So this is Christmas and what have you done?

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young 

(Celine Dion - So this is Christmas)

Can't believe this is my last Christmas in Durham. Was packing my bag for home today and I was blown away at how fast time has flown. As much as I can't wait to head home and see my family it's always sad to leave the family I have here. 

White Christmas

There's nothing better than that Christmas feeling :) All the photographs below were taken in Durham. I am loving the Christmas feeling in the air. Town has come alive with Christmas music and the prettiest decorations. Will post more photos soon :)

Imogen Heap LIVE in Newcastle

It's that time of year,

Leave all our hopelessnesses aside (if just for a little while)

Tears stop right here,

I know we've all had a bumpy ride (I’m secretly on your side)

(Just for now - Imogen Heap)

Mirror

(Cinnamon Grand, Sri Lanka)

Mirror mirror on the wall, have I got it?
'Cause mirror you've always told me..
Who I am. I'm finding it's not easy
To be perfect

So sorry, you won't define me
Sorry, you don't own me
Who are you to tell me that I am less than what I should be?!


Mirror I am seeing a new reflection
I'm looking into the eyes of he who made me
And to him I am beauty beyond compare
I know, he defines me.
(Mirror mirror -  Barlow Girls)


Barlow girls are not the most famous girl band but they are so good. Their lyrics are quite different but there is a lot of meaning behind it. I love how they talk about life and situations through their songs. 

Gracefully fall back in the arms of grace

(Durham, Nov 2009) I'm finding my way back to sanity, again  Though I don't really know what  I am gonna do when I get there  Take a breath and hold on tight  Spin around one more time  And gracefully fall back in the arms of grace  I am hanging on every word you say  And even if you don't want to speak tonight  That's alright, alright with me  'Cause I want nothing more than to sit  Outside Heaven's door and listen to you breathing  Is where I want to be  I am looking past the shadows  Of my mind into the truth and  I'm trying to identify  The voices in my head  God, which one's you?  Let me feel one more time  What it feels like to feel  And break these calluses off me  One more time  ( Breathing - Lifehouse)

Fool

(Sri Lanka, Unawatuna beach '10, with all this snow in the UK all I keep thinking about is my beach at home)

Dear, I fear we're facing a problem
you love me no longer, I know
and maybe there is nothing
that I can do to make you do
Mama tells me I shouldn't bother
that I ought just stick to another man
a man that surely deserves me
but I think you do!

So I cry, and I pray and I beg

Love me love me
say that you love me
fool me fool me
go on and fool me
love me love me
pretend that you love me
lead me lead me
just say that you need me

So I cried, and I begged for you to
Love me love me
say that you love me
lead me lead me
just say that you need me
I can't care about anything but you

Lately I have desperately pondered,
spent my nights awake and I wonder
what I could have done in another way
to make you stay
Reason will not reach a solution
I will end up lost in confusion
I don't care if you really care
as long as you don't go

(Love fool - The Cardigans. I know this song is old but it just takes me back in time and makes me quite happy. The Cardigans makes you love the 90's music)

Took the blame, bore the wrath

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

(Power of the cross - Kristyn Getty)

I'd climb inside the swirling skies to be with you

(Sri Lanka, Unawatuna '09)

If I were a painter
I would paint my reverie
If that's the only way for you to be with me

We'd be there together
Just like we used to be
Undertneath the swirling skies for all to see

And I'm dreaming of a place
Where I could see your face
And I think my brush would take me there
But only...

If I were a painter
And could paint a memory
I'd climb inside the swirling skies to be with you
I'd climb inside the skies to be with you 

(Painter Song - Norah Jones)

Stay

If I build a wall
A hundred feet tall
Would that keep you in?
If I shackled your feet
So you couldn’t leave
Would you try and run?

If I promise not to fight
At least not tonight
Would you stay the night?
If I wore that little dress
That you like the best
Would you pass my test?

Would you stay?
Would you stay with me?

(Stay - Michelle Featherstone)

We're going down

It's not a silly little moment,
It's not the storm before the calm.
This is the deep and dying breath of
This love that we've been working on.

Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody's gonna come and save you,
We pulled too many false alarms.

We're going down,
And you can see it too.
We're going down,
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear,
We're slow dancing in a burning room.

I was the one you always dreamed of,
You were the one I tried to draw.
How dare you say it's nothing to me?
Baby, you're the only light I ever saw.

I'll make the most of all the sadness,
You'll be a bitch because you can.
You try to hit me just to hurt me
So you leave me feeling dirty
Because you can't understand.

We're going down,
And you can see it too.
We're going down,
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear,
We're slow dancing in a burning room.

(John Mayer - Slow dancing in a burning room)

Wonderful

It’s a little bit funny this feeling inside

I’m not one of those who can easily hide

I don’t have much money but boy if I did

I’d buy a big house where we both could live


So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you’re in the world


( Ellie Goulding - Your song)

Sparks

Did I drive you away?
I know what you'll say.
You'll say, "Oh, sing one we know"
But I promise you this,
I'll always look out for you.
That's what I'll do. 

My heart is yours.
It's you that I hold on to.
That's what I'll do.
But I know I was wrong,
And I won't let you down.

And I saw sparks,
Yeah I saw sparks..

(Sparks - Coldplay)

Building a Mystery

 Cause you're working

Building a mystery

Holding on and holding it in

Yeah you're working

Building a mystery

And choosing so carefully

(Building work in the town center in Durham. Not quite sure what they are building but I made full use of it during my picture taking walk. One before the last picture is my favorite.) 

How to love again

Fear falls down like rain
And it makes me whole again
Fear falls like rain

Take me as I am
I'm not broken
Pieces of my life are not tokens
I want to let you know that I'm still learning
How to love again and stop hurting

(Take me as I am - Tonic)

Neopolitan Dreams

You'll go and I'll be okay,
I can dream the rest away.
Its just a little touch of fate, it will be okay.
It sure takes its precious time, but it's got rights and so have I.

I turn my head up to the sky
I focus one thought at a time
I do not let the little thieves under my tightly buttoned sleeves
You couldn't be alone, the time I feel like I am walking blind
I have nowhere, I'll have time
There are no legible signs
(Neopolitan Dreams - Lisa Mitchell)

(Newcastle on a rainy day)