Thursday, 8 July 2021

THE SWAN LAKE CHRISTMAS HILL NATURE SANCTUARY

 

The Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is located in the District of Saanich, near the city of Victoria, Canada.

It is an oasis of natural beauty Surrounded by the urban sprawl of Victoria and Swan Lake is only minutes from the downtown area.

The Nature Sanctuary consists of two distinct areas with Swan Lake and its surrounding marshy lowlands which provides good habitat for many birds and small animals such as muskrat, river otter and mink and the rocky, oak-forested highlands of Christmas Hill with its majestic view from the hilltop and the meadows blooming with a sea of wildflowers in the springtime.

The lake was formed when the last glacier receded 12,000 years ago but Swan Lake’s current status is due to much more recent events just a few decades ago.

Up until the 1970’s the area was a dumping ground for a mixture of raw sewage, farm waste and chemicals from a local winery.

But due to the cleanup which began in the 70's the area is a rich habitat for a variety of wildlife.

THE ISLAND OF ST LUCIA

 

St Lucia was first settled by Arawak Indians around 200 A.D but six hundred years later the Arawak culture had been replaced by the Caribs.

To the islands inhabitants it was known as “Iouanalao” and “Hewanorra,” which meant “Island of the Iguanas.”

The island was first discovered by the Europeans on December 13th 1502 when Christopher Columbus first sighted the island and although he never landed on it he named it St Lucia as it was the saint’s day.

There was no European presence established on the island until around 1550s when the notorious buccaneer Francois le Clerc, also known as Peg-Leg le Clerc used the island as a base to launch attacks on unsuspecting treasure-laden Spanish galleons.

The Dutch arrived around 1600 and established a fortified base at Vieux Fort.

A party of English settlers arrived on the “Olive Branch” a few years later but there attempts to settle ended in failure.

In 1639, a second party of English colonists under Sir Thomas Warner also failed in their attempts to settle the island.

By the middle of the century the French arrived and “purchased” the island for the French West India Company this did not go down well with the British and hostilities broke out and the Anglo-French conflict raged for a century and a half.

It was in 1814 after a long drawn out series of savage and brutal battles that the British finally claimed the island for the crown.

Under British rule the island prospered and remained under the control of the British crown until St Lucia became independent in 1979.

Wednesday, 7 July 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS (2018)

 

Resort developer Madison Lane (Jennifer Finnigan) is tasked with finding a location for a new ski resort, even though she has already made the case for her preferred option in Mountain Park, but her boss tells her to take a trip to Christmas, Colorado, to consider that location and to discuss the revised incentive package they're offering.

On her way into town to meet with the Mayor, Madison has a minor collision with the town's welcome sign, which renders the car un-drivable and the sign unwelcoming.

The towns Sheriff Gage McBride (Eric Mabius) drives upon the scene shortly after it happened and offers to give her a ride into town so she can attend the meeting while the car is towed to the garage and repaired.

Little does she know however, that the town is on a mission to convince her that Christmas is the best place for the new ski resort.

While stranded in the town she falls in love with the town of Christmas, the spirit of Christmas that runs throughout it, and its residents and its Sheriff.

But the more she falls in love with the place the more she questions whether a resort is really the right move for Christmas? Or would the town be better off keeping its charm and traditions intact?

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 7 THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

 

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

Music and lyrics traditional

 

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir 

CHRISTMAS IN SPACE

 

On December 21, 1968 Apollo 8 was launched with Frank Borman as the commander, James A. Lovell, the command module pilot and 

William A. Anders the lunar module pilot.

After establishing Earth orbit Apollo 8 was set on a trajectory toward the moon.

On Christmas Eve Apollo 8 began orbiting the moon during the lunar orbits Broadcasts were made back to earth and Christmas greeting were exchanged.

After completing ten lunar orbits they left the moon being and headed back towards earth.

They returned safely to Earth on 27th December 1968.

CHRISTMAS HILL

 

Christmas Hill is situated in the Silverton Hills of Oregon where you will find the Christmas Hill tree farm which perhaps naturally specializes in the production of conifers grown commercially for the Christmas tree market.

Monday, 5 July 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – 12 DAYS OF GIVING (2017)

 

Struggling photographer Baxter (David Blue) is persuaded by his brother Toby (Preston James Hillier) to enter a prize draw at the Mall, and he wins a car.

However he thinks the car impractical for his life style so takes the cash equivalent, but instead of doing what his fiancé Audrey (Melanie Recker) wants, namely to fritter it away on unnecessary lavishness for their upcoming wedding, he decides to share his winnings with the residents of his small town play by playing a kind of Secret Santa.

One of the chosen recipients is a boy Westin (Jax Connolly) whose father is deceased and by extension his mother Pamela (Ashley Jones).

When his fiancé Audrey finds out he has been spending the money on strangers she gets really mad and breaks up with him before storming out, but when she tries to reconcile with him he isn’t interested in taking her back as he had now seen her in her true colours.

He had grown fond of Pamela in the short time he’d known her and had begun to fall in love with her, and he thought her a much worthier recipient of his heart.