When the care giver arrived this morning unannounced and called out my name, it startled me for I was not in the habit of having someone walk in unannounced and calling my name. Fortunately she was my favourite care giver, not that we are supposed to have favourites but, although she is one of the younger ones, it is her personality that makes her so popular. One can feel excitement in the air as the feasts of the Nativity of Jesus Christ and His Baptism approach closer and closer with people making plans while most of the Orthodox world around us is suffering from the aftermath of overindulgence in these two feasts. Today we noticed a couple of rose hedgerows with beautiful pink roses still blooming bravely, encouraging us to carry on and to do our best until the arrival of spring.