The Second Sunday in Advent
Sunday 10 December
The Second Sunday in Advent
Hello again,
I’m pretty sure that there is some kind of problem with the website. I’m sure you will have posted at least one blog to me since Friday. I posted one to you about six hours ago and it still hasn’t appeared on the site. Never mind, I have no doubt that the BBC engineers or technicians will sort it out very soon.
We got up early and lit the second of our four Advent candles while it was still dark outside.
After I checked the site again I decided to get on with my day. I think you know the routine by now. First the coffee shop, where I met and chatted with friends. It was very cold this morning, but very sunny. It’s beginning to feel like Christmas. Lucy went to the gym for a couple of hours while I did some food shopping for the week.
I passed so many people carrying Christmas trees home that I began to feel a bit guilty. I still hadn’t bought us a tree yet. So I took the week’s food home then went out to buy a tree at a nearby garden centre. The tree is about 150cm tall and cost £20. It is a handsome tree, very green and fresh, and it smells of the forest. They put it in a net and I carried it home. Have you ever carried a Christmas tree 3km? My arms and shoulders ache and my fingers are just beginning to get warm again! But I have our tree. It is standing in a bucket of water outside the house, getting a good drink before I bring it in.
This afternoon I will bring it into the house, put it up and, when Lucy has gone to bed, I will hang the lights and decorations on it. We have a lot of hand-made, wooden decorations, from Scandinavia and Russia, and some beautiful glass balls, from Germany and Austria. I still have some of the Christmas tree decorations we used when I was a boy. They are a bit battered now, but they hold some nice sentimental memories for me.
Lucy is back from the gym and is already in her room doing her weekend homework. In half an hour or so I will start to make Sunday lunch. So I had better stop now and try to post this to you. Let’s hope we get the problem sorted out as soon as possible and that we can receive each other’s blogs again.
I am, of course, looking forward to hearing all your news.
Best wishes,
STEPHEN
SOME USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
sort it out
solve it
lit
past tense form of the verb ‘to light’
gym
short for 'gymnasium', sports centre, place where you can do physical exercise
guilty
If you feel guilty, you feel uncomfortable because you have done something wrong
handsome
attractive
ache
hurt
battered
a bit scratched, old and damaged
hold some nice sentimental memories
remind me of some nice times from the past
Comments
Hi,Mr.Keeler!What a happy father and daughter!Lucy is so cute and her dady is so kindly. To read your post everyday is a joyfull job for me. Your lagugage is easy to be understood and i can also learn lots of useful phrases. Mr. Keeler,from your first entry, i knew you had stayed in China for a couple of years in 1980s. I am wondering have you ever been in China ever since? China has been well developed and completely open to the world since 1980s.Same as you, i have a daughter of 16 years old, who is struggling for A-level exam in an international school now. Have a nice day! Looking forward to reading your next nice entry.
Hello Stephen! I read your blog with a big pleasure. It's nice to hear about other traditions in the other countries. Could you explain me more about Advent habits in your country. You mentioned something about second candle, which you lit in the second week of Advent time. Is it a common habit in England? Beside, I'd like ask about your Christmas Tree. Is it not to early to buy a "fresh" tree? We often buy a Christmas Tree too, but we do it a few day before Christmas Eve. When we buy it earlier, our tree loses the needles and looks not much pretty.
Hi Stephen,if only we all were so hard-working students as you! Thanks for all your post which is funny and full of jokes. I have to laugh all the time. I am glad that I went to work sweaping from the cold which I catched on Saturday trip. Now, I am reading all your amusing writing and my suffering is more bearable. I hope it will support much Federico too. You are proud man for(?) that pretty girl, are you?
Hi Stephen,it's been so nice to be welcomed in the morning by Christmas photos directly from London. I like all of them, also that with a bit melancolic smile. Please,say hello to Lucy!The illuminating London street reminds me a New World street - one of the most beautiful ones in Warsaw, which every winter is glistering Christmas star lights. I've already joined Christmas shopping marthon, but on Sunday I went to the theatre. It wasn't the first time I could admire the production of a new generation.They have their own theatre where young actors, directors and playwriters,and of course choreographers do their own professional theatre. That's a great experience to observe how they've been developing their artistic skills. By the way, I happened to carry a tall, beautiful Christmas tree for about 1,5 km but now what's been still remembered is its flavour. Best wishes,
Hi Stephen,I am liking very much your blog. I live now as au pear in England with lovily English family. We have in Sweden Santa Lucia with candles this time of year. I like your christmas tree story. You look a nice big strong man on your photograph. I am excited to read your next story.
In my country,we can hardly put up a Christmas tree out of houses.Because there is little space.However there are still some delicated Christmas trees for us to admire.They are put up around department stores,government institutions,schools,hospitals,entertainment resorts...etc.I am not a christian but I love the happy atmosphere around Christmas time.
Hi, Stephen, I am very pleased to see the photoes of you and your daughter. You are so kind and your daughter just cute! Although I am very busy with my work, I will squeeze some time out to read your blog. It is very inspriing and interesting.
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