nostalgia
noun
a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.
On Monday it is Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Craft Day- let the glitter fest begin! The Christmas trees from the PTA have been decorated and they look and smell gorgeous. (Thank you to our PTA for giving us these trees- they are beautiful). By the end of Monday, the inside of the school will have been Christmasfied!
I have found myself being quite nostalgic recently. I am sure it is because things have been so different for us all and the visits to special people and places I would have made on a regular basis, have had to be put on hold. This includes visiting or having visits from friends and relatives from places around the world.
Yesterday evening we got down all the Christmas decorations from the loft and I started to unpack them- there are a lot of them! As I opened boxes and unwrapped tissue paper and bubble wrap it wasn’t the actual decoration that made me smile but the memories that each one evoked.
My nostalgic feelings haven’t been ones of sadness but ones of happiness. Not a yearning for the past but more a yearning to be able to see and visit the people and places that matter. Zoom, TEAMS, WhatsApp, Facetime etc are all amazing items of technology and I am so grateful we have them, but I am nostalgic for seeing those special people face to face again and nostalgic for hugs! As Christmas gets nearer, I know many of my staff and many of our families within our community will be feeling nostalgic for this too, especially for those with family members in care homes. I hope for these families in particular, that the rules will allow for some actual face to face contact; and not from behind a screen, if this is at all possible and safe for everyone.
This Christmas may be different for us all, but I know that every one of us will make the most of being with the people we can be with, in whatever way we can be together. Our children’s wonder and excitement during this time will uplift us all. Whatever your plans are for the approaching holiday period, I hope each one of you has the opportunity to make some more very, special memories.
Have a wonderful weekend with the loved ones you have close at hand.
Take care of one another
Mrs Pipe
noun
a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.
On Monday it is Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Craft Day- let the glitter fest begin! The Christmas trees from the PTA have been decorated and they look and smell gorgeous. (Thank you to our PTA for giving us these trees- they are beautiful). By the end of Monday, the inside of the school will have been Christmasfied!
I have found myself being quite nostalgic recently. I am sure it is because things have been so different for us all and the visits to special people and places I would have made on a regular basis, have had to be put on hold. This includes visiting or having visits from friends and relatives from places around the world.
Yesterday evening we got down all the Christmas decorations from the loft and I started to unpack them- there are a lot of them! As I opened boxes and unwrapped tissue paper and bubble wrap it wasn’t the actual decoration that made me smile but the memories that each one evoked.
- -A huge clay sheep, bigger than any of the other figures in the crib scene- made by my sister when she was about 4, she was very proud of it and the way she had used a pencil to make the wool effect.
- -A koala playing a trumpet- a decoration from one of my closest friends at school who is now a dance teacher. She did every type of dance at school and would often choreograph dance routines in school that we all had to be in; Footloose was a real favourite!
- -A whole array of angels with bells for feet; my mum gave me this collection over the years
- -A salt dough star covered in pink glitter- made by my son at nursery. He’s taller than me now, -where did that time go?
- -A snow globe of Ottawa- memories of skating down the Rideau Canal as a child and stopping to eat Beaver Tail; a deliciously warm, sugary, cinnamon pastry, yum!
- A glittery kiwi- sent to me from my Kiwi niece
My nostalgic feelings haven’t been ones of sadness but ones of happiness. Not a yearning for the past but more a yearning to be able to see and visit the people and places that matter. Zoom, TEAMS, WhatsApp, Facetime etc are all amazing items of technology and I am so grateful we have them, but I am nostalgic for seeing those special people face to face again and nostalgic for hugs! As Christmas gets nearer, I know many of my staff and many of our families within our community will be feeling nostalgic for this too, especially for those with family members in care homes. I hope for these families in particular, that the rules will allow for some actual face to face contact; and not from behind a screen, if this is at all possible and safe for everyone.
This Christmas may be different for us all, but I know that every one of us will make the most of being with the people we can be with, in whatever way we can be together. Our children’s wonder and excitement during this time will uplift us all. Whatever your plans are for the approaching holiday period, I hope each one of you has the opportunity to make some more very, special memories.
Have a wonderful weekend with the loved ones you have close at hand.
Take care of one another
Mrs Pipe