Doing something because "we always do this" can become empty.
And making the best of whatever you have is, in itself, a fine tradition.
Happily, for families anywhere around the world, if there is access to some sort of internet link or decent phone connection, loved ones can be reached on Christmas Day and the unsettling yearning for contact is satisfied.
And so, on a bright and sunny Christmas morning, this was my first mission for the day:- my daughters Rosie and Clare, sister Denise and brother Paul all wished a Merry Christmas!
Then, it was back to making the best of the day.
Bearing the fruits of kind donations from back home in the UK and here in Guyana, a number of volunteers set off, some by taxi, others on bicycles, to our appointments at the rest home for the elderly and the children's orphanage.
Both the staff and residents at the home greeted us and after exchanging conversations in small groups, the matron led the carol singing and we all joined in lustily. There were no expressions of self pity, rather gratitude for having a roof over one's head and a single room. Our visit ended with a reminder that all the residents had grown up under British rule and sung "God Save The Queen" as children, but now we would proudly sing "Dear Land of Guyana" together.
The generosity of donations allowed us to buy gifts for the staff, and have a surplus of packages:- most have since been taken to another home for elderly residents; one was given to a member of staff, as a gesture of sympathy when we learned she had returned home the previous night to find her home burgled.
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