Next week it is Christmas again. Although I am seventy-five years old, it will be my seventy-sixth. A milestone I never imagined I would reach; we all remember when we thought fifty was ancient. As it is Christmas time, I should not burden you with a long blog this week, rather just to remind you it is a time to think of others.
Last year, at this time, I was in continual pain coupled with weekly visits to the hospital, ending up each time being prescribed with another course of antibiotics meant to combat yet another infection, each time to no avail. This was a weekly occurrence for almost three months, coupled with in that time various scans and tests all unable to find the root of the problem. Luckily, just before Christmas last year Dr Cardoso, my local GP, found an antibiotic which gave me some relief allowing me to get through the festive season without being hospitalised. I will be honest in saying I was beginning to wonder if I I would see another Christmas, thinking perhaps that one would be my last. Now, here I am a year later, feeling as well as I have in the previous four years.
“When your ill never give up, not so much for yourself but for your family. I am a grumpy old bugger but they, that is my family, still seem to enjoy having me around.” - Peter McSporran
We are looking forward to the arrival of my daughter Storm and her partner Duncan joining us for Christmas. Janine and her husband Nathan, being in America, can not join us on this day while our son Selby and his fiancee Maggie are spending Christmas with her mother and brother in Edinburgh. We will celebrate Christmas at home and have invited a couple of our neighbours, the Tideys and Kempers, to join us for lunch on the day. So far we have had a Portuguese and Iranian Christms meal, we will have a British one on Christmas Day with an ageing sirloin roast on the bone maturing nicely in the fridge for the event. No turkey, thank goodness, nor duck for a change.
“As an adult, I feel Christmas has diminished in importance due to the retail companies advertising and decorating their outlets many months in advance, diluting the historical anticipation of a concentrated Christmas around the actual date. I used to feel as a child it all went very quick but in doing so raised its significance. Christmas did not linger, it came and went. There are just so many carols and Christmas songs you can listen to before they become monotonous, which inevitably happens long before Christmas nowadays.” - Peter McSporran.
Last Wednesday, we had our ‘Old Farts’ lunch for the Tuesday Drinks Group, which meets on a Thursday. No wonder we got so upset about the changing of the street names in Zimbabwe, we cannot change the name of the group to suit the actual day, which by admission, causes much consternation to any new potential members who have been known to say, “I went to the chosen venue and no one was there on Tuesday,” Tuesday is now Thursday. I refer to it as ‘Old Farts’ as I am reminded of the lunches for the aged group of mainly farmers held at Harare Sports Club once a week following the loss of our farms.
We had an Iranian supper at the weekend with our Iranian/German neighbours who lived for many years in South Africa. This past Monday, today's Tuesday, I am a day late in writing this, we went to a Portuguese lunch with friends who had been close friends of the Cary’s when they lived in Beira, Mozambique. At a later date, their son Ze returned to the Cary’s farm, Cockington to do his agricultural practical before commencing his tertiary education, still friends despite leaving Africa fifty years ago. We have shared memories although to be honest it is also sad that we also have a shared bitterness in being forced from our homes. In Mozambique it was for everyone, not just farmers. 24/7. This meant twenty four hours to pack and leave taking only seven kilograms of belongings per person. In saying that, the action against the farmers caused economic meltdown in Zimbabwe forcing the majority of professionals and tradesmen to leave that country, hence so many of us being scattered throughout the world with internet communication to keep in touch.
“The internet is a useful and convenient way to keep in touch with friends and family but it requires application. Even in the cloud, threads can be broken too easily unless you maintain them.” - Peter McSporran
As I yet again reflect on Christmas over the years I know it was and is meant to be much more special for children. It was wonderful to witness our children enjoying it, especially in opening their presents which would bring back fond memories of our own. As a child we were oblivious to the charade around Father Christmas’s visit in the night bringing the presents, something as an adult we ourselves secretly carried out the same charades. The childrens’ joy was our joy. Carols reminded you of end of school term and Christmas Eve services. Now the joy has been replaced with the tedium of daily repeats for months on radio and TV by corporate retailers in search of your hard earned money. Is that too cynical a thought at Christmas?
Despite my negativity, it remains a special time for families, and it does us well to remember those friends without family close by and ensure we at least spend some time with them and bring some cheer into their lives even if only a call.. With the internet now, that old excuse of international calls being too expensive no longer applies. It just requires a bit of effort. Please write in your diary a time and date to call someone, then it is more likely to occur. Saying I meant to call and didn't is little comfort to the person who did not receive the call. I myself can be guilty of this.
“Loneliness is always more pronounced at Christmas for those without family and friends to share it with. Even a call can make a big difference in an otherwise lonely life.” - Peter McSporran.
On that note, I wish you all a peaceful and happy festive time with your family and friends. Merry Christmas.
Disclaimer: Copyright Peter McSporran. The content in this blog represents my personal views and does not reflect corporate entities.
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