This is Christmas 🥰

[Thepainterswife]

This morning I opened my door to let my dogs out and saw my neighbour Florina at the other side of the wall Florina and her husband and two children moved in 18 months ago , originally from Rumania , Florina spoke very little English , but they have been such lovely neighbours , always rushing out to help if I’m struggling in the garden , passing the most delicious home baked cakes over the wall and even bringing traditional presents back from Rumania when they went back to see family . I asked her to wait whilst I got a couple of selection boxes I’d got for the boys and she duly passed over something in shiny red paper and a plate of homemade nutty desserts covered in thick gooey chocolate 😋 I then went across the road to drop off more selection boxes for the two boys over there. My neighbour opened the door to reveal a very messy room literally covered in old tatty toys with a very small Christmas tree that looked like something from the 1950’s perched on an old table . A very far cry from the glitz and glamour we seem to associate with Christmas these days , but I know that house is full of love , mum spends hours doing craft work with the boys and they are the most polite children who frequently post hand made cards and notes through my door . Mum briefly threw her arms around me - totally wrong I know but it was a genuine spare of the moment reaction and worth the risk. Crossing back across the road I had three cards to deliver ( I live on a row of just five cottages) There was no sign of life in the end house but as I walked away from the second there was a knock on the window and my 96 year old neighbour , who suffers from dementia, was smiling at me and waving like crazy , I smiled back and blew a kiss . Passing Florina s and my own house I threw the last card into the last porch , the outer door was open so I knew the lady was out and expecting a parcel, but before she had left I had heard her dragging my bins down the back street ( our bin men walk down to collect them but for some reason leave them in a neat row at the top of the back and the first neighbour out brings them all back 😊 ) Back indoors I’ve just sat with a nice cup of tea and a gooey chocolate creation and reflected on how lucky I am For me being surrounded by nice people is worth far more than any expensive gifts and I’m now feeling truly festive 🥰. So my friends , I’m sending you much love and hope that over the next few days you will all experience the joys of the season in some measure however small Love Val xxxxx

[Hidden]

That’s a really feel-good, Christmassy post Val and I so agree, you can’t beat community spirit and the feeling that the people you live amongst really care about each other. Enjoy Florina’s chocolate treats and have a very merry time xxx

[Thepainterswife in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Hanne62 , I hope you have a lovely Christmas too . Looking at the treats I thought I’d demolish them before lunch but having had one I think it’s going to keep me full until morning - must be the nuts 😂 xx

[Oshgosh in reply to Thepainterswife]

Nuts are healthy x that’s what I tell her myself anyway x

[Thepainterswife in reply to Oshgosh]

Well yes they are and also full of calories 🤦🏻‍♀️ but then calories consumed between the end of October and beginning of March don’t count they’re automatically burned off keeping us warm - that’s what I tell myself 😂🤣 x

[sassy59]

How uplifting Val, such wonderful neighbours can be a rarity. As you say, better than any gift.Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas and happy new year. Xxx💜🎅🏻🎂

[Thepainterswife]

Same to you Sassy , I hope you , Pete and the family enjoy the festive season and best wishes for 2022 xx

[CDPO16]

It sounds lovely where you are Val, good neighbours often seem to be a thing of the past now. Rarely see ours.

Haven't forgotten about my intention to offer support to anyone lonely over Christmas but unfortunately not up to it due to a bad flare up. Maybe over the New Year if the pills fix it!

Hope you and Geoff have an enjoyable time, Carole xx

[Thepainterswife in reply to CDPO16]

I’m so sorry you’re not feeling good Carole , I remember you said you don’t celebrate Christmas but it would at least have been nice for you to be feeling well over the festive season 🙁 hopefully the meds will kick in and you’ll feel better for new year🤞 In the meantime get plenty rest and look after yourself . Geoff is just starting on another rescue pack ( just finished one 🙄) but in surprisingly good spirits My grandson , wife and their son will be calling tomorrow but other than that we will be having a quiet cosy time in front of the tv - which is my idea of a brilliant Christmas 😃. Much Love to you and yours xxx

[CDPO16 in reply to Thepainterswife]

Thank you Val. Sorry to hear that Geoff is not great either, I hope he picks up soon. I have another stronger antibiotic lined up for Sunday when I finished the course I'm on now and which doesn't seem to have helped at all. That said, as Alberta said in her Christmas message, there are many others in more difficult circumstances so I count my blessings.

I am glad to know that you will be spending tomorrow as you wish to. Love to you too xxx

[Alberta56]

That's a lovely story, Val. I'm glad you live in such a nice neighbourhood. Have a lovely Christmas, Chris. xxx

[Thepainterswife in reply to Alberta56]

Yes I’ve thought before we re lucky but I didn’t realise just how lucky really until this morning , we just take things for granted don’t we 🤷🏻‍♀️ You have a lovely Christmas too Chris 😊 Xx

[Biofreak]

How lovely. Good neighbours are a real blessing. I am lucky in that respect too. Always asking if I need help with anything to just knock. 💓

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

You can't beat having good neighbors, you have a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year. Have a good night 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🎄

[Lemon7]

Having good neighbours is a blessing. Have a good Christmas and best wishes for 2022

[SORRELHIPPO]

Great story, I am lucky also, My Call in Time/ Age UK weekly call gent, said he will be calling me on Boxing Day, even though he is having to care for his brother, who caught the dreaded Covid, people are basically wonderful

[Thepainterswife]

There are plenty of good people about it’s true , even though we’re living through bad times and there are ,and always will be the rogues and downright evil people amongst us ,I like to think there are far more good Also the beauty of getting older is that you start to really appreciate what you used to see as small unimportant things like a caring gesture Enjoy you’re chat with your friend on Boxing Day and whatever you’re doing tomorrow 😊. I’m having two family members over for dinner but I will be on here at some point to see how everyone is getting on Enjoy the rest of your evening I’m off to watch All creatures great and small - love that programme 😃xx

[madonbrew]

That’s beautiful Val! A really lovely day! I popped by to my next door neighbour to take them some homemade fudge and spent just 10 minutes with them…a son and his elderly mother who he looks after. They were so pleased for the visit and it made my day too! Have a lovely Christmas 🎄

Love Dee xxx 😘

[Thepainterswife]

It has been a really lovely day Dee and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yours 😊 Much love to you and your mum and dad , I hope you all have a great Christmas 🎄🥰 😘xxxx

[watergazer]

Merry Christmas. It sounds a lovely community where you live x

[Thepainterswife in reply to watergazer]

Tbh we’ve become a more caring community since the pandemic started - every cloud ! 😂 The five households on my row have always helped each other out but I only knew the family across the road to smile at in passing We became properly acquainted when I opened my door to a delivery driver at the beginning of the pandemic and Cheryl ran over to give me a pack of toilet rolls 😂 Merry Christmas ! Have a lovely day xx

[Izb1]

Thats so uplifting Val and restores my faith in human nature, its lovely to have good neighbours. I am blessed with some really nice neighbours but sadly now that the older generation have died off we are getting some really horrid ones too. I do hope you have enjoyed your Christmas day x

[Thepainterswife in reply to Izb1]

I have thank you Izb , I hope you have too 😊. I know what you mean about nice older neighbours dying off but even in that we ve been very lucky 😃 we were the youngest in the row when we moved in 23 years ago , since then 3 of the five houses have become available , one because the 88 year old couple moved to Scotland to be near their only son, one went into a care home aged 93. Those two houses were both bought by people in their fifties and sixties but the third was offered for rent by the son of the previous owner and has since been occupied by three different younger couples who have all been really nice so I do feel really lucky Enjoy the rest of the festive season - I’m spending it in my pj’s In front of the tv with a massive box of cherry liqueurs 😋😬 xx

[Lyd12]

Sometimes I have wondered what is the point of Christmas? But this year, with our own poor health and my wonderful family helping so much, and reading the accounts of so many people being helped by family and neighbours - now I know the point of Christmas - love to all, Iris xxxx

[Thepainterswife in reply to Lyd12]

Yes Iris , I think I appreciate it much more now , being older ,dealing with Ill health and the pandemic has made it much more about interaction with others for us too. The presents and frills have been nice but I’ve felt the love much more this year . I’m so glad you have too Sending more love to you and yours Val 😊 xxx