Skip to main content

Christmas Cheer - Episode 1


Several years ago now, due to a serious lack of money round about the festive season, I decided I was no longer going to dole out Christmas gifts. Little did I know this announcement would make some of my friends and family view me as a scrooge.

I forgot that people are not privy to my inner thoughts and didn't understand my internal processes.

So I think it's time I set the record straight.

Christmas, for me, has always been a truly joyous time of year. My childhood was full to the brim with wonderful Christmas experiences. My favourite thing of all was the never ending visiting of friends and family we got to do. And believe you me, there were lots of those. My parents had an extensive social circle and more cousins than you could shake a stick at. I've never really known what that expression means but I'm using it anyway.

You see, it was never about the presents.


Birthdays, in my view, are when the presents count the most. This is why I agonise for hours about my birthday present list.  I start compiling it in October/November.  When I've perfected it then I post it on facebook, email it to friends and even do blog posts about it. Yes you lucky readers – this honed list of wonder will be coming your way just before February.




 So... when I made my momentous 'NO PRESENTS' decision that long ago December 
I was considering several things. 




Here is an attempt to list, in some kind of order, (not easy considering the befuddlement my brain can be) my thought processes at the time:
  1.   I am extremely cash strapped.
  2. I don't have the usual resources to do the home made present deal. (You see, after I left teaching I decided to quit my hoarding of old bits of cardboard, sticky back plastic and glitter for those unexpected Blue Peter type projects).
  3. I will have to go out and buy the raw ingredients or start collecting scraps as I used to in the old days. The buying means spending money I don't have. The collecting of scraps is a gradual not instantaneous thing.
  4. But I do have time to spend with friends and family.
  5. But that's good because spending time with people creates memories
  6. Which are the best kind of present I can think of. I love great memories, especially captured on film.
This was a win win situation. 

I set about implementing my new Christmas regime...

For Episode 2 of the Rae - Scrooge debate, tune in to next month's blog.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. It's much appreciated as is the time you take to write a comment.

Popular posts from this blog

Faetaera: A Triumvirate

  A Triumvirate Brairton’s minions slipped through a barely noticeable fissure.  The tear would close shortly.  Despite the increase in their regularity the breaches rarely stayed open very long.  To the three insidious spies, the stink of the new world was almost unbearable.  But in time the triumvirate would each become so used to it they would scarcely notice it at all.  That it poisoned them they did not know.  Brairton was not in the habit of informing his operatives of fatal consequences.  Their programming precluded any thought beyond the mission they must complete.  In this Brairton had been exact and had performed the necessary rituals himself. Each had their mission branded into their being.   They would travel together for some time but then slip off to their secret destinations one by one, never to see each other again. The threesome latched on to their individual targets and began their particular brand of individual mis...
Post a Comment
Read more

#Review: A Storm of Swords II

A Storm of Swords II by George R R Martin After starting on the set in September last year, I’m getting through the Game of Thrones series at quite a clip now. This is no doubt due to their intriguing nature and Martin’s writing style which makes reading this collection of books so easy. So far, my favourite character in every one of the books in this series is Tyrion Lannister. I find myself rooting for him at every step on his life journey.  He works so hard to be a better man despite people’s preconceptions. When he was made The Hand in the previous book I was not at all surprised that he did a good job of it. Tyrion reminds me of some of the talented yet underrated children I’ve taught in the past. Once they were given a task which excited and involved them they relished the challenge and surpassed all expectations. Unlike my students though, Tyrion receives no praise for his efforts and achievements. Perhaps I like him so much because he almost always has his now...
Post a Comment
Read more

Faetaera: Through The Rabbit Hole

  Larell’s heart was full to the brim.  His audience with Aurelia had been unexpected and full of wonder.  He was not surprised she was aware of his plans to send a force through to the other side.  Aurelia always knew everything going on in her world.  At times he thought he saw the weight of it bearing down upon her.  Then he wished to take her in his arms and carry her as well as the burdens she bore.  But of course he would never do this, merely imagine it.  It made him love her all the more.  She thought he did not know how she came by her information and he planned on keeping it that way.  It was the only way he knew to express his love for her without feeling foolish.   In the crystal lined chamber he felt her load more palpably than usual.   He knew it was simply his foolish love-sickness for his Queen but he let the feeling soak through him regardless.   Aurelia's lips twitched briefly as though she was...
Post a Comment
Read more