Christmas comes but once a year ...

... and with it a rendition of Christmas carols from Star and A-next-door on the Mongolian nose flute (more commonly known as the recorder). Believe it or not, they sounded good.

Our usual Christmas routine was upset this year as my poor Mum was still in hospital. There were no physiotherapy services over Christmas, and the physio had not been able to work through everything with her beforehand, so she was stuck, poor dear. We hoped she would come home today, but the doctor is concerned her wound isn't healing as it should and wants to take another look tomorrow. God willing she will be allowed home then. Other than that she is doing well.

Tevye took Angel and Star to visit Grandma in the morning, while I stayed home with Little Cherub and cooked our Christmas dinner (which we have at lunchtime). After years of having my mother, my brother, and my mother's friend with us for Christmas it was sad to have empty spaces at the dining table - not just Mum absent, but also her friend who moved to a different part of the country last spring. Then, of course, we had Little Cherub added into the mix ... and delightful as she is, she can be rather a handful at mealtimes once her own dinner is finished! She appreciated her stocking, though ...