Inspiration

It's all kicking off here in the UK - snow & ice, the president of SL & his visit to Oxford, Wikileaks and not to mention England's bid for the 2018 World Cup!

I have been a lil' busy - Athens, Frankfurt and Paris all to blog about. And I will do that as soon as - but being at work means I can't upload photos and we all know that trips need photos!

Pseudo has inspired me with her post and I thought I should do the same. After all, it's Christmas (as good as)!



Mariah Carey - All I want For Christmas - Before she became all hoe-ish!




Wham - Last Christmas




Miley Cyrus' Version - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

OK - I could go on and put it out there (even further) at how bad my musical taste is but the most important song that reminds me of Christmas is the next one.



Coca Cola - Holidays are Coming

And So It Is Christmas

You know how sometimes people get confused. I am one of those people. And the sometimes means more than often.

Raised as a Hindu, educated by the Church of England, best friends with a Muslim and from a country where Buddhism is the majority religion and a scientist by profession means that I am more than liberal with my religious values!

Christmas in the West has evolved so fast. So much thought goes into food and presents as opposed to the celebration of the birth of Christ.

I went to a carol service a few days ago. A very simple one. I like carol services. The singing of carols takes me back to when I was a child and I used to sing with great gusto as I played an angel or king or shepherd - even Mary once in my school Nativity play!

But this is not about that. The Father of the small chapel in his sermon gave me a lot to think about which I want to mention here in my own lil' way.

I'm not preaching but for all of you out there that have been taken in by all the presents and the lights and the food, please try to remember that there are those out there that are less fortunate than yourselves. Those who have had a tough year. Those who won't be receiving gifts. Those who have lost loved ones. Those who can't afford to lay on a grandeur meal. Those who won't have a roof over their heads this Christmas amongst so many other reasons that I could list.

I just want you to take some time out and spare a thought for them and how if you haven't this year, think about how maybe next year you, I and we could help them. Because as much as we all like to receive, receiving a smile and knowing you made a difference (no matter how small) is the best gift!

Merry Christmas people.

Scrumps, x

A Snow Filled Thought

I know the title doesn't make any sense. But because it's Christmas - I don't care.

The weather here has been somewhat awful to say the least. Don't get me wrong, I love snow. I love it when I know that I am safe inside the confines of my own home and I don't need to go out and that when I do have to go out, hopefully it'll all have melted away and it will be safe to walk on the pavements without fear of slipping over and hurting myself!

Yesterday though I was at work and the snow fall from the weekend had yet to disperse and what was left of it had turned to a sludgy slushy ice fest. Sitting in my office counting down the hours until I could go home, I saw snow start to fall. Not only falling but actually settling. Crap is what I initially thought to myself because I knew that driving home would be a nightmare.

I decided then that I would try and leave half an hour early in a bid to get home within a reasonable time. 45 minutes later, I am still on the same road. The road that I had parked on. The road which usually takes me 2 minutes to get across!

In all it took me three and a half hours to get home. A journey that usually takes me an hour. I'm just happy that I got home safe. I saw one car turn a corner at about 5mph and the back end of his car just kept going and he ended up hitting two parked cars. Poor guy.

Despite some crazy drivers (seriously - it's snowing! We're all driving at 10mph but yet you seem to want to drive past us at 20 and try and cut us all up!), sometimes you see things that redeem your faith in human kindness. Cars were struggling to drive uphill, and I saw people (pedestrians/passenger of other cars) all helping to push those that were stuck and having helped one car, come back and help another. And all this despite the mini snow storm type thing that was going on.

Made me smile.

Good Weather

The thing about good weather is everyone looks beautiful. More cyclists come out and I sit and swoon at the calf muscles on display. I guess the weather being this good does have some perks!

Wooooo Hoooooooooooo!

Could I ask for anything better?!

Seasons

Beautiful sunrise.

Clear blue skies.

Sun shining over the River Thames.

Daffodils beginning to bloom.

And as the day progresses, wispy clouds line the sky that I try to make stupid shapes out of.

I love Spring.

A Complete Standstill

It's amazing that in this day and age that this can still happen! I mean - it doesn't happen in Canada and they get an infinite amount of it.

I woke up this morning to a good 4 inches of snow and it's still falling.

It's crazy because I can't get to work. In fact, no one I know can get to work. The buses have come to a standstill, there are limited train services, tubes that have overground stops are suspended and the roads are gridlocked.

I guess, we'll have to see how it goes but at least I can go and play in the snow now.

I'll post some pictures in a lil' while (snowman and all!).

For those in England - enjoy! :)