On The Edge Of A New Year

As we balance on the very edge of a new year, it's only natural to look back while we look forward. It's been mostly a year of quiet pleasures here (unless Little E is in the house, or there is a flute exam looming, or I feel the need for some big Morrissey sounds. Maybe not completely quiet, then). But 2010 has been a good one.

It has been the year I started pressing new buttons on my camera and designing for a team (thanks, Gotta Craft). And the year I took part in more online classes and made two of my all-time favourite layouts:

this one

and this one

It has been the year I started Pass The Book (back soon. If you fancied the sound of Inner Excavation on Ali Edwards' blog yesterday, sit tight because I have it on order). And the year I rediscovered knitting, fancied a bit of felt..a lot of new things.

I really wanted to slow down on the classes in the coming year; and consider quality, not quantity. But thinking about one of my favourite blog features here this year - Christmas Club - made me realise how important to me telling the story really is. Here on my blog and in my albums. I missed out on Ali Edwards' Yesterday and Today the first time round; but now, with my PSE9 installed, I think it's simply meant to be. I've signed up and looking forward to connecting with a bunch of storytellers from all over the world. 2011 might become The Year Of The Story here at From High In The Sky. I'm sharpening my pencil and flipping open my notebook and waiting to see what's round the next corner..

The Days After

Last year, just after Christmas, I wrote that these were my favourite days and I'm happy to say that nothing has changed. Our little family is safely gathered in, the cupboards are stuffed with good things to eat, and we have more than enough of everything we could possibly need. It's a good feeling: knowing that we are free to rest and relax for a few days, happy in each other's company.

The shape of the days has shifted over the years, of course, from early toddler rising, to languid teenage lie-ins. And that's no bad thing. This year we have moved on from looking for spare batteries to searching for extra biros so that we can compete against each other in Christmas quizzes and crosswords

though if The Tall One supplies more answers than I do (and I think he will) to the History Magazine Special - he's making his own turkey sandwiches.

This is the first time I've turned the computer on since Christmas Eve (so now I'm savouring the thought of a big blog reading catch up later); but I have still been gathering photos and stories to enjoy again over the next few months. The one about the laziest hamster in the world; the one about the Christmas magic which allowed our clever uncle to have his parcels delivered on Christmas Day itself; the one about the gift of Photoshop and where it will take me..

I hope the festive spirit is still with you all for a few days yet!

From Us To You

From where we are:

to wherever you are. Merry Christmas!

The Long Road Home

"Granny is going to be snowed in for Christmas, isn't she?" said The Small One anxiously when I'd finished on the phone. "She can't get to Little E's house and neither can we and Christmas will be all wrong."

"Well," I said carefully, "she's safe and warm at home right now, with lots of people ready to help; and if we can get to her, we will. Our car is good in the snow."

"Will it be on the new road again?"

"Yes, on the new road again. It's that road from now on I think. I've been making a page about it for the Christmas album." And I showed her:

Then I opened my notebook and looked at what I had written:

I wrote about the forty years I'd been travelling that road, city to town, town to city and back again. How we had gone first from the city, in the days before car seats, with my little brother in his carry cot in the back, to live in the country in our little farming town. And how that road had taken us back to our Grandparents. Through frost flung fields in winter and the sunny hope of summer, backwards and forwards over the years.

Past the stone wall, the big rugby pitch, the little bird house in a garden. The "by-pass" opened and those landmarks disappeared, but still we rode that road, up and down, down and up.

I wrote how at last I packed up my wedding dress and drove off to my new home. In the city again, back where I started. Right back. And, as I travelled the other way now, city to town, I saw new things every time and I thought about home. The pull of the city was very strong; but still in the country there were faces I knew, places I could find with my eyes tight shut.

And how, finally, last month, the brand new road road opened and everything changed. The journey isn't my journey any more. That has gone. At first I was sad. But as I looked at the new view, the strange things I was seeing and as I felt the altered tilt of the road, my perspective changed too. I could see it all in a different way. Sometimes, coming home has to change. And sometimes we have to let it.

And, with that, I flipped my noteboook shut.

"You need to copy that out right now, while I'm busy," The Small One said, picking up a roll of sellotape and a big pair of scissors and heading out the door. "Lots more to do. After all, it is Nearly. Christmas.

Journal Your Christmas - Picking Up The Pace

Oh, it's less than a week to go now, and we are nearly ready. The scrapbooking is getting faster as the preparations get more frantic* - how about you?

Sometimes I like to spend hours on a page, in a contemplative kind of way. But when I want fast, I want really fast. So I found a quick fix (which I spotted first on Snaps and Snippets, thanks S! and then on another favourite Beautiful Blog Designs). It's a site called joliprint and it's a little bit of magic. All you need to do is copy and paste the URL of any web article you'd like to keep, and almost at once it turns it into a PDF for you to print out. Almost at once! It's really simple to use and, um, addictive. I need to buy more printer paper. You can quickly make a print of any blog post you like - and that's what I did. I turned It's Thursday And I'm Thankful into a PDF, printed it out on photo paper and put it in my album. Try it! I'd love to know what you think (would a print-out-this-post button be good?)

I didn't photograph that page for you (because that would be a funny copy of a copy of a copy of a post), but I do have two others finished up. My numbers and dates are a bit pick and mix, because I wanted to use certain photos on certain days so each double spread in my album looked good together. These two are blue and brown, but still papers from the Basic Grey Nook And Pantry line.

That snow has certainly been a surprise! We have had no post since last Wednesday and school had a snow day for the first time in 23 years. But we are warm and comfortable and it really is lovely to look at. All we need now is a fresh supply of mince pies and I'm going to see to that Any Minute Now. .

*Sorry. Artistic license. We are actually feeling quite calm. Especially when we think about mince pies..

Christmas Club (5)

And so we've come to the last Christmas Club of the season. It's sort of good (because it means Christmas is nearly here); and sort of not-so-good (because we've reached the end. For now). But, in any case, I hope you've had as much fun as I have.

I wanted a special finale; and so I've reached across the Ocean to bring you - my brother! He can't make it home for the holidays this year so this is my way of having us celebrate the season together. Please, give him a big, warm, blogging welcome as he shares his Christmas memories today...

Now, it's been said that I'm not exactly one of Santa's most willing little helpers, and sad to say that's largely true. No one seeks me out to recharge their own supply of festive cheer, and currently my office is decked not with boughs of holly but essays waiting to be marked.

When I've looked back into the past I always thought I found justification for my disinclination to celebrate. There was, for instance, the Christmas spent far away and largely alone in Taiwan, where I was woken very early on Christmas morning not by Shengdanlaoren (Santa) but by the landlord who wanted to remove my door and windows so that they could join the toilet out in the street. Yes he would put them back, but not for a few days.

And there was another Christmas much more recently when, with a job ended and no new employment in sight, the festive season seemed to bring little cause for celebration.

But as I considered these and other Christmases, I realised a mistake I was making. So used to reading books (well, it is my job) I'd come to confuse the fiction of a holiday with the real thing. After all, nothing does Christmas like a novel. Think of the end of  "A Christmas Carol": a wonderful, wonderful story and I recommend it; but of course it never actually happened.

So I looked again at the Christmases Past, in particular at the ones I felt had failed to satisfy, and instead of seeing my draughty and stable-like accomodation in metropolitan Taipei I remembered that, later on in the day I had joined friends to make mulled wine. We bought the spices not at a grocers, but at a traditional Chinese medicine shop. And as the Taiwanese Government had conveniently designated a Constitution Day, we all had the 25th of December off.

The Christmas of Unemployment too changed on re-examination. I remembered standing at the beach in Los Angeles on Christmas Day, watching a trio of Santas speed by on rollerblades, as only Southern Californian Santas can.

The thing is, whether you've just finished quietly observing Hannukah and are now looking forward to the festiviteis of the New Year, or whether you're still in the midst of hectic Christmas preparations - our holidays are ours, and we needn't feel ther is anything wrong if they don't meet the standard of some book, film or magazine. So even if you have no doors or toilet, or if the purse is a little empty, or if anything is less than perfect, you have every right to seize whatever little moment seems special and call that your Christmas. It may even be sharing a favourite chapter of a book with someone - and yes, even a chapter about Christmas. I'll recommend - in fact, I'll almost insist on - "Dulce Domum" from Wind in the Willows, in which a Mole and a Water rat make a Christmas out of next to nothing. Find it here

Many thanks to Sian for allowing me the opportunity to go on a bit. Things will be back to normal next time...

Thanks, bro - and Happy Christmas! Now, link your Christmas Club story for us all to enjoy

It's Thursday and I'm Thankful

It's Thursday and I'm thankful:

• For a girl who will be fit enough to play in her concert tonight, and for the Get Well Soon wishes you sent.
• For this amazing blog world, and the parcel I received from Alexa (with a beautiful card inside) AND the lovely email sent by Carmen yesterday.
• For the Christmas Clubbers who have so willingly given time to turning up old photos and turning over old memories. That little girl sitting in her kitchen is now one nicely aged blogger, delighted and privileged to have been allowed to share.
• For Kate's clever idea she emailed me yesterday, to let us tell stories all year round. It's something for January..
• And for Journal Your Christmas and the groove I'm starting to find

I photographed the Tree Lover page without its journaling. The Tall One probably doesn't want everyone to know about his setting out in a manly way to hunt and gather a tree and meeting his girlfriends mum, who now thinks he's a lovely family-man-in-the-making. Oops, I've said too much already. But at least now you know where the "love " comes in.

Now I'm off upstairs to see if I can turn this post into the next page in my album. Because it's "Gratitude" day today; and I think I'm ready for it. I hope it's a good one for you, too.

It's Nearly A Post

As soon as I got up this morning, I knew I was going to be running behind. I'm not usually a panic merchant; but I've got one off sick, worrying about missing her Band concert on Thursday, my mum's Christmas cards to finish AND I haven't come close to waving my camera in front of my Journal Your Christmas pages.

So, I thought I didn't have a post for you, and I was pondering this when I took a quick look through my Google Reader and - Oh Happy Day! - I found this: How To Chill Out When You Forget To Post . Take a look. Honestly, it should be required reading at this time of year. Any time of year, maybe.

I'm breathing easy again now. A quick trip to the shops for some more paracetamol and some popcorn ( you always need popcorn when you are home sick and want to watch Christmas movies with your mum), and I'm sorted. Journal Your Christmas will probably return tomorrow, But, until then, remember - Chill Out When You Forget To Post.

Christmas Club (4) Meeting Santa

It's Sunday, so it's Christmas Club! We're getting ever closer to the Big Day itself and the excitement is building here at High In The Sky. How about you?

I have a special post for you today. Last week The Small One sat her end of term tests; and when she came home and told me that her English teacher had asked for a story about "The Greatest Thing That Ever Happened To Me", I knew exactly what that story was going to be. It's a lovely Christmas memory and I thought it was perfect for retelling. So here it is, in her own words...

"The best thing that ever happened to me was when I won a colouring competition to visit Santa in his grotto.

I was in P2 and it was coming to the end of a very boring day at school. Just the thought of watching a DVD, that I had already seen twenty times before, for another half an hour to wait for my brother, made me yawn. As I was younger I got out earlier and had to go to 2.30 Club to wait for him to finish. We had just written down what page to read for homework when my teacher lifted a pile of envelopes off her desk and started to hand them out.

When I received mine, I realised that it had my name and school on it, If it was being handed out by the school, why would it have the school name on it? I ignored that and put it in my satchel. When I got home I completely forgot about my letter and concentrated on my homework instead. When I was watching tv after tea, I noticed my Santa letter, which was to be posted that night; and I remembered my letter from school and got my mum to read it out.

I had won a colouring competition! I was to visit Santa in a shopping centre that Saturday! Next morning I asked everyone about their letters and their letters had only said Thank you for entering the competition!

When it came to Saturday, I was SO excited! When we got to the centre, my mum and brother watched from the balcony while my dad and I visited Santa. I got a V.I.P. pass and went to a V.I.P. queue. When it was my turn I sat on Santa's knee before getting my photo taken. He gave me a present (which was a purple purse) and I skipped away happily.

Even though I wouldn't really enjoy that trip now, I loved it at the time and found it truly magical. I still have that purse now and I have used it loads. That was the best thing that ever happened to me. "

And that's the story here today. If you have a Christmas story to share, we would love to read it. Leave us a link! We'll be spending today at the original home of Christmas Club - with my mum. And I'll be telling her all about your best Christmas memories from here and here

(Maybe) Not all About Christmas

"Mum," said The Small One, "I think Christmas is great. Christmas is cool. I've even got Christmas on my List Of Things I Love - look.." 

And she waved a brightly crayonned piece of file paper in front of me.

"BUT your blog is totally FULL of Christmas at the minute. Isn't there anything else you could write about?"

Well... I could tell you about my favourite green skirt which comes out at this time of year. It has ruffly layers of velvet and silk; and if I put it on and go and visit my Mum, she ALWAYS says "Why don't you just sew some baubles on it and really turn it into a tree? Because that's what it looks like!".  Ho Ho Ho, Mum. But that would be a Christmas story.

I could tell you about my trolley tipping over in the supermarket last week. When I looked down I only had three wheels on my wagon. (Where did it go? Was it ever there to start with? Was that what the funny looks were about? Or was that the skirt? See above). But, because my jars of Robertson's Best Christmas Mincemeat rolled under the shelves, turns out that's a Christmas story too.

I could show you my favourite recent Hipstamatic photo

but it definitely has a Christmas story so I think I might just have to give in gracefully and remind you that Christmas Club will be in session again this Sunday.

One last thing before I go, though. I want to thank Alexa and Alexa (nice coincidence) for their very kind help on the Simple Scrapbooks front. I honestly had no idea how very loved and treasured these magazines are. So, thank you! It's  much appreciated.

No, wait: there was one other thing: I'm thinking of skipping a December Pass The Book because we all have plenty going on right now. It will be back in January - something nice for the New Year. How does that sound?

Journal Your Christmas: Getting Going

We're at the end of the first week already! I have three more pages to show you today and, as the snow has finally reached us and I'm looking out at a carpet of white, I think I'll be staying inside and working ahead this morning.

Last year I chose 8x8 and I enjoyed its neat size. This year I decided on 8.5x11 and I'm finding it more of a challenge (I thought I would like it as much as the 6x12 pages I made earlier this year here). It's hard to get going, you know? But I'm determined to keep it up. I wanted to include more writing this time round and this size does offer nicely shaped spaces for journaling. I pulled down the one copy of Simple Scrapbooks magazine I bought before it folded, and I have been browsing that for ideas. Why did it have to go? If anyone is clearing out any old copies - please, ask me to make you an offer!

Maybe what is really sticking me, though, is my determination not to buy any new supplies. I really wanted to make a dent in what I have, so I sorted out some Basic Grey "Nook and Pantry" and hoped I could make it stretch. It's the bright, clear colours I'm enjoying and I don't want to dilute them with too many added extras. But maybe a small shopping trip might be in order, Just a very small one..

If you haven't already had a browse through all the Christmas Club stories this week, why not grab a mince pie or two and have a read? I love them all!

Christmas Club (3) One I Made Earlier

It's time for Christmas Club again! I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I saw how many of you wanted to join in last week. I have loved reading every single one of your stories (and I hope you have too); and I can't wait to see what you come up with this time round.

We're a whole week closer to Christmas now; and, as I type, The Small One is flute playing her way through a medley of Christmas music and it's making me feel in fine form for a story.

But the thing about the old songs, of course, is that they can take you back to the low moments too. And, as "Silent Night" comes down the stairs to me, I'm thinking about the year when I was about the age The Small One is now.

Just after Christmas it was, though the decorations were still draped round the ward; and the mistletoe still held out some hope at the nurses station. I was in hospital. I had an infection in my knee and I was on bed rest, feverish and sore. I had plenty of visitors during the day, lots to keep me distracted. But the evenings were hard. My Mum was at home on her own with my younger brother and sister. She couldn't come. I was on my own at visiting time. So what did  I do? I made a scrapbook!

It was my Mum's idea. The scrapbook itself had come for Christmas with Paddington himself (I still have him too). So, my Mum brought me a big pile of old Christmas cards and some glue and each afternoon together we would choose the pictures. Then in the evenings, when I was on my own, I would cut them out and stick them into my scrapbook. Like this:

So Seventies. So, um, free form. But so important I've kept it always. My first scrapbook.

These days, I still like to wait until I'm on my own before I can concentrate on cutting and sticking. But I'm not doing it for the same reason. And I say Happy Christmas! to that.

If you have a memory that makes you want to shout Happy Christmas! think about Christmas Clubbing it and leaving us a link. We'd love to join you..

Linky opens on Sunday



Journal Your Christmas: The Beginning

I've just had a quick look back to my first "Journal Your Christmas" post of last year. I want to make sure that this year's album tells different stories. Funny, though, how little life has changed for us this year. I'm not complaining: it can be a good thing. We're all older (maybe wiser), that's for sure. The Tall One has got even taller (6'2" now, before his 16th birthday); The Small One is definitely not quite so small. In fact, by January I'd say we'll be staring down the barrel of a name change. And you can guess where that leaves me. The Accountant is still working his monster spreadsheets (and thankful for it) and flatpacking his way through the weekends.

And me? I'm still here. Making stuff and writing about it. Journalling Christmas.

And don't forget - Christmas Club again this Sunday! I'm looking forward to more of your wonderful stories..