Christmas Mass 2011
We got ready and went for drinks up town - Alfreton - with friends, then on to church at about 11:30pm.
I went most years and Jade had been with me before, but neither of us had ever taken communion. We hadn't been confirmed, but for some reason we decided to go up with all the others.
Both slightly tipsy, but very respectful, we went up to receive the blood and the body (wine and wafer) of Christ.
As we knelt there, the vicar came across and we had a sip of the wine followed by the wafer, but Jade held out her hand and took it instead of opening her mouth to receive it, and just looked at me.
''You are supposed to eat it'', I whispered, ''not grab it in your hand''.
She said ''but I don't want to''.
''Gordon Bennett, just eat it!'' I said, before he see's you messing about with it.
With that, we went back into the congregation to finish the mass.
We came out full of silly giggles on our way back to the pub, holding arms and looking up at the starry night, as you do.
That was our last Christmas together.
How I miss those times xxx