Coming soon to a village hall near you

And now the decorations are down, the Christmas tree over the pub door that some woman thought looked like a willy has been dismantled and the discarded trunk and branches of someone else's tree lies on the pavement.

It is such an undignified ending for such a previously lauded bit of nature, which stood in the corner of people's front rooms or kitchens and was, for a brief moment in time, more important than the telly.

But that's how Christmas is. Once it's over, we're itching to move onwards and upwards, at least I am, grasping at the year ahead like a Chance Card in Monopoly.

It's hard writing a blog like this when the madness of the real world shouts loudly all around us. Our own petty problems or comic moments in Lush Places pale into insignificance sometimes.

But life goes on, all over the world, and we just have to work hard to get on with it as best we can. And, for those of us who have life and good health, it's our duty to do so. Mustn't grumble, is the saying. And whilst we do, it shouldn't be for long. Life is too short to let anyone or anything get us down.

I hadn't meant to go all philosophical. I'd meant to describe the scene that greeted me this week when Mr Grigg and four men of mature years were up at the village hall testing out the new cinema equipment.

You see, Lush Places has just been awarded a lottery grant to bring movies into the village, to lessen social isolation and for people to have fun together through the joy of sharing moments from the big screen.

I had visions of the five of them sitting around in tub chairs, smoking on cigars and watching porn. I'm sorry if that offends you but it's how my mind works.

But when I toddled up to the hall and pushed open the double doors, the film showing was a wildlife documentary about monkeys, with commentary by David Attenborough.

'How sweet,' I said. 'Sweet. But dull.'

They glared at me as if I were mad and then carried on fiddling with remote controls and the knobs on the brand new Blu Ray DVD player.

As soon as I turned to push open the double doors to leave the building, the soundtrack changed and the on-screen grunts and squeals began. At last, I thought, my suspicions were right all along.

And there, on screen, was Babe, the sheep pig.

That'll do pig.

Which gives me the excuse to show this:

Could there be any better ending for a film? It makes me well up every time.

That's about it.

Love Maddie x