Five (good) things on Friday

Well, here we are again, another Friday come around.

1. Not one but two traditional pub events on consecutive days.  Saturday evening was our Farm Christmas ‘do’ for staff and trustees (and a couple of prospective new trustees came along as well – so nice to meet them!).  It was a skittles evening with a buffet at a local pub I’ve never been to before, but will certainly go to again.  An unpretentious ‘local’, this is a really old-fashioned pub experience which you don’t often find these days, when most pubs have either been done up beyond recognition or have effectively turned into restaurants.  The building is really nice, and they’ve got a great skittles alley.  We had a lot of fun.  Then on Sunday afternoon I went over to Bradford-on-Avon to join in with a traditional ‘singing carols in the pub‘ event.  It was the last of a series of four, each in a different local pub.  There was a band, handouts with the words, a lot of people who could really sing, and a very welcoming atmosphere.  The place was jam packed – barely space to stand – and we all sang out.  It was great fun, and I left thinking that I really should do this kind of thing more often.
2. Sleep continues to improve, slowly slowly, giving me more energy to do things during the day and (sometimes) enough to enable me to go out in the evening too.  And what a difference it makes not to need to make an early start in the day, when the medication dictates a slow re-entry in the morning.  Porridge, hot milky coffee, and time to read the newspaper.  Such luxury.
3. Arrangements have been made for a lovely holiday period.  Christmas Day to be spent with immediate family (both sons, both partners, our one surviving parent); a larger extended family gathering a couple of days later; and another small gathering a couple of days after that.  What matters (of course) is being with the people.  I know we will eat and drink well on each occasion, and the preparation is being shared between us so (I hope!) no-one will feel over-burdened or overwhelmed.  I’m looking forward to  getting together and seeing everyone again.
4. Several (needle) projects coming to fruition, and I’m pleased with all of them.  I hope the recipients will be too.
5. Reports of some positive medical research breakthroughs that may perhaps one day be of benefit to some close friends who currently have rather bleak outlooks ahead of them.  Here’s hoping.

Carols in the pub