Jesus is born in Bethlehem!

it is just past midnight.

we have had a remarkably relaxing day.

today jasper and i had some one on one time that didn't involve makeshift surgery. he wanted to go to park n shop and on a few last minute errands with me. he asked if we could take the bus and of course the answer was yes. once in central he asked if he could get a sausage bun and of course the answer was yes. ditto the apple juice. we had a very nice, very companionable time. even better, when i asked him what the best breakfast possible would be for tomorrow, instead of answering waffles or dollar pancakes or sausages and eggs....he chose CAPTAIN CRUNCH. now, i know that i kiboshed the captain until i knew what he was the captain of, but apparently he is the captain of CRUNCH, which is the equivalent of being the sultan of swing. so the cereal is now allowed back in the flat.

the others played downstairs, iced cookies at another flat, and at 4.15pm, we left, dressed for church.

we went to st john's cathedral, for the 5pm christingle service. it was beautiful. the rector explained the symbolism of the christingle orange.

Christingle, which means 'Christ Light', is a symbol of the Christian faith. During the service each child is presented with a Christingle - an orange decorated with a candle, red ribbon, fruit and sweets. The orange represents the world, the red ribbon around it the blood of Christ through which our redemption has come, the fruit symbolises God's creation and the candle Jesus, the Light of the World. four toothpicks are adorned with sweeties. the toothpicks symbolise each season, a reminder of Christ's eternal presence. The wood is part of God's created order.

in previous years when we have attended the service, we have sat in the very very back, farthest from the toilets which all our kids have had to use. so this year, charles arrived at 4pm (one hour before the service) and got very good seats for the pheasants and for us. 11 in total.

the church started filling up quickly and by 4.25 he was calling me and asking, "will you be here soon?" and i could hear people asking him, "are these seats taken?"

we ended up giving up three of our seats to a mother with a young child and two visiting grandmothers. as you would!

it was a lovely time, and we were home to pizza dinner with the phezzies, and conversation with the kiddies. they left around 8pm, and then all six caldwells decided we would watch rudolph the red nosed reindeer. so drowsy now, the kids snuggled close, and it was lovely and wonderful. a fantastic family time.

off to bed.

charles and i hopped into action, filling stockings and santa sacks (because presents cannot be wrapped this year thanks to the edict of eco man sebastian) we have purchased santa sacks from which charles will put the gifts into bags before handing them over to the kids...it's what sebastian suggested.

20 minutes later that was organised, and then boom, my boy headed off to union church for the 11 pm candlelight service, leaving me to do a few last minute items.

silent night,