I hear you all reply back with warmth
and affection. After being blessed with Abba singing ‘Happy New Year’ since
late last September on the old music system at the High Street emporium I
frequent, I can’t say that since Big Ben heralded the start of 2014 I have been
inundated with people falling over themselves to shake me by my hand or
anything else for that matter to wish me a prosperous start to the New Year. Come to
think of it I can’t say I have been falling over myself to wish anybody in my
presence an exciting beginning to the month of January.
It appears that after the indulgence of Christmas the sense
of good will to all men (and women) is a little on the crumbly side to say the
least. In fairness nobody has been downright rude in the opening days of
January although one individual in Asda jumped in the not so fast, fast lane I as
attempted to swiftly purchase my Egg Salad and Eccles cake and retreat back to
work before the next deluge of water fell from the sky and soaked my nylon
acrylic suit. I ‘frustratingly’ waited ‘patiently’
as they attempted to purchase off the counter narcotics which everybody knows
needs operator assistance! This resulted in delaying my stay in the delightful
trouble free shopping environment. As I waited
for my turn the women turned to the man who I assume was her husband but could
quite easily have been, a brother, lover, friend, a relative, husband, or
anything else for that matter and say “It’s shit in here, I now know why I
prefer Sainsbury’s”. Whilst understanding the sentiment her outburst rather
took me by surprise as I felt on this occasion the pretty slow speed of service
was reasonably tolerable. She didn’t
know the half of it and I felt like saying you should be her when the students
pile in! Oh my goodness when the students pile in, it is an experience to
behold, the best part of a thousand kids buying Pringles and Iron Bru to
stimulate the afternoon brain matter is one of lives more challenging
experiences. As they all line up for the not so fast, fast lane with duffle
coats and messenger bags, Nike trainers and pierced body parts in full bloom it
can be one of life’s daily difficulties as I run my smaller business enterprise
on the other side of the car park. But as I stood in that original queue I thought
to myself bloody hell everybody looks so flaming miserable, have
they forgotten it’s just been Christmas?
Christmas in the Frost residence was a quiet affair with
just ten people for the festive dinner, and whilst the gifts were lovely and
the crackers were adequate my own personal highlight was my outstanding roast
potatoes drizzled in weight watchers goose fat which made them crackle and
crunch like and elderly man with a badly inserted hip replacement! It was a joy
to behold as close family friends allowed me to clear the tables and fill the
dishwasher I was content, I was extremely satisfied in the knowledge that my responsibilities
as a host had been fulfilled because my taters went down a storm and the turkey
was dead!
Back in the real world people have been going about things,
Oh we enjoyed a little foray to a popular little shopping village fondly
referred to as The Trafford Centre near Manchester and after paying way over
the odds for a chicken burger and sitting in a very draughty Nando’s we headed
into the mass of bargain hunters determined to enjoy our time together as a
family. Sometime later after failing to
find a satisfactory place where we could all shop happily we headed for the
exit and the short trip home.
As New Year Eve approached, the excitement for the big night’s
festivities grew and grew! I was most
fortunate and blessed to be working on New Year’s day, so my normal heightened
moment of New Year hysteria passed me by and as we enjoyed the hospitality of
my Brother and his wife and literally hundreds of people I didn’t know, I just
about managed to hold in all the excitement as I indulged on a beef and
horseradish wrap and glass of R Whites! As the big bell of Big Ben chimed live
on Sky News, I almost immediately reminded my dear wife of my ‘work commitments’
and left shortly after to a crescendo of fireworks and a brightly lit morning
as we drove with great care back to our humble abode.
So here we are well into the New Year all full of hope and
expectation, Gym memberships to be considered and evaluated and ultimately
declined. Lose seven stones in seven minutes DVDs with the help of a Z list
celebrity and a tight fitting leotard. New Year’s resolutions to readdress
determined to shed some of the pounds shillings, pounds and pence we either put
on or lost over the festive period. New ambitions, new career, new car or book the
holiday of a lifetime to Skegness, or even a bit of early Christmas shopping, where
will it all end?
Well in the doom and gloom of this blog I think there is
some hope and optimism. In the rare times of tranquility I found some really
great moments of positivity. I found it at home with the family, I took real
pleasure from being with the ‘family’, we are far from perfect I can tell you
that for nothing but just being at home, just doing ‘things’ has filled me with great
joy and satisfaction. Seeing the kids flourishing and enjoying the gifts from
us, and Santa and others is a really lovely feeling and I suppose its why many
of us love it so much.
From the general public, don’t ask me why but they just make
me smile.
But also in Church, Midnight Mass, it was just beautiful. I don’t know why and I don’t know how and I can’t prove it or show it, but after the madness of work, the busyness of life, for a few short moments I felt the presence of Christ in the beauty of the Eucharist and in the reflection of his birth. In both those things I found and find great optimism and courage and hope for the future. I entered Gods church just before 11.30pm exhausted and fragile, a little worn out from the challenges of life and just before 1.00 am I left with hope, energy and excitement for things to come.
Although a little late may I offer you all my sincere best
wishes for the year ahead?
With love
Alextheanglican
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