DONNING THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FOR SHENANIGANS
This morning one star holds fast in the sky as the wind blows in swirls. The moon was full yesterday, and it was Cold Moon. I have my sense of taste and smell back, but this morning I can only determine a slight essence of cold box and those frozen blue slabs that keep the temperature of such things cool.
Alt text says this week’s photo is a stuffed animal with lights around it. I say it is the photo of Ronnie from this time last year, and he is celebrating all those people who add sparkle to the world.
Shenanigans. I love this word, and its recent regularity in my life. In fact I would highly recommend having a friend who responds positively to invitations for shenanigans soon. Although having said that, when I sent one such message the other day I had to check I’d sent it to the right person because there might be contacts in my phone who would wonder quite what was on offer when receiving a message that says, “Do you fancy shenanigans again soon?”
I had a thing about checking the meaning of words a little while ago when I found myself wanting to see the two different meanings of shenanigans and to check my use of the word enterprise. I had forgotten what first attracted me to the word enterprise and was delighted to see the following definition: a project or undertaking, especially a bold or complex one. Bold, I like bold.
There’s the jaguar (enterprise) and the playful cat (shenanigans) showing themselves again! Having learned a lot this past year about how these two elements of my personality come into play I reckon 2025 might be the year in which I can learn to balance them particularly well. It will definitely be fun finding out.
In the meantime, this festive season I am making it my mission to wear my Christmas lights on as many special occasions as possible. I have decided they can enhance even more things as well as being donned for waving to Father Christmas, and being worn to seasonal poetry events. There might even be some good photo opportunities along the way. We got a memorable set of pictures on a Staff Christmas Do many moons ago where we each took a turn putting our head through the venue’s Christmas Wreath so it might be time to recreate that kind of picture too if I see one when I am out and about. It is nice to be contemplating such things after being laid low by covid and having a couple of days where the energy for such things seemed somewhat depleted. Here’s to all kinds of frivolous joy and merriment.
This time last year I was celebrating the completion of the taught part of my coaching qualification and remembering not to wait until the very end of something to celebrate it. There’s something about taking time to pause on the journey to take stock. A real value in taking time to see where you have come from and give a gentle nod to where next without being focused on what you consider to be the finishing line. It was also at this time that I invited people to share a hot chocolate with me in celebration. I rather like the idea of another shared hot chocolate moment so if you’re up for it, do make one and raise a toast to something that you are currently celebrating, and I will raise a toast to you as I drink mine. I will start by toasting a wonderful friend who recently completed a Diploma in Mental Health Leadership. She already does superbly valuable work, and I love that she has continued with studying and gained a new qualification.
Last week I recorded my poem ‘Snow’ in celebration of its publication in the Black Bough Christmas & Winter Anthology. I have received some lovely comments about the reading and there is a real joy for me in being able to do this and to see how far I have come in building my confidence to record my work. The Black Bough anthology includes a wonderful range of writing, and I always feel proud to be in the pages. Last year it allowed me to set down on the page our family tradition of The Man in the Moon which began when my sister was little. In evenings in the lead up to Christmas I would take her out for a walk to breathe the magical air of Christmas and as we were walking the Man in the Moon would send us clementines. They always tasted extra delicious from being out in the cold.
Writing each year for possible inclusion in the pages of the anthology has enabled me to reflect on a season that I used to dislike, and I have thoroughly enjoyed finding out which bits I particularly love and want to celebrate. The following poems have all featured in the pages and give a flavour of my reflection on the season...
WINTER’S THREAT
I remember winter’s threats from past years.
He says he will work in all the dark hours.
He says he’ll be spinning out discs of ice
setting slip traps.
He sends hints of snow,
a taster of what will be dumped down later.
He hangs the cold crescent moon in the sky.
I long to curl in silent hibernation.
OUR MAN IN THE MOON
Sleight of hand when darkness settles.
We are out to breathe
the magical air of Christmas.
You look in wonder
as the Man in the Moon
sends a clementine fresh from the sky.
Brightest of oranges.
Each segment refreshing cold.
SNOW
I could feel the weight
of the approaching fall
even before it came.
The sky a heavy yellowed grey,
that scent in the air nudging me with its cold hints.
I swore to love it this time
to watch the flakes spin down.
No more willing it to stop.
I stood under a low-slung crescent moon,
marvelled at the layering
of all those six-pointed stars.
May your festive season have moments of merriment and joy that etch themselves on your heart.
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