Like most of us this Christmas has been different when compared to previous years, Liz and myself were aware that we were not going to have the usual flood of guests and visitors; we talked this through in the approaching weeks to the festivities and suddenly found ourselves enjoying the strange peace and quiet for a change. The end result was that we had a marvelous Christmas. We talked a lot, walked in the country every day, read books, watched dvds and did digital church. We are in a bubble with a lovely lady who shared much of the festivities with us. Also we zoomed a great deal, as I suspect most of us did; the telephone was red hot and we didn't feel at all on our own, or separated from family and friends; as was reasonable at times we were a little concerned about the future, but all was in control.

Christmas this year has been a time for thinking, being quiet and being aware of where we are in everything. Is my art important; maybe? Well it does keep me focused and enjoyably busy. But more important, am I important, certainly yes? I feel more at peace than I have for a long time; thank you Lord.

So today is New Year's Eve and I wish you all the very best in the new year as we all begin to see lights of hope and reassurance to take us beyond this awful pandemic and into normality again. I wonder what the new normality will be like? 

Above is a careworn tree which we passed at Polesden Lacey the other day.

Just up after a good nights sleep, turned on the computer first thing and a message is waiting for me. Mary didn't keep Joseph waiting. Her baby arrived in the early hours and both are fit and well.

The shepherds turned up not long ago, Even if being a bit on the rough side, they had a super tale to tell of extraterrestrials; were nice chaps and very kindly gave the baby a lamb. The guys in bling have yet to make an appearance, no doubt they will turn up before to long, but they do have a long way to come. and were a bit lost last time I saw them, They mailed me to say that they had met some Asian King and were asking advise from him, so they should not be too long in getting to Bethlehem.

Joseph after consultation with Mary has decided to call the Baby Jesus. Apparently he has other names as well, one of them is Emanuel, which means,"God is with us".

So Jesus is with Mary and Joseph, he certainly is with us here at my home. Why not let him be with you, now, at your home.

So have a wonderful, happy blessed and amazing Christmas.

Love Duncan.

Bethlehem  just behind the nativity square.

 Well a pleasant surprise this morning. Joseph and Mary have reached Bethlehem, with no trouble getting over the channel, that is good news. Mary as you are aware is expecting her first child and  Joseph says that, listening to Mary, it seems as if things are starting to happen. So for a short time it is a waiting time.

No sign of the shepherds yet, nor anything about those weirdo's covered in bling.

While we wait Joseph sent me this post card of some steps just behind where they are staying, he also says that he will keep me in touch with what is happening with reference to the new addition. Joseph sounds rather nervous; after all it is his first one!

Each morning when walking I keep meeting stranger and still stranger people. The folks I met this morning realy took the biscuit. Strange cloths; talk about bling, crowns, rings, gold, oh so much gold, camels, servants, a bit over the top sort of thing. They were friendly enough, but were obsessed with a mission to get to Bethlehem. I pointed out that having come from Iraq they were a little off coarse. I showed them the right path.

As they went on their way, they told me that they were going to met a new King and that there were bad people about, so they were planning to return home by another route. Lets hope that they find a slightly more direct route than this one!

We are all on a strange pathway this year; keep walking, keep looking and keep listening; a new King is coming.

Love Duncan.

 

 This week as I stroll around in the woods I keep bumping into ever such strange people. Yesterday it was two shepherds with a few sheep.  Apparently being a little lost, they were looking for the path to Bethlehem, which was were some strange extraterrestrial being had told them to go to. That was simply rectified, by then showing them the right path.

Simple guys, doing just what God had told them. What is God saying to you this unusual Christmas?

Just who do you think we will see tomorrow?

Regards Duncan.

Met a lovely couple in the woods yesterday, apparently they are traveling all the way to Bethlehem. They promised to let me know that they arrived safely on Friday morning. Hope they have no trouble with the channel crossing.  will be thinking of them over the next few days.

I know that it is tough for us this year, but two thousand years ago it was also rather tough for these two people.

Love Duncan

 

At the moment we are in the middle of what churchy people call Advent; this is the time of getting ready for the coming of Jesus into this world. And. what a tough and often disappointing time the getting ready season has been this year.

This morning in my quiet time I read----The crowd----"What shall we do".  To which Jesus, "Believe".

Look at the picture above, I know that it is a very westernized view and I am aware that Jesus was much browner; but what does it say to you at this moment in time.

 

 When out walking the other day, I met ever such an interesting person. 

Even if Christmas this year will be a little different and maybe strange; still have a wonderful blessed and peaceful celebration.

With much love

Duncan

 Yesterday was an important mile stone for me!

Because I finished my latest volume of work, which is looking at the Psalms of David through rural and woodland settings; the question is what now happens to this volume? Liz and myself talked and have decided that in the short term it will be available for all my followers to brows  through at their leisure. At the moment I am trying to work out how to make this work available to you all. Until that is worked out, the here is page 31.

This second period of restricted movement and contact with others in some ways is much harder than the previous one. As the first time  round in some ways it was in  new, fresh and a challenge; however his time it is an unwanted and unpleasant slog; it is to be endured and got through. So how do we react to this.

We all need to look out for one another, look out for those alone, or those who are not copping. Those of you who know my story will be aware that some time in my past was spent in desert places, I know what sadness and loneliness is about and I would wish it on nobody. So I ask three things of you.

1 Look out for yourself.

2 Look out for others

3 God is good and wants to be with you through all of this.

See you all soon.

Well a few days since my last blog and lots has happened and I mean lots! Liz always tells me that she does not walk in the rain, well that is not quite true. For example, when losing her watch during a long walk at Hatchlands the other day, she insisted in retracing our footsteps the following day to find it. In the morning it was pouring down with rain. I mean heavy, solid continuous rain, a total down pour. She still wanted to find her watch; so as a dutiful obedient husband I said OK and off we went to do that walk again. We got completely soaked to the skin, amazingly we found the watch , it still worked and we realy enjoyed the walk; as a result as she was now happy I teased her mercilessly about loosing the watch in the first place. Do you know, due to the rain and all the wetness, the colours around us just sang, it was so lovely. We had a terrific time was had and by the way Liz does walk in the rain and get wet. By the way the photo on page 18 of the book I am working on was taken that day.

Liz makes me laugh. This morning she made a suggestion about some thing or other about what I had said, so I asked her a question. Her answer was, yes,---- no,---- maybe,----I don't know,---could be and finally, 5 ----hummmm! I scratched my head in wonder!

What with painting, writing and all the other arts which surround me, I have never been so busy. Yet despite being fulfilled and busy the times are hard and on occasion I do get a little low. I am fortunate that Liz is by my side; this morning was one of those days. I felt very low. Slowly I had to work at looking at what I had and focus on that. My wife loves me; massively important. I have so many arty worthwhile things to do. Many friends and a full life.

But most important I also know that God is with me and cares for me, then slowly it comes right again. 

Finding things hard during these times is OK. What matters is where you look for help.