Time Flies

Goodness! What a very busy few weeks – teaching, customers at Jam on the Hill, WI Christmas ‘do’s’ , carol services – each day flashes by and there is still the shopping, present wrapping, visitors and visiting. I certainly don’t know how I used to get through it all when I had small children as well! Now I can just enjoy being with all my little grandchildren – Oscar, 3, has just called into The Old Smithy, where I am making some Pomegranate Jelly, to tell me all about his visit to Santa – he is now going home with Daddy to wrap all of Mummy’s toys ( hope she likes them! Makes me misty eyed for a few moments of nostalgia but to me, that is what immortality means – seeing the next generations coming along repeating what has gone before, living it, loving it, and creating memories for their own children and ultimately, grandchildren. Sooner, much sooner, than they think.

The Old Smithy dressed up for Christmas

We’ve had a great run up to Christmas at The Old Smithy – most of the mincemeat and cranberry & orange relish has gone, we’ve had candied peel, figs in brandy, all the chutneys of course, gift baskets and boxes, open evenings, lots of visitors. The Old Smithy looks at its festive best – baubles, lights even paperchains – I do love a paperchain. Again, full of nostalgia, I certainly thought about

My paperchains!

Christmases long ago when I was making them, back to a child impatient for the chain to grow so we could hang it up – and the glue on them was awful! I am sure someone thought it up to make young, over-excited children sit down and be quiet for a time!

I am looking forward to marmalade after Christmas of course – the Seville oranges are already available in some places so there won’t be any brakes on. And so another year will start, with seasonal preserving marking the rhythm of life and the seasons.

Have a happy holiday everyone, a great Christmas and a joyous New Year

---