11 years ago today we went for our last Christmas Mass at St Martin's Church.
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

Watching the news this week has been very sad. In 2010 we flew out to Florida for a holiday with Jade. The first week we stayed on Captiva Island on the gulf coast, in a house called blue heaven, it really was a little piece of heaven on earth. We walked to the beach most days and watched dolphins swimming in the sea. If you fancied a cool drink, give a wave and a boat called Joeys would pull in from the sea and you could buy ice creams drinks and snacks, it was beautiful. We sunbathed on the roof terrace in the afternoon dipping in the pool when it got too hot. The sunsets were breath taking. It has been so sad this week to see that little piece of heaven on the news. Hurricane Ian hit the gulf coast on Sanibel Island which was just below Captiva Island and both islands have been ravaged and are completely cut off from the mainland. A little piece of my heart broke again watching the devastation caused to such a special place, my thoughts are with those in Florida at this difficult time, we are so grateful for the memories.

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Come on England! Let's get ready to rock 'n; roll tomorrow.

It took a long time, but I eventually got Jade into football. I think it was the beer that was more attractive than the game.

We had thin red, white and blue ribbons in our pigtails lol

Very, very happy times in The Farm (King Alfred) xxx