I've spent a good portion of the last few days in bed.  Yep, Boxing Day became more like "Bedding Day."

My doctor told me to stay out of bed because I wasn't getting enough rest.  Ah, those were the days.

For the last few days I've been mostly bedridden.  Ah, those were the days, bed riding....

Feels rather like the flu.  I've had a flu shot.  Now I wonder if a flu shot was literal and it gave me the flu. What next?  Take a headache pill to get a headache?

My former spouse and I purchased a real fancy four-poster bed from a real fancy bed shop in Richmond, British Columbia, many years ago.  We were lying in bed and realised that the mattress had crashed to the floor.  Before your imagination goes places, I shall let you know that the underneath support for the mattress had bent and thus, the mattress caved onto the floor.  A bit of a four-poster roller coaster ride ensued over the next week or so. Slap mattress back in place.  Flop.  Slap mattress back in place.  Flop and thud....

Having unsuccessfully been able to fix the underneath support, we went back to the real fancy bed shop and complained.  The sales dude said to us, "What were you doing?  Diving onto the bed from your wardrobe?" I thought, "How the hell does he know we have a wardrobe?"  My wife replied to him, "No way!  The metal support thingy to keep the mattress off the floor is totally bent!"  Dude chuckled at us.  We returned the bed and got a full refund.  We put the refund money in our spare, actually usable bed so we would have something to fall back on.

A buddy of mine was moving from one side of Vancouver to another.  On top of his car was a mattress.  He decided it would be a really fun thing to have a drag race with the car beside us.  He raced forward and the light at the bottom of the hill went from green to red.  He slammed on the brakes as his mattress flew off the roof.  Next moment and the mattress was sliding through the busy intersection of South East Marine Drive and Fraser Street.  Thankfully, no accident occurred.  Except for my friend crapping himself.

Yeah, I know. My name's Fred Flintstone and I'm gonna' make your bed rock!  Those were the days.....

Here's to a happy, hopeful 2014.

On Christmas day, my company, a loving dog, the ticking of a clock, the wild breeze blowing out yon window.  I was lost, lost in my thoughts, lost in hopeful thoughts that I could make a difference, for you, for me.

The phone doth ring.  That ring of love, of hope, from my mother, my family, so far away in Vancouver. A magical moment in a day of magical moments.

I dedicated Christmas Day to you.  I dedicated the day of peace to be here for those who might be feeling anything but peace.  Lost souls in a lost world.  I dedicated that day to be here for anybody who just wanted soothing words of comfort.  My destination of hope.  A journey well travelled.
I stayed online until three in the morning.  Boxing Day for me and still Christmas Day in North America. Exhausted and yet exhilarated, I switched off the computer.  Beyond the blank screen, humanity in all its wondrous diversity, its extremes of emotions, slept, smiled, cried and sang.

A dedication.  I dedicated that day with all my heart.  Alone, yet not alone, words of your support flow through my soul.   I stare at my beloved dog as she gently sleeps.  All is as it was meant to be.   Thank you. Bless you.

I was online most of last Christmas Day.  This year, I'm going to be here again to reach out to others.

I truly understand how difficult and lonely a day Christmas can be.  Thus, if you're struggling to cope, need someone to talk to, I will be here for you.  If you just want a time out from a hectic, social day, I will be here for you.

Be assured, if you do wish to contact me, your anonymity is guaranteed.  Please take into account that my time zone is Greenwich Mean Time and I might not be able to respond immediately.  The following email address is the easiest way to contact me,  whitecap79@hotmail.co.uk   
Together, we can make a difference.  Let's take a reflective moment and think.  Think of those whose biggest concern on Christmas Day is whether they'll have something to eat and a roof over their heads.  I know how blessed I am.

As Penny sits snugly looking at the dazzling lights, she wishes you, my son Tristan wishes you and I wish you, a peaceful, hopeful, blessed Christmas.

You have been here for me and I am here for you.

About a week ago, I finally managed to get started on purchasing some food items for this the, tis the season to be jolly. I placed the, tis the season to be jolly food items in a sealed plastic shelf unit.
Yes, the above unit.  Snow folks were not there or they might have been protection from a certain little critter.  A certain little critter that managed to somehow get into the bottom drawer of the sealed unit.

One of the items in the bottom drawer of the unit were marshmallows.  An ingredient I use to make a special slop to go with the turkey.  I get strange looks when I mention the special slop I have with turkey.  A bizarre thought in the minds of English folks.  You might know of the recipe I mean.
It's supposed to look something like this.  This link, if you so wish, might explain what I'm going on about, Grandma's Five Cup Salad. 
This is what that certain little critter looks like. It's a field mouse and you might think a field mouse should be in a field.  Not scurrying around my house.

My son and I had successfully escorted a previous field mouse out the front door.  Obviously, there is more than one.  My marshmallows had been completely destroyed along with a packet of shredded coconut.

I was rather pissed off.  I now had these feelings of deep hatred towards a field mouse.  I realised I might need professional counselling.

So back to the supermarket I went.  I should mention at this point that the previously purchased marshmallows were the large type and came in pink and white.  Not exactly brilliant for my turkey slop.  Try getting miniature white marshmallows in Britain.

I couldn't find the flaked coconut.  Which meant after ten hours of wandering the shop, I finally asked an employee.  In Britain, you have to ask for defecated, desecrated, sorry, dessicated coconut.  Success and I had my dessicated coconut!  I asked the lady shop assistant, now that I was feeling braver, "I don't suppose you have that most elusive of products, the miniature white marshmallow?"  Then she pointed to a package of miniature white marshmallows.  I think I had some kind of spiritual experience.

This shows, in a very weird way, that I found a positive out of what had seemed a negative.  Although extreme, the field mouse had done me a favour.

I have the white miniature marshmallows and the dessicated coconut hidden in a cupboard way out of reach. I almost love that field mouse.  Almost.  Maybe I should call it a "mousemallow."

And thus, Fidelina, the beautiful fairy princess, Geoffrey the garden gnome, and their wee son, Einahalk, rejoiced in the warm, reassuring glow of the twinkling Christmas lights.
The wee folks, such wondrous, magical creatures, had come in from the cold and gathered in the comfort of the living room.  All different, all equal, celebrating the magic of a special time.
Such diversity.  Their's is a world where all is possible, no judgement passed.
See the joy, the sheer delight on the faces of the wee folks.  They know that life should be a celebration of all that's good.
And the celebration continued.  They danced, they sang to sweet tunes of love, of hope, of understanding.
In the above photograph is Venetia, the sister of Fidelina, bridesmaid from, The Wee Folks Wedding. The enchanting wedding of Fidelina, the beautiful fairy princess and Geoffrey, the garden gnome.  Standing beside her is the 'best gnome', Teagan. There was a hint of romance between the two of them at the magic-filled wedding on the first day of summer, 2010. Note the gnome in the background, Yrag, who is the best friend of Teagan.
And here is a happy little monkey.  His great long arms, wrapped over a couple of friendly garden gnomes. Nice tinsel effect.  Happy little monkey.
Dreams can come true.  Dare to believe in yourself.  Fidelina, Geoffrey and their beautiful little boy, Einahalk, wish you a peaceful, happy and so very positive Christmas.
And the wee folks gazed out the window.  They looked out, looked up, at moon-drenched sky.  Tis a marvel to behold the shining orb through winter branches.  Soon they would leave.  Return to their world of love and peace. 

Their message to us is simple, yet profound.  For the wee folks live in their wee world, where stigma, labels and the passing of judgement, are bizarre and baffling concepts.  May we learn from them.  Let's celebrate and rejoice in the diversity of mankind.  And just like in their world, we can truly be, all different, all equal.