Page 11 - Grace Mail December 2021

She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and is now doing really well. She has a patch on one arm and a pump in the other administering drugs as required; also a mobile phone app alerts us when necessary to help us keep Eleanor well. A small emergency rucksack goes everywhere with her.
Musically having played in the young people’s band with her siblings in their youth Elizabeth is again playing tenor horn with Eleanor on French horn, and Lydia on trombone at Leeds College of Music.
As a family we love Christmas. John & I love the carol Stille Nacht. Some of you will remember my Mum, Gretel. She was German, met my Dad after the war, came to England and they married in St.Paul’s Church, Ashby. She loved to bake, especially with the grandchildren.
Oh My! There would be cinnamon, ginger and spicy biscuits. The smell was heavenly. Then came decorating, and sampling the baking. She always had plates filled with pastries, cakes and biscuits to share.
Mum would make an Advent
wreath, and place it on a hardanger
embroidery cloth she made. Both
myself, Liz and Jen have learnt many skills from her, but that one eludes us still. Liz and I are going to tackle that next.
When my brother Geoff and I were small we spent one Christmas in Germany. Snow and food - lots of it, I loved it there. We played out every day in the deep snow. Christmas was taken seriously. No tree until Christmas Eve, then we saw a tree with few decorations but full of candles, very illuminating. Off we went to Church, we recognised the tunes of the carols and sang our English words, and then home where presents were given out and opened before bed, all on Christmas Eve.
December is an exciting month with all the preparations leading up to the birth of Jesus. Christmas blessings to you all.
11. Grace Mail