How did I let my house get in such a mess? Shocking. Today was about trying to restore some order into the chaos that is the Doubleday lives before Molly brings her own chaos home later in the week. It has also been a time to get on with wrapping the Christmas presents that need to go in the post. As the years have gone on these parcels have been less and less as children have grown up but there are still a few little families that we like to send something to at Christmas. I am trying to get organised because I am off to Glasgow tomorrow with my mother to visit the Christmas market and I don't want to be duplicating presents. I am quite good at that as it happens.
I am not sure it got light on the island today and I have not ventured out. It is one of those grey days where there is no horizon as the clouds drift down to meet the sea. These days are a little challenging as we miss the sunshine but it is all part of the season. After the strong winds earlier in the week there isn't a leaf on the trees on the smallholding and we have well and truly sunk into winter. On One soul many hearts we are steering our way through the month by focusing on all things 'enchanting.' If you haven't visited the site you should pop across because there are some inspirational things to help see you through these dark days.
We are making Christmas stockings for the animals in home school this week and this will help the boys practice their sewing machine skills again. I am also planning a little applique so that they can do some more embroidery. They are all excellent sewers and we shall be gathered around the fire chatting away about Christmas. This is the start of our time as a family which I hold very dear indeed. With older children (two of which are adults) we can never assume that they will join us for Christmas so it is a bonus when they do.
Friday is the Save the Children Christmas jumper day. If you haven't signed up for it you should seriously consider it and get your work colleagues to join in as well. Decorating an old jumper before wearing it with pride is at the centre of the day with a £1.00 donation by text for everyone who joins in. It is a little bit of fun at Christmas but should boost funds at a time when more money than usual is required. The main priority for Save the Children and UNICEF is to distribute winter packs to every family who needs one. These include warm boots, blankets and jumpers and this is especially important for displaced families who have fled Syria and now find themselves in refugee camps in much colder countries.
I am taking a break from my charity work for the month of January so that I can meet it again with renewed enthusiasm in February. It is quite demanding emotionally and we are advised to take time out every so often. I always struggle with the commercialism of Christmas in the west but this year has been particularly challenging. The divide between those that have and those that have not has never been more noticeable with families in the Philippines having lost everything. But it is not just abroad where people are suffering. I am growing increasingly frustrated with the energy companies in this country as the price of heating our homes gets out of control. I feel for those on very low incomes and the sick and elderly at this time that have to choose between heat and food. To add to the injustice of all this MPs are taking an 11% pay rise which leaves me speechless. It seems to me that too many people have lost sight of fairness in the world and this is bringing out the worst in people. I think I am left with a feeling of helplessness and this is particularly acute around Christmas. I wonder what would happen if everyone that was lucky enough to be planning a lovely Christmas gave some thought to someone they knew that isn't as lucky as them. How quickly change could happen then.
Scottish island mum is joining with One soul many hearts to try and do a bit more from this point forward. One soul many hearts will be having a brand new page in the new year called 'Helping Others' and it will be the focus of good deeds. Scottish island mum celebrated her first 1000 page views by carrying out 37 acts of kindness and that set the tone for the whole year. More people have visited that page than any other on the site and I am hoping it has given people ideas for what they might do to make other people's lives a little easier. The 'Helping Others' page will feature good will gestures and deeds and I hope will inspire us all. Sometimes it is the smallest deed that can make all the difference.
If anyone has anything to share for the new page and/or would like to help put it together I would love to hear from you.
Until tomorrow. xx
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