OURPARISH LIFE

DECEMBER 2020

The reason for the season

The Catholic Church in Weston-super-Mare,

Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Lourdes, St Josephs.

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

The Gospel calls the Catholic Churches in Weston to be a living sign of Christ

An open and vibrant community growing in Spirituality

An active community where all are encouraged to participate.

To work with other Churches, to spread the Good News to all and seek a greater understanding of other faiths.

To feed the hungry.

ADVENT

For four Sundays and a few days(less than a period of lockdown) we enter the season of Advent when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Church gives us three people who lead us through this Kairos or appointed time. They are Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary the mother of Jesus. We look to Isaiah for the prophecies of the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. We look to John the Baptist as the one who, in fulfilment of prophecies, prepares a way for the Lord. We look to Mary as the Lowly Handmaid of the Lord who was chosen by God to be the Mother of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ. It was Isaiah who gave us the prophecy that the Virgin is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Emmanuel (which means God is with us) Is 7:14. All three people point to Jesus. We celebrate his first coming, God made man, born of the Virgin. We also proclaim that he is with us now in many hidden ways. We look to his second coming when he will come in glory at the end of time. We are joyful because God loved us so much that he gave his only Son (Jn3:16).

Canon Tom

Welcome, if you are picking this magazine up for the first time, my hope is that it brings our parish communities together.

This magazine started back in January as a small germ of an idea in my brain. Could I? Would Canon like the idea? All questions in my head. After a word with Canon Tom who said yes, we then had a meeting in February, where I showed him the prototype I had put together. This met with his approval; he then started his career as Editor- in- Chief by proof reading the copy, something he still does for each issue.

We decided the first issue would be at Easter, so I had time to fine tune it. Then lockdown happened, and I thought the whole idea would be shelved, but no - Canon decided it was to go on the website.

It wasn’t until July when the churches reopened that we finally went to print – what joy to hold that first printed copy in my hand.

I have learnt a lot since then about the type set, and how to make the format suitable for printing, it just doesn’t seem possible that here we are 11 months later with the December issue.

Here is my gift to you, my church family, a bumper Christmas issue. I hope you find within its covers something to amuse you, something interesting and something for quiet contemplation.

I have to give a great big thank you to Canon Tom, to Tracey for her enthusiastic support and patience with me and her help in understanding how the printer works, also the regular contributors, who never seem to mind a phone call with a request for “something for the magazine”.

I also have to thank you, our readers who have given me such kind words. You make it all worthwhile.

I wish all of you a happy Christmas, however we have to spend it, and a happy and healthy New Year.

Love

Angela

Marie’s riddles

1. What English word retains the same pronunciation, even after you take away four of its five letters.

2. I am four times as old as my daughter. In 20 years’ time I shall be twice as old as her. How old are we now?

3. What loses its head in the morning, but gets it back at night?4. What can you hear but not touch or see and yet control?5. You’re running a race, and you pass the person in 2nd. Place, what

position are you in now?6. I go all around the world, but never leave the corner. What am I?7. What kind of room has no doors or windows?

A Christmas Hug

Take this hug and wrap it around you,Like the warmest winter coat.Feel the love and caring wordsThat come with this Christmas note.And on those days when life is crazy,As life sometimes can be.Just think of this little Christmas hugComing to you from me.

Sent in by Colleen Simpson way back in April, I kept it for this issue. It comes I believe from a card, but is very apt for these times even if all we can give is a virtual hug.

At that time the emperor issued a decree for a census of the whole empire to be taken. This first census was taken when Quirinus was governor of Syria. Everyone had to be registered in his own town, so every one set out for his own city. Joseph too set out from Nazareth of Galilee. As he belonged to the family of David, being a descendant of his, he went to Judea, to David’s town of Bethlehem to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was with child.

They were in Bethlehem when the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

There were shepherds camping in the countryside, taking turns to watch over their flocks by night. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them, with the glory of the Lord shining around them.

As they were terrified the Angel said to them “Don’t be afraid; I am here to give you good news, great joy for all the people. Today a Saviour has been born to you in David’s town of Bethlehem. He is the Messiah and the Lord. Let this be a sign to you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”.

When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven the shepherds said to one another “Let us go as far as Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us”. So they came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. On seeing him they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary she treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2; 1-19

When you go and light votive candles by the Lady Chapel in Corpus Christi, just by the statue of St Joseph, there is a small brass plaque. Have you noticed it?with the following inscription:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Geoffrey Rhys Thornton

22.10.35 – 26.07.18Maureen Thornton,

neé Millea26.02.41 – 04.09.18

GEO GRATIAS So who were Geoff and Maureen Thornton?Perhaps it is best if Geoff can remind us of a little about him and Maureen. Geoff’s article appeared in the November 2012 edition of 3 CPWSM – News and views of the THREE Catholic Parishes in Weston-super-Mare.

MY AUNTIE FLORRIE.........

She wasn’t really my Auntie. Florrie was partially sighted and had an unfortunate disfigurement causing her some grief during her life. She happened to shop at the same Grocers as my Grandma. The story goes that one day my Grandma noticed another shopper staring at Florrie’s disfigurement and with typical Yorkshire bluntness she said “What do you think you’re gawping at”. They became firm friends for the rest of their lives and got to know one another and their families as Yorkshire folk do. We called her “Auntie” Florrie forever after.

Florrie was a staunch member of the local Anglican Church, St Mary the Virgin – a notable Anglo Catholic centre in the area. On hearing the news one day that my Grandma’s daughter (my mother Lily) was soon to have her first child Auntie Florrie’s re-action was, “Make sure you get it baptised at St Mary’s – they thrive much better then you know”. That child was me (although I was only an ‘it’ then.) Five years later my brother Paul arrives and also at the insistence of Florrie, he too received a “holy ducking”. We both thrived as prophesied by Auntie Florrie (she and her husband stood as our God parents at our Baptisms.)

Our family was not a church-going one but we were always “packed off” to Sunday school on Sunday afternoon to the local Congregational Chapel. When the chapel closed we thought that we would no longer have to go anywhere again. No such luck. The following Sunday we were “packed off” to none other church than St Mary’s – the local Anglo-Catholic church. We didn’t know what to expect.

What splendour met us as we entered St. Mary’s – Auntie Florrie’s church!! – For the first time – what a contrast to the drab chapel we had gone to. The highly coloured and elaborate Sanctuary, with golden angels painted on the Altar front. Beautiful stained glass window, many statues of the saints with winking lights. A rood beam with crucifix and figures of Our Lady and St John (I can see it as I write.)

We must have sat open-mouthed as the “Sung Mass” began with organ music and the robed choir coming into their stalls in the Chancel.

The magnificent High Altar was lit by 10 antique silver candlesticks with a larger silver crucifix in the middle. Then began the procession around the church with cross, lights and embroidered banners. The smoke and smell of incense filled the church. The organ pealed and the choir sang “Hail thee festival day”. The Mass continued and we were “hooked”. We joined the choir; (boys and men) were later confirmed and took our first Holy Communion. Gradually, we became familiar with the Liturgy through the seasons of the Church’s year. It was then that I fell in love with the music of the Church and started to teach myself the organ. Our whole lives were centred round the church; its services and social activities.

All was to change. At age 18 (1953) I was called up for National Service (RAF) and experienced a different kind of Church. The ‘C of E’ chaplains seemed to have different beliefs than Sty Mary’s in spite of being “very good chaps”. Our unit was posted to RAF Eindhoven, Holland and I joined the Christian Fellowship there. Through the powerful Bible ministry of an American Baptist Missionary I came into a “born again” Faith!

When I was “demobbed” and no longer felt at home in my Anglo-Catholic Church, I went to several of our local churches and finally plumped for the Assembly of God Church which was experiencing a revival. There I was baptised with the Holy Spirit and in water (by full immersion.) I enjoyed working in the Sunday school, Evangelist in Outreach, and music groups. It was here that I met and married my dear wife Maureen (1962.)

After a time we were invited to serve in Evangelistic and Pastoral work in rural Lincolnshire where we stayed for four years. By then we had two lovely daughters Helen and Stephanie and needed a more secure living base.

We decided to move to Bristol (1971.) A friend from the RAF days offered us accommodation while we looked for work. It was then relatively easy to find. I finally ended up working for Bristol City Council, seconded to their work for Community Relations and Racial Equality, mainly in the St Paul’s and Easton area.

During this time we lived in Stoke Bishop (1971-78.) Our spiritual lives then were rather “on hold” but the break came when a free cottage with much needed extra room was offered in exchange for part-time duties as Verger at St Mary’s Henbury. It was a “bolt from the blue” and we were welcomed and appreciated for four lovely years. The cottage was literally next door to the 12th century parish church. Nearby was the beautiful Blaise Castle Estate. Our duties were very interesting and enjoyable. It brought renewal and healing into our lives. Through the local Ecumenical Lent Group we started going to the Charismatic Prayer Group at St Teresa’s, Filton. At this time Maureen had completed her B.Ed. degree at Redland College and started teaching at various schools.

After four happy years at Henbury, we decided to find a home of our own at nearby Westbury (1982.) Meanwhile, we were finding our involvement with St Teresa’s more and more absorbing and one night we were coming back from Prayer Group at Filton and I said to Maureen “Do you think the

Lord is calling us into the Catholic Church? She said “I’ve been waiting for you to say that for the past six months.” And so we were received into the Church in 1983.

In 1986 Maureen got a teaching post at Corpus Christi School and we finally moved to Weston-super-Mare. In 1991 I was asked to deputise as organist at Our Lady of Lourdes for six weeks during the sickness of the regular organist. He did not come back and I am still playing the organ there 21 years later.

We moved to Uphill in 1993 and now regard Corpus Christi Church as our spiritual home. Our appreciation of the fullness of Catholic Faith and teaching grows daily, Deo Gratias!

What would Auntie Florrie have made of all this I wonder? She certainly kept track of all my wanderings as she promised at my Baptism all those years ago. She kept her promises and by God’s grace I hope to keep mine too. May we meet “merrily in heaven.”

Geoff Thornton

Geoff usually played the organ at Requiem Masses at Corpus Christi and sometimes at the Saturday vigil Mass. He first learnt to play the organ at St Mary’s Anglo Catholic church. Geoff & Maureen were Yorkshire people and he used to tell me of how liquorice was grown around Pontefract often in people’s gardens – do you remember the small round black Pontefract Cakes. There is still an inexplicable worldwide demand for them even today!Geoff went to the BRI for a bypass operation and unfortunately he then had a heart attack and died. Maureen said that she could not live without Geoff and she died 40 days later.Their Requiem Masses were held in Corpus Christi church.

Richard Austin

Monti writes to Boris

“Monti is the son of my niece, who lives in Cumbria and Monti was very concerned about Santa not being able to visit this Christmas with the Covid-19 situation. However, Boris replied to his letter reassuring him that this would not be the case. This was on the BBC news and radio 2, and also hit the local news in Cumbria. Monti was very excited to be on the television and didn’t think his letter would get this far. Just goes to show how concerned he was and hopefully will put other children’s minds at rest”.

Tracey.

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN

St. Stephen – feast day 26th December. Patron saint of deacons, headaches, horses, coffin makers and masons.

St. Stephen was one of the first deacons of the Christian Church. He was the first Christian martyr. When the number of disciples increased, there was much confusion over the distribution of alms and the serving of the poor, Stephen’s trustworthy character marked him out, and he was chosen as one of the seven deacons who would perform the task.

St. Stephen was stoned to death, an event witnessed by St. Paul. It is believed he died around the year 34AD. He was initially buried in a grave north of Jerusalem, but his body was exhumed and moved to a new grave outside the Damascus Gate. This is where the stoning was believed to have taken place. He is often represented with rocks on his head.

St Stephens’s day became Boxing Day in the early middle ages, St Stephen having been associated with charity, it was the day when the alms boxes in churches were traditionally opened, also the day when rich landowners would give gifts to the people who worked on their land, often leftover food from the Christmas feast. Later, it became the day when servants got the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families.

Before World War 2 it was common on Boxing Day for working people to travel around their delivery places to collect their Christmas box or tip. This tradition has now mainly stopped. St Stephen’s day is when the carol Good King Wenceslas’ is set. The carol is about a rich King helping the poor, and it was written in in 1853 and reflects the Victorian view of charity at Christmas.

MemoriesBrett: “During the 1930’s, at the time of the depression, my father - anxious to find work, travelled all over Wales, finally finding work as a motor mechanic at the bus depot in Swansea. As a small child, with my brothers and sisters, my mother and grandmother had gone to Cardiff shopping, my father was looking after us. He must have heard someone coming so all the lights were turned out and we had to be very quiet. I remember sitting in the dark with his hand on my shoulder to keep me still. There was a knock on the door. When there was no answer the steps went away. Father was on call at the depot, but this time he was looking after us all, if he had said he couldn’t go in he would have lost his job. Work was so scarce, that he could not afford that risk. He eventually became an inspector at the depot in charge of the other mechanics.

Marie: “When I was growing up, I lived with my family in a two up two down terraced house in Walkden, Manchester. On Boxing Day 1951, I was 3 years old, with my brothers John 12, Michael 11, Francis 5 and sister Kathleen 8, we had enjoyed a happy day playing with our new toys. The baby, Martin was 18 months old.

We had all the Christmas decorations up and a cardboard crib on the front window sill, with a little night light in front of it to welcome the birth of Jesus. Sometime during the night, John was woken by the smell of smoke – the nightlight had set fire to the crib, which in turn set fire to the curtains, and the whole of the front room was ablaze. He ran shouting to my parents, and we were all roused from our beds, and shepherded into the backyard, only then realising no one had picked up the baby each one thought someone else had him. Dad ran back inside and grabbed baby Martin, fortunately the fire was contained in the front room. I can vividly remember standing in the yard bare foot watching the flames while waiting for the fire brigade to arrive, my dad tried to salvage what he could from the kitchen before the fire reached it.

A neighbour had run to the top of the street to the telephone box, to ring the fire brigade (no mobile phones then) but when they didn’t arrive quickly, my mam still in her nightwear ran to phone them again. It was a very long time after that before mam could bring herself to use a phone without getting upset.

The fire brigade arrived and put the fire out quickly, but not before all the windows had shattered from the heat, and most of the furniture ruined, and of course all the presents received for Christmas were gone. My sister recalls the only thing that was salvaged from the front room was a picture of the Sacred Heart which had hung on the wall.

There we were in just about the clothes we stood up in, but the community spirit being what it was in those days, all the neighbours rallied round. We spent the next several days being looked after and sleeping on settees and spare beds in various homes nearby. Families then didn’t have much but whatever they had they shared with us. A local fish and chip shop sent 10 shillings (50p in today’s money) but it was a lot then. Other neighbours who had children, donated toys and clothes to us. The kindness and generosity of friends and neighbours at that time will never be forgotten. But the most important thing was that we were all alive and unharmed. There is one thing I am sure of – somebody up there was definitely watching over us that night.

I am the small girl in the middle with ringlets.”

Margaret: “Cluttering the table making endless yards of paperchains and festooning the ceiling with them and coloured lanterns, I don’t recall ever believing in Santa Clause or in hanging up stockings, but I do remember pushing my feet to the bottom of the bed and feeling the weight on top of them, then coming down stairs and finding other gifts and sometimes we went searching around as some had been hidden, I remember finding one in the laundry basket. We always had books at Christmas the usual child classics and many more; I never remember not being able to read. One year I was cast as a lamb at the school nativity play, kneeling by the manger, with a papier- mache mask and a long- sleeved white vest and other unconvincing bits and pieces. After lunch dad would give us each a box of chocolates or toffees. We had plenty of sweets during the year but to have a small box to ourselves seemed wonderful. I do remember on Christmas evening among a welter of wrapping paper, being sorry that Christmas day was over.”

Jan: “Our children woke up Christmas morning to a sack of Christmas presents at the bottom of the bed, filled with toys, then down to the living room for more toys. They had decorated the house with homemade paper chains, and made sure the tree looked lovely. My mum came to us for the day, and the table was set beautifully and we all dressed in our best for the day. It was usually turkey with all the trimmings for dinner, and the Christmas pudding would be alight and filled with silver sixpences. After dinner, out for a walk and then tea, having invited the neighbours to join us.

Angela: “We woke up to a pillow case at the bottom of the bed (only half full), with a clementine, a penny and a walnut at the bottom and always a selection box and a few small toys. We did not usually have all that chocolate to ourselves. Then dressed, down for breakfast and then being allowed into the front room for the rest of the presents. We usually only had one major present. I remember Philip’s Meccano set and Colin’s toy fort. I’m a bit hazy on mine. My mother kept chickens and one would have been fattened up for Christmas. This she would see to, and I can still see her on Christmas eve sitting plucking it and we would then collect the feathers into sacks. We had made paper chains, and decorated the tree. Mother would have made the pudding and like Jan there were silver sixpences in it and the lights would have been turned out and it would be lit.

The tradition of putting fruit in Christmas stockings started during the depression years, when parents had very little money, and could not afford presents, as oranges were scarce, they were treated as luxuries. This carried on through the war years and into the fifties.

I tend to only have a bowl of clementine’s at Christmas, and when I peel them the smell takes me straight back to those past Christmases.

Christmas cards

The sending of Christmas cards was introduced by Henry Cole in 1843, he was a senior civil servant who had helped to set up the post office in 1840, and also introduced the penny post, which made it more open to everybody to send anything by post, before this only the rich could afford it.

This was helped by the spread of the railways. These could carry much more post than the horse and carriage which had been used previously. In 1870 the cost of sending a postcard, and also Christmas cards, dropped to half a penny making the sending of cards much more popular. There were over 11 million cards printed by 1880.

Currently over 900 million cards are sent in the UK.

Christmas crackersCrackers were started by Tom Smith in 1847. He took a trip to Paris where he came across the French bon- bon, a sweet wrapped in tissue paper. It was a novelty at the time and Tom Smith decided to introduce them to England. To make them more attractive he substituted a present for the sweet, and put in the bang. It hasn’t changed much since. The company was granted the royal warrant in 1906 and still supplies the royal household today.

Christmas crackers are still popular and approximately 154 million crackers are pulled each year.

Two delightful traditions which we can still enjoy today.

Christmas cracker jokes

So very bad, they are funny!

Did Rudolph go to school?No. He was elf- taught

What athlete is warmest in Winter?A long jumper

What do you serve but never eat?A tennis ball

What did the grape do when it got stepped on?It let out a little wine!

What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?Tinsilitis!

What do they sing at a snowman’s birthday party?Freeze a jolly good fellow!

How do sheep greet each other at Christmas?A Merry Christmas to ewe!

What do reindeer hang on their Christmas trees?Horn-aments!

What do you call a dog with a bunch of daisies on its head?A collie-flower!

What kind of pet did Aladdin have?A flying car-pet!

What do angry mice send to each other at Christmas?Cross-mouse cards!

What kind of paper likes music?Wrapping paper!

Christmas Dinner

A Georgian farmhouse meal for 11 people; - boiled hams, roast geese and hens, boiled and roast beef, and 2 roast hares. If that was not enough rabbit pies and a big ham in readiness. Also apple pies, Christmas pudding, junkets and various divers’ things. Large mince pies, Christmas cake, cold meats etc. for tea, if that wasn’t enough supper was provided later. One of the large mince pies and apples were given to the farm workers. the three servants who served the meal were also eating the same meal. All this was produce from the farm, and was prepared by the farmer’s wife and the three servants over 2-3 days -amazing!

Thankfully now we eat a lot less, but always it seems turkey. This appeared on Christmas tables in the 16th century, but only for the very rich. Its popularity spread throughout the 17th century, but goose was still the predominant meat during the Victorian era, and goose clubs were started in pubs so that the poor could have a Christmas feast.

Turkey became the standard Christmas dinner in the 20th century, except during the two world wars, where home raised chicken or a rabbit was had. Those people who did not raise chickens were left with the meat the butcher could supply. There was a dish invented of a lump of sausage meat shaped as a fowl, and roasted, called mock goose. Dried fruit was scarce and any that could be found were saved to make the cake, if there was any left for the pudding they were padded out with breadcrumbs and grated carrot. In the 50’s turkey was back on the menu with all the extras we still have today. With turkey now available throughout the year, more people are having different roast meats.

A young boy and his little sister were at a church carol service shortly before Christmas. As they sang “Silent Night”’ the boy finished off by singing (very loudly), “Sleep in heavenly beans”.“No” his sister corrected him. “It’s not beans, its peas”.

Present wrapping

Wrapping paper can’t be recycled because it is often laminated with plastic foil or other non-paper materials; some wrapping paper is very thin and contains few good quality fibres so is not suitable for recycling. Either save or dispose of it in your household wastebin. Gift bags are popular because they can be reused year after year; often a bag full of bags is hiding in a cupboard somewhere. A true friend gives your gift in a bag but does not write on the label provided because they know you will use it again next year.

There is a great movement to use brown paper to wrap presents, this can be decorated yourself with paints or stamps, there are coloured stamp pads available, good for children to practice their art. Presents wrapped in brown paper can be cheered up with coloured ribbon and cones and berries (less garish perhaps).

If a gift is of sewing items, wrap in a suitable fabric for the project, for a small gift a pattern from the internet could be photocopied on A4 paper or wallpaper; plain side could be decorated as the brown paper option. May be you are giving a knitted item. The left over wool could be braided for the binding. Perhaps you are giving something for the kitchen. Why not wrap in a pretty tea towel.

Sometimes a little imagination can make the presentation of the gift very individual to the recipient.

These presents have been tied with coloured baker’s twine, easily available from the Range or the Works or online.

If you haven’t got the natural cones and berries, fake ones are readily available.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

Here is a guide to Christmas presents, some easy ones you can do yourself, (we all have a potential talent for something). Some may need a small amount to be spent. After all the holy season is all about love, sharing, caring, peace and good will to all – not rushing about with a set amount of that ever- shrinking pound.

a. - Angel, bought or home made with cardboard tube, white crepe paper and gold cord

b. - Baskets of hobby items, matching the recipient’s hobby.c. - Clay pots, decorated. Cheese selection, maybe with a home- made

cheese board, cat stuff, cats love anything stuffed with cat nip, clothing.

d. - Dog stuff, all sorts of things are available to buy, but a hand knitted jacket or home- made toys or home- made suitable dog biscuits.

e. - Embroidered items or ethical gifts.f. - flowering pot plantg. - Gift basket of home- made goodies, garden stuff - perhaps seeds you

saved yourself or a garden apron you have made.h. - Hyacinths or hugs -easy to send in the post, don’t crease and one

size fits all.i. - Iced cake or biscuits, preferably home-madej. - Jewelry, bought or hand madek. - Kitchenalia – utensils, china dishes etc. knitted anything.l. - Lavender anything, if you’re giving a clothing gift it is nice to tuck a

lavender sachet in with the item.m. - Mobile to hang in the breeze, mobile phone cover, easy to make.n. - Nuts, in fancy jars or dishes.o. - Orange- chocolate (oh yes!), or pomander, easy to make.p. - Photo album, sort out all those photos in the box, potpourri in a pretty

bowl, pot holder, easy to make

q. - Quilted something, Quality Street (it wouldn’t be Christmas without them), quiet time- give a busy person help to have some time to themselves.

r. - Recipe for your signature dish, if a cake, make the cake, give that with the recipe, (unless it is a secret).

s. - Stocking- handmade filled with goodies, nice soap in a pretty dish.

t. - Tea-fancy, teddy bear (don’t we all love them), themed baskets.

u. - Unusual pot plants, pitcher plant for example.

v. - Vouchers for time, give someone a break – babysitting for example.

w. - Woven belt or headband.

x. - eXtraordinary stuff, left to your imagination.

y. - Yellow table mats or table linen.

z.- Zzz cooks nap, after the Christmas feast, the cooks rest while every- one else clears up and puts away. Zygo cactus, perhaps grown from a cutting of yours.

Whatever present you give – give it with a smile and a kind word, both cost nothing and are priceless, and you don’t need the receipt.

Compiled with a great deal of help from my friend Julie, Tracey and her family.

Our gardens in December Very little to be done outside this month, leaving more time to be spent indoors making sure we have plenty of creature comforts for the festivities coming up. Days are shorter but we can still have a few sunny days to get out, well wrapped up. There may still be a few leaves to sweep up, and just general tidying up.

On Christmas day, go into the garden and see if any plants are in bloom, you can sometimes find a rose in flower. Tell me what you see, please ring me by the 27 th December for inclusion in the January issue.

Our Pets at ChristmasThere are quite a few foods that are dangerous to cats and dogs. Grapes, currants, sultanas, raisins and foods made with them are toxic to both, as are chocolate, alcohol and members of the onion family (garlic leeks, shallots, and chives), also xylitol – an artificial sweetener often found in a lot of the sweets we eat at Christmas. The meaty string used to tie the joint can be attractive to both, so please dispose of well, don’t forget both cats and dogs love to raid rubbish bins for the tempting smells that come out, turkey or chicken bones are dangerous as they shatter when crunched and can pierce throats or stomachs.

If you want to give a treat most meat and some veg are okay. Emergency vets see a dramatic rise in poisoning in both cats and dogs at Christmas.

Also dangerous is wrapping paper, and tinsel. Cats are very curious and love anything shiny so put the tinsel, lights and glass baubles at the top of the tree, best avoid tinsel altogether.

Indoor plants can be dangerous to cats – lilies of any kind are very toxic, as are berries from holly or mistletoe, poinsettias are mildly toxic, best kept out of reach.

(A little, white fluffy dog called Charlie ate a piece of fruit cake and became very ill, his owners knew he was ill as he went out in the rain and just lay down, not moving. Having been rushed to the vet's, he was put on a drip for two days and had a high temperature with internal bleeding. Luckily Charlie survived and is at home recovering. This happened in the last few days. Please do be careful with your pets this Christmas).

Riddle answers

1. Queue.2. I am 40 my daughter is 10.3. A pillow.4. Your voice.5. 2nd.6. A stamp.7. A mushroom

The January issue will not be published until the 5th January because of the office closure over Christmas and New Year, any item you wish published in that issue would need to be put in the office by the 22nd December, or emailed or rang into me by the 27th December.

The adult version ofheads, shoulders,knees and toes;

isWallet, glasses,keys and phone

EDITORIAL TEAM

Editor – in – chief Canon Tom

Editor and compiler – Angela Clarke- to contact me;

Phone 01934 647807 or email magazine101@btinternet.com

or left at the presbytery marked for my attention, or if OLOL given to Canon to bring back.

Publishing and distribution Tracey

The editorial team wishes you a happy, holy Christmas.

May the light of

Christ Jesus born for us

shine on you

and your family

this Christmas