The Word of the Day is Bells,
I hope you are all having a lovely weekend whether you celebrate Christmas or not.
I thought I would share with you these clips.
Peace and Goodwill to all.
Tag: Christmas
Kristmas Kroaky
Seeing as the Word of the Day is Jingle, I couldn’t help having a go at singing a Christmas classic. Here is my version of the Jingle Bell Rock (I’m sure I won’t have the talent scouts knocking on my door, but I had fun 🙂 ) x
Mistletoe and Secrets – A Christmas Poem
Mistletoe and Secrets
I remember when I was small
The mistletoe hung in the hall,
I didn’t know what it was for,
But I recall clearly what I saw.
The family, gathered In fancy dress
Would all kiss each other, and to my distress,
Would give a secretive, furtive look,
when Santa gave me a colouring book,
and to this day, I remember still,
thinking he looked like Uncle Phil.
Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 19/December/2018
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 🙂
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/secretive/
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/rdp-wednesday-family/
https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/your-daily-word-prompt-mistletoe-december-19-2018/
Silver Bells – Some Christmas Music
The Word of the Day is Bells and that reminded me of one of my favourite Christmas songs. Silver Bells, which was sung in an old film called the Lemon Drop Kid.
I’ve recorded my own version here:
And another Christmas song that I didn’t sing is a song by the Band the Darkness.
Christmas Time (Don’t let the Bells End).
A peaceful and Safe Christmas to everyone 🙂
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/bells/
Tinselheart- A Christmas themed poem.
I’ve wrapped my heart in tinsel,
after all, it’s Christmas time,
I hoped it would help me feel more jolly,
happy, joyful and sublime.
But instead, I’m cold and empty,
I’m not filled with Christmas cheer,
And though my heart is wrapped in tinsel,
no-one wants my love this year.
Copyright@ Kristian Fogarty 22 December 2019
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/21/tinsel/
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/12/21/rdp-saturday-joy/#like-8578
Let the Festivities begin (and end) – A Festive poem
Christmas comes but once a year,
Filled with presents and festive cheer.
but the run-up is filled with stress and fear,
Although I’m happy, once it’s here.
I’m glad that it’s only an annual event,
for once all the foods eaten and presents sent,
I’m sick of Chocolate and my energy spent,
when it’s over and gone, I’m relieved it went.
Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 15th December 2019
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/festive/
Do you Believe?
Sheryl has posted a Word prompt: Believe and instantly this Christmas song from my childhood came into my head. It was a big hit in the UK and you still sometimes hear it, but I don’t know how widely it is known.
The message is quite interesting, not just about believing in Father Christmas but believing in other things too, like hope.
Song Lyrics:
They said there’ll be snow at Christmas
They said there’ll be peace on earth
But instead, it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin’s birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
’till I believed in the israelite
And I believed in father christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
’till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there’ll be snow at Christmas
They said there’ll be peace on earth
Hallelujah Noel be it heaven or hell
The Christmas you get you deserve
There So much SUNSHINE around
I have the Stupendous honour to have been nominated for The Sunshine Bloggers award by two of my Blogging friends at once!
Firstly, Belle of Wandering Belle has nominated me, see the post here:
Belle started her blog in September, reach out and say HI to a relatively new member of our blogosphere.
Secondly, Laura M Bailey of All the Shoes I wear has also nominated me, see the post here:
Laura has just one question that requires a full answer:
Share a special holiday memory with me.
I recently posted about a family holiday to Ireland.
I’ve had some nice comments about this, and so I thought I would elaborate further on this.
This holiday occurred in the early 1990s and was before the age of digital photography, and so I can’t share any photos of the trip, however, I have visited some of the same sights since and so will share a couple of more recent photo’s.
My Parents bought a Caravan back int he late 1980’s and we used to like going for a weekend away all over England. As I got older and bigger, rather than share the space in the caravan, I would pitch a tent in the awning outside, which gave them more space and privacy.
My Dad decided that he wanted to visit Southern Ireland, as his ancestors came from there and he retained a certain appearance and also the Irish name, Fogarty, that had derived from O’Fogartaich, apparently. We had a coat of arms too.
There were still troubles in Ireland, between the Irish Republican Army and The Ulster Paramilitaries. It wasn’t long after the IRA had set a bomb in a Manchester shopping centre, killing many innocents. They had also blown up a Hotel in Brighton and London was frequently on high alert. The problems were mainly in Northern Ireland, but my Mum and I were still a little worried that we would be Denounced in Southern Ireland for being English. The Ulster paramilitaries had committed atrocities in the Republic of Ireland, particularly Dublin.
We found that contrary to our worries, we were welcomed with open arms by people all over Southern Ireland. They were outraged at the extortionate cost of catching a Ferry from Holyhead in Wales to Dun Laoghaire in Dublin and seemed to want to encourage more visitors.
We spent some time in Dublin, which is a fantastic city and also County Wicklow, which is sunny and has less rain than other parts of Ireland. It has a similar Climate to the South east corner of England, where I’m from.
We then drove around the south coast to County Cork and Bantry Bay.
I remember, we arrived at our next destination, a bit travel dusty and decided to go to a local pub for a meal. In the reception room next to the public bar there was a wedding going on. Ireland is a musical place, there’s always someone in a pub playing the violin, or flute or drum. The music coming from the wedding was really marvellous. After we’d eaten, a man came into the bar and invited everyone there to join the wedding party. As we were only visitors and were not really appropriately dressed, my parents declined. Then the father of the bride came over and personally invited us in to join them. We all had a bit of a jig and couldn’t have had a nicer evening.
Another time, we were in a bookshop, and I spotted an old Hardback version of an Agatha Christie book that I hadn’t read. It was marked up for £10 for sale. The owner of the bookshop asked how long we were staying in town, which was five days then said “Oh, well you might as well borrow the book. Drop it back when you’re finished before you go.”
I couldn’t believe it! He didn’t know us from Adam, and yet would let me borrow this rare edition book. After a few days, it became clear that I wouldn’t finish it in time. We went back and My mum said she’d buy it for me. The owner then said he couldn’t charge us the £10 so sold it to us for a Fiver instead!
It was such a lovely trip, and of course, I’ll always have a major soft spot for Ireland. I’ll tell you a national secret too. Most English people love the Irish people, it is just such a shame that our governments just don’t seem to feel the same way sometimes.
Questions from Belle
- What makes you the happiest about your blog? – I love getting inspired by a word or a picture and letting my imagination run wild. I love writing stories and poems and sharing them with others. I love getting responses that indicate other people like what I am doing. It is all very gratifying. I have also loved the added bonus of meeting so many lovely and supportive people.
- What is your all time top goal? – Once I wanted to rule the world, I thought I could do a better job than the current World Order. Now I would be content to write and be published.
- What is one thing on your bucket list? – To meet the Queen of England. I’d like to have a nice informal chat over a cup of tea and a sandwich.
- Where would you suggest someone go visit? – Budapest is a fantastic city, I would recommend people visit and go to one of the many Turkish baths that are in the city.
- What do you think would make a difference to this world? – Proper education. Ignorance leads to being easily persuaded by others, with Knowledge comes truth and freedom.
- What is a hobby you wish you had more time to enjoy? – Gardening and walking in nature.
- What is your favorite song right now? – There is nothing from the charts at the moment, its all rubbish.
- What would you like others to know about you? – Nothing really, a mystery is more enigmatic.
- Have you ever written a book? What is the name of that book if so? – I was sharing on my blog a fantasy fiction story I wrote about 18 years ago. It was never published though.
- What is one thing that would make you happy right now? – A nice Cup of Tea.
- List 5 things you love. – Tea, Trees, Daffodils, My Chickens and Holidays.
There you go:
I will only be asking three questions.
- What will you be eating on the 25th of December?
- What would you like to see happen in 2019?
- Name three things you are grateful for.
My Nominees:
The Haunted Wordsmith
A Guy Called Bloke
The Britchy One
Kristian from Lessons from around the dinner table
Hinoeuma
Jade M Wong
JP the Wide-Eyed Wanderer
Paula Light at Light Motifs II
Irene from A Slice of Mexico.
Thank you again to Laura and to Belle,
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
🙂
Some Questions and Answers – About me.
I have been tagged by Dr Tanya of Salted Caramel, see her post here:
https://saltedcaramel.blog/2018/12/18/q-and-a-tag-come-chat-with-me/
Please visit her blog and say Hi, You will not regret taking the time.
I don’t always do these questions and answer things. I know my Pal Rory and also Melanie B Cee do these regularly, but I thought I would do this one.
Rules
1. Answer the questions you receive (straight, funny, absurd, up to you)
2. Create three questions of your own for those that you tag to answer
3. Tag three people
OK,
First the questions from Sadje at Keep it Alive
Questions from Sadje
1.Which is the most fun vacation you have had?
I love my holidays, I often take short breaks rather than one long vacation. When I was in my early teens My parents had a caravan and we spend three weeks travelling across Southern Ireland. I have so many great memories from that trip. My Dad’s ancestors (going back a long way) came from Tipperary.
2. Do you love summers or winter?
I seem them both as two extremes between which exist a fleeting moment of perfection. I prefer Spring. I like March, April, May, June and September. Summer is too hot and Winter too gloomy.
Winter indubitably.
3. Which is your favorite blog post? Please share a link.
I don’t have a favourite, that would be like having a favourite child. If you have a favourite child you must never let on.
A while ago I started a story called The Wind Sheds No Tears, I do intend to write some more in the new year and so here is a link to the first part of that story.
https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2018/10/10/the-wind-sheds-no-tears-part-one/
Questions from Dr Tanya
1. What is family’s your favourite winter activity?
If we get a bright sunny day, I like to go for a walk, wrapping up warm with my coat and scarf and hat. Then come home and have a hot cup of tea, a mince pie and maybe a glass of Mulled Wine.
2. How do you plan to fit blogging in with your holiday festivities ?
Basically, from the 21st of December through to the 1st of January, you will be hearing very little from me. I will be scheduling a few things and take the odd few quiet moments to try to keep up with things, but I will be VERY busy.
3. Have you started thinking of changes that you want to make in your life in 2019?
Yes, I want to get a new job, which will also have an impact on my blogging, but it has to be done. I started losing weight back in October and so after Christmas will go back to doing that. I am looking forward to 2019, I have a sneaking idea it is going to be a good year.
My Questions.
- What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?
- What is the first thing you intend to do in January?
- What would you like to be different in your life by this time next year?
And my Nominees:
Froggy Crochet
https://froggycrochet.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/rules-for-writing-prompt-challenge/
BEREAVEDANDBEINGASINGLEPARENT
Msjadeli.
Have Fun and Merry Christmas, or have a great December.
30 Day Song Challenge – Day 13
Day 13 – A Song you like from the ’70’s
I like a lot of songs from the 1970’s is hard to narrow it down.
I have chosen this one from December 1973
WIZZARD – I Wish It could be Christmas Every Day
And, by the way, I don’t! One day a year is quite enough thank you VERY much.
Have a great one. 🙂
Tales from the mind of Kristian 
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