Deirdre Geraghty

Believing in many gods seems silly and primitive but believing in one god is the same thing – it’s just a matter of numbers.

It is this time of year when I especially miss those l loved who are no longer with us. When you get older and your parents are no longer alive and many friends are no longer around you really miss them especially when you are writing cards and you have to cross people off your list.

As it’s now December l got my silver fibre optic tree out of the cupboard. It’s only little but, apart from putting my cards out, is the only thing I do for Xmas. I then sat down and wrote all my Xmas cards. I was waiting for a delivery of cat food and, when that had arrived l hand delivered a few cards and then walked up hill in the rain to the post office for stamps. I was very out of breath and was making contingency plans half way up the hill. But I managed it and an hour later l was taking my cards to the postbox. I don’t know how l managed it but I was very pleased that I did.

I went to the community centre. They were having a craft group and it was really nice to see the other ladies. This time I made some jewellery out of buttons – a bracelet made from three rows of different coloured little buttons and a necklace made from larger buttons in mauves, blues and pink. I felt very pleased with myself.

Some people suggest that as I am an atheist l shouldn’t celebrate Christmas. There was a festival this time of year long before the Christians hijacked it. So I make sure my cards say something like ‘Season’s Greetings’ and don’t portray anything remotely Christian on the front and I exchange gifts and generally have a good time. Why not!

The usual Sunday programmes are not all on this morning as they have made room for a Christian interview for Advent. So I made the best of it and walked down to the corner shop. I quite often feel disorientated when I walk so I have to concentrate on staying upright and then I start struggling for breath (l have emphysema). So I am really glad to get home again.

I usually go somewhere sometime over the holidays, sometimes to my son and I worry about the journey for months beforehand. But sometime this year my son and his partner are coming to see me. Yippee!

My neighbour John and little Tom popped in with the contents of his fridge/freezer to put into mine whilst his defrosts. I told him about my midnight antics. He had a go and managed to bring up the keyboard for me to sign in to Tesco. com. So, as I thought, it’s me.

I woke up just before midnight and I was thinking about what my son had said about doing more on my hudl 2. I have been doing my grocery shopping online on my computer which I have found to be much easier and you are able to have more than one order pending. Also I have been checking out my lottery ticket as well. So 12 o’clock l went and got my tablet. Firstly I tried to sign in on Tesco. com but the keyboard wasn’t visible. I tried to work it out for about ten minutes when I diverted my attention to trying to get into my account on the lottery. No can do! Either l am just stupid or these things are not possible.

Chani came and helped me with my blog when it went wrong and also with my Skype when she had finished her work. She has become a good friend and when she told me that she might not be able to continue coming in the future I felt very sad. She is starting a course to become a support worker in mental health after Christmas and thinks she might be able to fit us all in. Somehow I don’t think so.