liv | Increasing light

I had such a perfect chanukah this year! The first time in I don't know how long that chanukah hasn't been either in the middle of Christmas or in the middle of term. No lighting on my own in my little flat because I couldn't get away to be with my people, no trying to squeeze the festival round the much more prominent celebrations or impose on people when they're busy.

We ended the Sunday school term with a little chanukah thing. There was quite a serious snowfall that morning so not that many children made it, but the ones who did had a brilliant time. I designed and ran a themed crossword which was very popular, and the children did various activities, mostly crafts, and we ate so many chocolate coins, doughnuts and latkes.

And in the evening I took

cjwatson to a fundraising cabaret, where the shul choir did ridiculously over the top choir arrangements of the most banal chanukah songs, I had a little dreidl and Ocho candelikas. And a singer called Huguette did absolutely amazing Piaf, and some of the regulars and some of the exceptionally talented kids did a mix of comic and serious songs and pieces.

First candle, OSOs and their children came over to eat latkes and cheese. Judith told the story of Judith with great gusto and not much prompting.

Second, I lit in a bit of a rush between people coming and going between educational groups, and it was just a little sweet thing, not making chanukah a bigger deal than it needs to be, but celebrating with my people.

Third candle we had a proper family celebration, and watched the Rugrats chanukah special and played a game of Walk the dogs.

Friday I took off work to travel to west Wales, and therefore was able to light fourth candle with

angelofthenorth and

gwyddno.

angelofthenorth had too much fun making lots of traditional foods, home-made challah and lokshen pudding and latkes and it was so welcoming and wonderful. And I gave them the amazing Quaker-themed game I learned from OSOs recently, Unable, unwilling, which proved extremely popular.

We had a lovely lovely relaxed Shabbat, drinking tea at a completely gorgeous tea shop, Tea Traders, with some friends of my hosts, and then napping through the dark gloomy afternoon. And eating more amazing tasty food, including a cheese board and then some bhajis in honour of the festival. Fifth candle after havdalah made over spiced rum :-)

I was travelling basically all Sunday evening, but

jack was waiting for me to light sixth just before bed.

Seventh candle I did quietly at home with

jack, and we ate kugel and more doughnuts and played the game I picked up for him for the festival, Nab-it. I thought it was rebranded Upwords, but it's different in ways that make it quite strategically interesting. It's one of the best charity shop finds I've grabbed in ages, really nice form factor and all the components in good as new condition, as well as being a more clever game than I had a right to expect.

And I ended the festival with the OSOs and their children again. My jigsaw puzzle gifts had to be completed immediately, but I think people also enjoyed the idea I picked up from R' Debbie of making something to show love and appreciation in addition to all the material things. We explored the chanukah story by watching the Special Agent Oso (no relation) 'holiday lights' special, which has chanukah alongside Advent and Kwanzaa. And also the episode of Friends that vaguely mentions chanukah.

And I finish work for the year at lunchtime tomorrow, and I'm definitely looking forward to some relaxed quality time with my people.