It's That Time Of Year Again!

Yes, it's that time of the year when our thoughts turn to resolutions, re-resolutions and re-re-resolutions!! I feel as though I am in a time warp, as I cannot believe that 2015 is sinking into the mists of time like the sun sinks into the sea at the end of a perfect day. A single green flash and it has gone!

Pic thanks to Google.

So, this year I thought that I would begin with all the positive political news and happenings that have kept our country (barely) afloat this year. I thought that after all the doom and gloom of the plunging rand, the soaring petrol, food and daily living prices, the depressing number of rhinos being murdered for a few ignorant 'Oriental gentlemen', and the drop in the number of tourists visiting us due to the ridiculous idea that all sorts of papers are necessary to prevent legitimate people from 'trafficking' their own children across our borders, I would give you some really positive political news.

So here goes....

Christmas Tinner!

Every year when I sit at my computer to write my Festive Jolly Christmas Blog, I can't believe that a year has passed so fast! And I am thinking exactly that again!

Where has 2015 gone? And 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.......... In fact, where has it all gone? It seems just the other day when 1999 clicked towards 2000 and we sat with candles at the ready and wondered whether our computers would self destruct and all the planes would fall out of the sky! And of course all was well and we laughed and said well we knew that everything would be fine! But I digress!

Christmas always brings thoughts of food! (Mind you, every day brings thoughts of food and thoughts of 'what am I going to cook today?') I remember mum spending Christmas morning in the kitchen surrounded by turkey, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, mince pies, and pudding and custard, while the windows steamed up and the fire was lit in the lounge and we played with our new toys! Then after lunch it was washing up time! Piles of plates and pots and pans, knives forks and spoons, while mum reminded whoever was washing 'don't put the handles of the knives in the water'. Those bone handled knives are still going strong, we use them every day and every time I wash them I say to myself  'don't put the handles in the water'!

Our knives

The Twelve Days Of Christmas!

I know that this may be a day early for 12 days before Christmas, but because I didn't write a blog last weekend, I decided not to wait until the time was right, but to go right ahead and give you my version of that popular Christmas song (and no it is nothing that Boney M have ever sung....hopefully) called 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. I thought that there must be some history behind what seemed to be a simple song, so, yes, I googled it! And this is what I found.

'According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS:

The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The five golden rings represented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Saviour.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity].
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

Original Source: Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, Nebraska
Printed with permission from Catholic Tradition.'

And thanks to Google.

I spent a lot of time mulling over typically 'Weskus' flora and fauna (lovely names for cats) so I hope that this meets with your approval even though there is no deeper meaning to my words:

So, here in reverse order from 12 days to 1 day.... and you have to sing it out loud please:
   
 On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Twelve whales a blowing
Eleven crayfish growing
Ten springboks pronking *
Nine gypos honking **
Eight seals a swimming
Seven gulls a screaming
Six tourists leaving ***
Five tor-toi-ses
Four scorpions
Three mole snakes
Two francolins
And a boomslang in a manotoka tree.

* not our rugby team
** short for Egyptian geese
*** not you Michael and Hedwig

One thing puzzles me though. Are the twelve days supposed to happen before Christmas or afterwards? 

If it's before, well, go ahead and sing.

And if not, wait a bit!