"Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin'?"

Christmas Eve. Wow. How time flies.



Today I thought I'd share with you a 'TFF' topic that I am just crazy about. CC. No, not Canadian Club. Christmas Carols. Christmas Carols fill my soul with joy. They force me to reflect on the reason for Christmas. They force me to realize what's most important in my life - and that is love. Love for my family and friends and all those who are willing to share joy and kindness with others. It may not be the literal reason behind Christmas, but it sure is a glorious reminder. Here are my Top Five Favourite Christmas Carols. Click on the titles to have a listen.



5. Rockin' around the Christmas Tree - The only up-tempo song on my list. Reminds me of my Grandad...and Home Alone. 



4. Silent Night - This ol' faithful was a favourite to sing at School Assembly. I am particularly fond of the Boyz II Men Acapella Version.



3. The first Noel - There is something about this song that makes me feel at peace. It also makes me so thankful.



2. O Holy Night - There is something so grand about this song, but I always get a feeling of uneasiness during the part that gets really intense. I think that is my Christmas guilt. I think of families who are less fortunate and can't celebrate Christmas. I think of people who are alone.



1. Have yourself a Merry little Christmas - Oh Judy, dear Judy. How lovely is this song. It reminds me of the touching emotional scene in every Christmas movie ever made. Her voice and the song are both exceptional.





Have a safe and wonderful Christmas. God Bless.

XXX

"May your days be merry"

Christmas is upon us. I am so happy. In fact I am feeling very merry indeed today. It hasn't all been smooth sailing though. I heard someone say yesterday that if you're not enjoying the season - you're missing the point. I've taken this on board, and am letting the little stresses fade away with a little help from some laughter.



Stress: The decorated Christmas tree fell over. All over rover.

Laughing it off: After a little rescue, it is re-potted and re-decorated. It looks better the second time around. 

Stress: Not having time to vacuum before Erica and Aaliah came over.

Laughing it off: Being glad that I didn't after the Aaliah vs. Cookie massacre.



Stress: Figuring out quantities for having ten people for breakfast on Christmas morning.

Laughing it off: Oh well if I don't cook enough food it's not as if they'll go hungry all day.



Stress: Not having completed my Christmas shopping.

Laughing it off: Tackling it with Erica and her Cherub.

NB: 16 month old cutie survives 4 hours of shopping with not a single tantrum - wakes up from a nap and showers her god-mother with cuddles)



Stress: Having a Hairdresser butcher my fringe.

Laughing it off: Walking in off the street (to a different salon) with no appointment (at this time of year) and having an awesome hairdresser fix it...for free!



Here is a pic of the disaster before I had it fixed last night. I know it's not straightened in the after pic, but really it made not much difference!

I would have taken one of the fringe now it has been fixed, but I'm still in my pyjamas!

I'm off to finish cleaning and bake brownies. Have a merry day!

"Labels or Love"

I am totally lusting over Nude shoes this week. Well always actually. Christmas 2006, Brad bought me a pair of electric blue 1950's inspired peep toes. Nude shoes are so comfortable,  funky and fairly affordable (as far as shoes go), this is a winning combination. I popped on to their site today and it's official - I want the entire spring collection. Here are a few styles I am particularly in love with.

All images from nudefootwear.com.au

"Girls, forget what you've read, it happened like this"

Context

 This week I am finishing writing in essay for my English Literature paper. The paper is called 'Classical Traditions in English literature'. We basically look at different interpretations of Classical Greek myth over time. My essay is a comparative piece on an extract from the Orpheus myth from the Ovid and Sandra Gilbert's 'Bas relief: Bacchante'. The essay is going well. Some of the interpretations make me giggle.



Summary

If you don't know the myth, Orpheus is a musician of sorts, whose lyrical delights calm, soothe and sort of control nature, from rocks to animals. Orpheus marries a young girl named Eurydice (You-rid-e-see). On their wedding day Eurydice is bitten by a snake and dies. Orpheus ventures down to the underworld to try and persuade Hades and Persephone to return Eurydice to the state of and place of living. He succeeds in doing so by singing them a song. Hades and Persephone agree to let Eurydice return to the living world with Orpheus...under one condition, that Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice as they make their way out of the underworld. He does. Most Epic. Fail. Eurydice is then left in the underworld forever more and Orpheus is destined to live his life alone. But wait..there's more. Once Orpheus has returned to the land of the living he is so grief stricken that he apparently refuses to sleep with the local women. They hate this. They kill him. Perhaps for holding out? Perhaps for the ill-fated stare?



Theories

Many feminist theories slam Orpheus for even daring to drag his supposed pompous butt down to the underworld in the first place. Many claim that Eurydice was finally free of existing in Orpheus' shadow.

Of course the fact that he stupidly looked back gets them going too.

Then there are those who humorously suggest that Eurydice wanted to be left down there, and did all that she could (*wink wink) to get Orpheus to look back.



The part that I don't understand

Was Orpheus a pig-headed, macho fool to think he could just storm down there and re-claim his woman? Perhaps.

But what if he hadn't?

What would feminists say now?

Well I can't speak for the feminist movement but I can ask, what if he had just left her down there? What would feminists women around the globe have to say about that?



"He just left her down there?!"



"He didn't even try?!"



"He has talents that control nature, and he doesn't even think to march down there and play Hades a song? The cheek of it!"



I conclude

In over 2000 years, women still do not always know what they want.

"Now this is a story"

Some more comic gold from the Hawkins video vault. My cousin Leah is the one doing the storytelling. I'm the one who chimes in with "I've got one". I love how my Mum and Aunty Deb are brutally honest. It makes me laugh even harder when Leah is told she has to tell stories that make sense and she says "No..."

This cracks me up!

"Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s."

I woke up this morning tired. I dragged my butt out of bed, threw on some gym clothes, and dragged myself (and my iPod) out to the beach, and in to the sunshine. I tried to let my iPod drown out my own thoughts, It didn't work.

I thought about the ending of 2010. It's been an interesting year. Lots of good, and unfortunately lots of sad too.



A little over a year ago I wrote this post. It's been over a year since my Mum was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. An entire year has passed. It has gone quite quickly but at times it felt painfully slow. Today she is Breast Cancer free. And it feels amazing. I feel for families that aren't as lucky as us. I always will.



I am glad that this year is nearly over. There is SO MUCH to look forward to in the next 18 months. And although I am looking forward to waving good riddance to 2010 and breast cancer, I cannot deny that I am a changed woman.

The effects of my Mum having Breast Cancer will be everlasting - and it's not all bad.



A few things cancer has taught me:

• Never let an opportunity pass, to tell someone you love them. 


• Inner strength can be found in everyone, sometimes it just needs a wake up call. 


• Brad and I can handle a crisis. We are a good team, and great support for each other in hard times. 


• Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, to get where you want to be. You can do it. 


• And lastly...*"Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum".

 

*I am still working on this one.  I may be some time.