Christmas cred

I am not the kind to decorate this early but I do like to get shopping done early, particularly if I’m to get things to the US by Christmas. I bought my first Christmas present today, a book for my mom. I was meant to go to the publisher’s in West Belfast. When I checked my directions with the woman on the phone, she asked where I was coming from. She said she’d bring me the book because she was headed my way. We met at a Spar in East Belfast. I think that’s the third time someone made a similar offer to save me a trip.

Sadly the book is very heavy, so I’ll be taking it home in January, not mailing it. It’s about the Poor Clares, a group of nuns who settled in Belfast after partition and brought a lot of love and grace into a neighbourhood torn by poverty and political strife.

Then into the city to get the two tables at the auction house. Then home to entertain a dog for the rest of the day. There’s a betting shop here called Paddy Power. That’s what I think of when I try to keep up with my little fur ball. He has lots of Paddy power. I get up at 6 to let him out of his cage and I’m ready to go to bed around 7:30 pm. I struggle to stay up until 10.
Nov.9