Tis The Season To Be Jolly?

'Tis The Season To Be Jolly




Bah Humbug!

Shops heaving with bad tempered people- I include myself!

Shops full of 'gifts' - not presents - +Dave Gorman is the expert on this topic!  Basically, the rubbish that's only on sale at Christmas.

Everyone else in the 'one basket' aisle has a trolley, Grrr!!

Witnessing bad tempered driving- even when you're on the bus.

Kids ill for Christmas - even if it's caused by too much fizzy pop and sweets.

If the Grinch stole Christmas- Why did he put it back!

Scrooge would be quite happy with the labour market as it is- I don't suppose he would have to pay Bob Cratchit if he was on a Zero hours contract.



Christmas Comes But Once A Year -

Which is the only time now I buy the Radio Times! Have you seen the size of it!?  And I still I can't find enough of the old films I like to watch.  I'm not saying there's 'nothing on', though.  I shall have to tune my telly to Fogey TV, where the 'Great Escape' and other old films are on an endless loop!

You know that feeling you get around Boxing Day; 'is that it, then?', not surprising really when we have all been subjected to Christmas propaganda since the end of August.  Surely it's counter-productive for the advertisers etc., to start cramming us with it when we've hardly got the sun cream off!

And yet- it's there all the year round really, the shops are full of stuff all the time, at least, for those with the money,  so you can almost have Christmas every day if you want.  Are things really seasonal, any more?  I actually prefer to eat hot cross buns just at Easter!



Reasons To Be Cheerful

Mmm.... have to think about this!  It has been a crap for some of us (is it because there's a 13 in it?) The thing is, we all do need a break at the end of the year- and it would be very strange to have nothing to look forward to following, say August Bank Holiday.

Of course, I wish everyone a Happy Christmas, a Festive Winterval or a Happy anythingyoulike - I also appreciate that it is a religious festival, notwithstanding that Dec 25th seems to be an arbitrary date, hijacking previously Pagan celebrations.

So - Happy Christmas, and to repeat an unoriginal, and even 'schmalzy' thought; I hope next year we at least get what we need, if not what we want.

Is Anybody There?

Is Anybody There?

Blogging seems weird- when you comment on Twitter etc, it's feels as if you are putting in your 'twohapence worth' into a group- like chipping into a conversation in the pub.  Blogging seems very solitary. And who on earth would want to read my outpourings anyway? Obviously, this topic has, I'm sure, been discussed at length elsewhere.

I can see the first thing I need to do is get used to writing more than a 'Tweetslength'.  A bit like an open microphone- probably anything is better than empty space or air.

Remembrance

I saw an item on Facebook about the Cenotaph, posted by the National Trust  someone commented where what was it, and where was it- they replied (twice) that it was in Whitehall.  This seems to me to be an indication that people are losing touch with the way even my generation (baby boomer) have known and thought about Remembrance, and the association with the two world wars.
   However, that's not to say that people are not interested in the sacrifice (can't think of a better word) that our servicemen and women have made, and of course, still make - but I think increasingly we will see different forms of acknowledging and remembrance.

Two fantastic examples of this;

Strangers attending a veteran's funeral:





http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24889924 and

Bikers wearing red on the M25, to create 'largest poppy':



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24889804


However- I also see on the news that people have been jailed for poppy tin thefts.

Something that seems to happen to me every year is that my poppy falls off my coat- next year perhaps I'll see if I can get a stick on one!



IF anyone does read this blog- please bear with me; I am new to this! 

Ouch!

New blog -new blogger.

I'm used to Tweeting. Having more room is good, but scary. But - I have just seen a great quote:

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is tuned on. - Louis L'amour

Great quote but (sorry) Louis L'amour looks a bit made up to me- will look him up on Wikipedia, some time.

Quick thought- why do we in these Isles just say 'tap' whilst the Americans say 'faucet'?


Warning - although I believe I can spel, my grammar is a bit shaky- so, I don't want to hear from any Grammar Nazis (or any other kind, actually).  Constructive criticism, maybe, though. If anyone can be bothered!