Waiting for Christmas

 

16th December 2020

Today has been particularly dull and wet after a reasonable day yesterday. Rain is generally looked on differently in Zambia, where the start of the rainy season is welcomed because it is needed to grow the household crops which provide essential food for many who have little income.

My friends are busy now tending their fields and watching the maize grow. Rain, sunshine and temperatures in the mid twenties make ideal growing conditions.So, as I see the shoots of my Spring bulbs push through I think of the maize growing in the fields in Zambia.

I am fortunate to be able to help my friends with a packet or two of seeds and some fertilizer. It is a delight when I hear in April or May that the crop is being harvested. Many years ago I sent my Dad a Christmas Card which told him that I had given away the money I had for his Christmas present to a friend who needed maize seed to grow food for his family. A few months later I sent my dad a photo of Osman in his field of maize - my father never forgot that Christmas present!

Here it is that strange time of year as we await Christmas - particularly strange this year. I am looking forward to mass meetings of friends and relatives this year! Before you think I am being irresponsible I should explain my meetings will be online. I have a plan to see as many of my friends and relatives as possible - including a meeting for all of my grandfather's descendents - I have 4 children and six grandchildren to start. Little is happening in my garden. There is now just a single flower on the Cosmos plant.

I was surprised to see a couple of campanula flowers in my daughter's garden, then found I also have a couple in my garden.

I was surprised to see a flower already forming on my forsythia - this bush usually gives a magnificent early Spring display.

Some years ago I was inspired by the idea of advent candles. I decided to place a set of lights on a small Acer tree for each week of Advent. We had the tree since we moved in about 30 years earlier and the tree was about 4-5 feet high - as it had always been. It is now more than 12 feet high!! I claim it is the effect of the Advent lights!! I put out a third set of lights on my Acer this week for Gaudate Sunday, only to find they failed to work when put on the tree. I need to buy more lights to compensate and make sure that by Christmas I have a fine display.

Keep safe,

Chris