The season of goodwill is upon us! The shops online and in the High Streets are buzzing with Christmas fare. There are 3 for 2 and 50% off, etc, enticing us to spend our hard-earned cash. But I have become more savvy over the years. I now make a list and stick to it with self-inflicted discipline to keep myself from going overboard. I learned my lesson the hard way years ago, and now I am one step ahead of the crafty retailers’ advertising. Seriously, write a list. I do mine around the beginning of August (yes, as early as that). And, bit by bit, I find out what the grandkids have their little hearts set on, except George, who is 7 and will chop and change from one week to the next and start putting money aside when I price things up. The older grandkids all want money, so that is easy, and I begin to put money away for them from the beginning of the year; believe me, you don't notice it so much. Around October, I look at my Christmas decoration...
On Tuesday, July 23rd, I hopped on a bus for a little adventure to visit a close relative who lives in a charming, picture-perfect market town surrounded by country. It’s the kind of place that looks like it popped right out of a storybook.
As the bus rolled along, it took me on a trip down memory lane—literally! We passed by all the places I once called home for over 40 years. There was the house, the one I spent the longest stretch in, looking just the same with a few changes here and there. Then we turned onto roads that once led to other homes of mine. It was like watching chapters of my life flipping by outside the bus window.
Naturally, I got a bit nostalgic. Do I miss living out here in the peace and quiet? After all, my current town isn’t exactly what you’d call pretty. But then again... it is practical. Shops, doctors, and the hospital are just a quick bus ride away—and plenty of buses!
Still, the idea of returning to the countryside tickled my thoughts. Would I trade convenience for calm? Swap city sounds for birdsong?
But then came the thought—the one that always wins. If I moved back, I wouldn’t be just a short bus ride away from my grandsons. And honestly? That’s non-negotiable. They’re a huge part of my world, and being able to visit them whenever I want is the biggest perk of town life.
So I looked out the window at the fields, trees, and postcard-perfect cottages and thought, “Nope. I’ll stay put.”
Because as lovely as the countryside is... my grandsons are even better.
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