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
