It's Still Life

1. Nico says that I’m ninety ten years old. And to think that just a few days ago I walked 17.9 kilometres around London. Not half bad for a woman who’s 100, however I’m filled with thankfulness that I’m not 100. Yet.

2. I am happy as a dog with two tails that I only have to listen to Mariah Carey for one day. (postscript: make that three days plus a bit of Wham) … and I’m thankful for earbuds that noise-cancel Burl Ives. 

This photo is Convent Gardens packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. I am not a fan of crowds, but the children loved it and I am thankful they had fun. They loved the artificial snow that flew through the air on the hour every hour.

3. I am thankful that the mailbox didn’t eat Luisa’s hand as she claimed it did, whilst hand-delivering Christmas cards to neighbours – a task not without risks (just ask any postman).

I made pages of colouring books for Luisa and Nico using a.i. Midjourney.

4. Nico says I can’t be Santa because I’m “too old to sneak”. I am thankful that I don’t have to sneak down the chimney. I’ll leave that sort of thing to the House Elf.


5. I am thankful that picky eaters don’t (I hope) starve to death. 

7. I am thankful that I don’t have to pick-off the thick marzipan frosting from the Christmas cake before eating it because one of the grandchildren did it for me, leaving behind just the cake, or it might’ve been both of them, but both deny doing it … and that’s fine my me.

Luisa decided it was the House Elf. Nico decided it was the gorilla. Or maybe a goat. We agreed that it was certainly something with a name starting with the letter G. Unless it was the elf, in which case its name started with the letter E. Like E is for elephant.

8. I am particularly thankful for the sound of children laughing in this house again. I miss children. I miss my children. I miss my children’s children. I will not let a moment of these next three weeks escape my notice.

9. I am thankful for no blisters and that my hips, legs and feet held up during our day before Christmas Eve walk in London, which totalled 22,800 steps. That’s 17.9 kilometres.

I had a hotdog from a pop-up along at the Thames Christmas Market (whatcha want on it Luv, asked the cook standing in the midst of burning-wood smoke). I waved my hand, as if conjuring every ingredient imaged, which is what I got.

I remembered to take a photo … but only after I finished eating it. It was delish!

10 … and finally, I am thankful for every last one of you. Happy Boxing Day!

Please forgive me if I am late in replying to your comments. I’m a little busy the next few weeks.