On the longest night of the year, the world feels as though it pauses, just for a heartbeat, between one breath and the next. The veil thins, not in the ghost‑story sense, but in the way a still lake reveals the sky when the wind finally rests. This is the Solstice: the hinge of the year, the ancient turning of the Great Wheel, the deep dark that promises light, the cold that invites warmth, the moment when darkness reaches its fullest bloom before yielding to the returning light.

Our ancestors knew this night well. They watched the sun sink low and wondered if it would rise again. They lit fires not only for warmth, but as offerings, sparks cast into the dark in honour of the unseen forces that guide the turning seasons. They gathered close, shared strong drink, and told stories of gods who battled winter’s grip, of heroes who descended into shadow and returned transformed.

This is the night when hearths matter most. When a warm fire, a strong drink, and good company feel less like luxuries and more like small acts of defiance against the encroaching dark. We gather, we laugh, we share stories, not because the night is long, but because we are choosing to fill it with meaning. We remind ourselves that even the deep dark hums with promise. The Solstice teaches a simple truth wrapped in mythic clothing: darkness is not an ending, but a gestation. A seed buried in the cold earth. A story waiting for its first line.

And then – slowly, almost shyly – the light returns.

Not in a blaze, but in a whisper. A few more minutes of dawn. A gentler tilt of the sky. The promise that brighter days are not only possible, but inevitable. With the light comes joy, companionship, and perhaps a bonfire or two to honour the old ways, flames rising like prayers, reminding the world that we are still here, still watching, still believing in the turning of the Wheel.

In this moment, we stand where countless generations have stood: at the threshold of the year’s longest night, looking toward the first spark of dawn. The myths remind us that every descent has its ascent, every winter its spring, every shadow its flame.

Let’s raise a glass to the turning of the wheel, to the resilience that carried us here, and to the light that is already on its way back.

From the darkest depths, brighter days ahead!

This evening was the Blood Bikes Christmas Party!!! We had decided (by popular vote) that we would move the monthly meeting to a Saturday this month and turn it into a Christmas Party. So at 7:30pm all the good boys and girls of the NE Blood Bikes Wales gathered up to celebrate the season. Christmas Jumpers were optional, and in attendance.

So we had a quick update on the last months actions, including how we had been given a new bike by the family of someone who had passed away. Then we were informed that the High Sheriff of Clwyd who has been a fantastic supporter of the Charity for several years now (I think we are on the third or fourth bike she has gotten us) had put some money behind the bar to pay for our drinks.

We then spent a while eating and drinking and making merry to celebrate another busy year with the charity. Blood Bikes Wales Christmas baubles were presented to the members, some 10 year volunteer badges were handed out (I believe I would have been a volunteer for 10 years in 2026). We then had a raffle which raised £180(ish) I forget the exact amount, I did mention the free beer didn’t I?

I managed to win two raffle prizes, and Nev, Hugh and John won none, which made my day because Facebook had reminded me that last year ago the four of us had visited a Lodge to give a talk for Blood Bikes and those three had all won two raffle prizes, and I had won none.

Karma gets there eventually.

Blood Bikes Wales

Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.

Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.

Today was my first Christmas Dinner of the year!

It was an odd occasion since I was the one who picked the meals. But Checking my calendar for December, I noticed this year I would only be having the one Christmas Dinner. Now while I am ok with that, I figured after the last few years of multiple dinners, to the point of keeping track I really should have more than one.

So for Bishop Wilkins meeting, I picked Christmas Dinner. I did add to the summons that if anyone objected we could change it. I am not evil. Ok I am not totally evil!.

The meeting itself went great, we had a ceremony, and then an Installation. And it was a rare installation since the Frater going into the chair had never been in any chair of any order before. So we got to see him mind blown. 

This evening was my last Masonic Meeting of 2024!

Tonight was the turn of Wrexhamian Lodge’s December meeting, which is usually more of a social gathering than a meeting, and a chance for us all to escape families between Christmas and New Year. Depending on how many excited kids you had to deal with over the Christmas week, this escape is necessary.

Originally the Secretary of the Lodge had asked me to arrange someone to come give a talk, but I had to cancel that when I found out the DC was planning on just doing a Walking Charge in the 3rd Degree because he wanted to.

Due to this, we did not have enough people turn up on the night to be able to have a festive board after the meeting, and we had to have several guests come to fill in for officers so we could open. And most people were doing multiple jobs. Only the DC, ADC, WM, JW, and SD were the actual officers.

So we opened and closed in the 3 degrees, did the 3 tools, and the walking charge. And it was the first time some had done the opening and closings, some visitors had to step in, so with no rehearsals it was a bit of a mess. Which was made worse by the DC team just sitting there and not prompting, or knowing what was going on. On the positive side, several of us were sat drinking in the pub less than an hour after the opening.

All in all it was a very poor way to end the year. Lets hope 2025 will be better.

And this year I managed to just have TWO Christmas dinners, one masonic and one family. I think it is the lowest number I have had in many years.

This evening we had our Monthly Blood Bikes Wales NE meeting, and on this occasion we combined it with a Christmas Party.

The meeting was packed with people, most of whom were wearing Christmas Jumpers. I feel like I should own one for such occasions, but I would want a geeky one which may not be as valid, or appropriate for such events. Although, saying that is any Christmas Jumper appropriate for a Bikers party?

So I turned up, and there was a Pint already sat waiting for me at my place thanks to the fact Hugh had gotten there first. So greetings were made, and then we had the special privilege of presenting Blood Bikes Wales with a cheque for £1,500 from the Lodge of Rhuddlan Castle.

After that bit of business was concluded, it was time for a quick update meeting, to get the boring admin and news out of the way. And after that ten minutes, it was time to party. There was beer to drink, food to eat, and socialising to be done.

We also had a raffle, and to the amusement of everyone there when I got my tickets, I had this number.  

I posted on Social Media that I suspected the raffle was trying to tell me something, and the internet agreed with me having that number.

Thank you Internet! I will have you know I am sweet and innocent!!

Well the joke is on them, because that raffle number won me a pen!

And if we have learnt anything from “Death Note”, then we have learnt that if I write someone’s name with this pen bad things may happen to them. My Nephew’s partner has already requested I test it out on him. She is such a caring person 🙂

But even better than the cursed pen of evil. I got a Christmas gift from one of the Blood Biker-Masons who was at the party. A lovely Penderyn miniature selection box, which was very nice of him.

This evening was my last Masonic Meeting of 2023!

Tonight was the turn of Wrexhamian Lodge’s December meeting, which is usually more of a social gathering than a meeting, and a chance for us all to escape families between Christmas and New Year. Depending on how many excited kids you had to deal with over the Christmas week, this escape is necessary.

The night was cursed with multiple issues, like the Caterers had booked out the Festive Board room without asking us, so we were forced to eat upstairs in a small room. And the Lodge room and upstairs doors have been secured with keylocks, which the Lodges have not been given the codes too. 

When we eventually got in and setup, we found we were short a few officers, so I stood in as JW.

The night had 3 talks/presentations.

• A daily advancement of Masonic Knowledge.
• The Royal Arch, and what’s it about.
• The MCF, where does our money go.

It ended up being an enjoyable evening, and a great way to see out 2023.

Now, I did not stop for the meal this evening, but since the year is now over I can tally up the Christmas Dinner count. I started doing this the year I was Active Steward and ended up having a Christmas Dinner count in the double figures!.

This year I was lucky because my work did not have a meal, and I skipped a Lodge’s festive board. So the count is 5 Masonic and 1 Personal Christmas Dinners, so 6 in total. 

Note to Self: I think I did accidently agree to give a talk at the Next Wrexhamian Chapter meeting, I need to check that.

I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to every Group, Organisation, and Person who has supported Blood Bikes Wales over 2023.

Whether it is from Donations, booking us to come give a talk on what we at Blood Bikes Wales do, or by running a fundraiser or event. Whatever you have done over the year, has been truly appreciated by us.

I thank you for your support, and look forward to more Talks and events in the New Year.

So on behalf of Welsh Nev, Hugh Jackson, and Myself we would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous New year.

This evening was my first visit to Buckley Lodge, who now meet at the Masonic Hall in Mold.

I have been planning on visiting this Lodge for a very-very long time, because I always wanted to see the Masonic Hall in Buckley.

NEVER PUT THINGS OFF!

By the time I actually got around to visiting the Lodge, the Hall in Buckley had been closed down, and the Lodge had moved to the Mold Masonic Hall.  So I learnt a very important lesson, I had put off something I wanted to do for so long I was then unable to ever do it.

I would probably still be planning to visit if it wasn’t for getting a phone call from Dr Robert Lomas. He called me up the week before to say he would be traveling past the area on the 1st December and was planning to visit Buckley Lodge, and did I want to go along with him.

It was an enjoyable evening, with an interesting Talk on several “Worthy Masons” followed by their Christmas Festive Board. This was filled with lots of singing and Christmas Cheer. Including the best version of the 12 Days of Christmas that I have ever seen done at a Lodge meeting.

It was also my First (but by no means last) Christmas meal of the season.

My father got my mother a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas since she loves to read at night. I was there when she opened it, I watched as she excitedly opened the box, took out her new kindle and powered it on for the first time, touched the screen, looked confused and handed the device to me (within four minutes of opening the box) asking “Why is it all weird?” My mother had managed to set the kindles language to Chinese. And expected me to quickly fix her new toy so she could continue to play with it.

Now I do not know if you are aware, but when powering on a kindle paperwhite for the first time it goes through a sequence of steps. Such as Set up Language, Set up WiFi, Set up and log into your amazon account, etc. And you must complete all these steps before you get to such useful things as Menus & Options. So I had to do all that for her before I could re-set the language, and I had to do it all in Chinese Kanji. before I could try and read through the menus (In Chinese) to change the language.

As you can imagine, My mother took some stick for doing this.

FAST FORWARD TWO WEEKS.

My mothers old eBook reader she gave to my sister since she no longer needed it. So I blanked and reset it for her, added a load of free public domain books to start her off and it was sent to my sisters house.

FIVE minutes after it was dropped off at my sisters house I got a phone call from her, asking how to reset the device as she was looking at it and hit the wrong button changing the language to Chinese or some such thing. Yes, she managed to do the exact same thing she made fun of my mother for doing.  And once again it was left to me to fix, this time over the phone, without being able to see the device.

As they say, the Apple does not fall far from the tree…

and as I say “My family can be annoying!!!“