A rather busy Saturday.

Today I got up and walked to Uppermill before breakfast, watching the sun come up as I walked up the hill to Dobcross and down the other side. 

I needed to collect a prescription from the chemist in Uppermill and decided I could kill several birds with one stone. I still had no Christmas tree and next Thursday or Friday our son and his family will arrive for a pre-Christmas visit. It has become a tradition that the family elves, aka the three youngest grandchildren, decorate the tree for me. This could not happen of I had no tree. Half way up the hill to Dobcross is a sort of mini garden centre which usually has trees, often the small size, preferably rooted, type that I prefer. But they had no trees at all.

I continued on my way and spotted one of our local herons in the river.

Having collected my prescription, I moved on to my next objective: the search for good bread. So I bought a rye loaf from thenItalian green grocery and a wholemeal loaf from the local bakery. Now I need to see if either or both will prove satisfactory! 

And so, home on the bus in time for a late breakfast before Granddaughter Number Two, a grown-up responsible 22, brought Granddaughter Number Four, a creative 9 year old with a craft project in mind. When they arrived, however, we changed plans and the three of us set off to catch a bus to Oldham, to see if we could find me a small tree at Sainsbury’s. 

We stopped briefly at Oldham Library, nowadays more than a library: a sort of museum, art gallery, gift shop. As well as display of ancient shoes and clogs, a classic car, handmade jewellery and birthday cards, we admired a crocheted Christmas tree. It’s amazing what you can crochet. I hope that it can be remodelled after Christmas and turned into a useful blanket for someone. 

Progressing to Sainsbury’s, we successfully bought a scrawny little tree, the perfect size for the corner of our living room. The across-the-road neighbours have a huge tree which fills the whole of their double window but if we had a tree anywhere close to that size there would be no room for all the people who will congregate over Christmas to sit, let alone open presents.

Granddaughter Number Four and I worked at her craft project, making gifts to her design for her mother and her sisters.

A successful day on the whole.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone.