Bah, Humbug!

We are not yet into December, but it seems like we have been bombarded by advertisements for goodies we do not need, and our ears tortured by cheesey Christmas music, for some months now.

Christmas is a time of many emotions and memories, but as the years go by, it has become a time which shows the shallowness and divisions of wealth in our society. Walking into an upmarket department store, I see there are expensive high-tech items for the wealthy, and around the corner in the Pound Shop, careworn mothers are shopping for essentials, trying to make ends meet.

What is sad, I think, is the relentless pressure to consume, whether it be huge quantities of food and drink, or the need to show off a newly decorated room and new furniture. I am not a particularly religious person, but the old idea of Christmas as a festival of rejoicing in a spiritual sense has largely disappeared.  The remaining good part of Christmas, the giving, is to be applauded, but not if it means that people are brainwashed into spending money they do not have.  

Anna has just said that Norfolk Black Turkey's are on sale for Christmas at £85 each, they must be b....y joking! Who is making the profit here then the farmer, the supermarket?

One thing is for sure, they will have a whole lot left as far as I am concerned! As you suggest Edward there will be plenty looking for the scraps, which is disgraceful in our so-called modern society.

I am sorry you feel that way....I can remember sroking at the local general hospital and we decided we wanted an "Christmas Party, so we pooled our current assets to come up with $5.00....back then the ladies hankines came 3/$1,00...we split those up for gifts..candy canes were 10 cents each...we needed an tree so we cut off the end of an evergreen twig out in the landscaping...didn't have much to decorate so we used our religious necklaces...as everyone wore them back then. Most people look at jesus hanging on the cross and think if his death...with us he was looking down upon rosary beads.We gave away ink pens...they were 10/an dollar...and then we bought some donuts and maple bars all decorated, and cut them up in thirds to go with our coffee....and we sang Christmas Carols so loud that word has it they heard it out in the hallway. When they came and found out what we had done...one of the doctors, one of my neighbors back then, sent us an huge box of expenisve chocolates to go with everything else we had. We sure didn't let not having money back then stop our spirit.... For one thing no one had much money back then. It wasn't the amount of money we spent..it was the thought that went behind it...we cared. When you care...caring is good enough some times. So open up your heart, cause I know you have one...and start caring over giving...giving doesn't come come without caring. My old neighbor said something to me one time...I never borrow from others...I only give...and only then if I have it to give. Therefore my relationship is not strained andI want my neighbors to know that I care...because I don't have to care. So here...take these brownies I baked....I know you two kids are working hard these days to make an life for yourselves...and ends meet. I think she was the best neighbor I ever had. You know those floral boquets I was giving to my neighbors here this summer, one of them just came to my door to give me an 12 pound turkey...cause she's working "part time" this year, in an meat department... and wanted to share it with me for me sharing with her. There may be help for the world yet..if you'll give it an chance. Portland's Union Gospel Mission put out 1,500 dinners to day for the homeless. Done with volunteers and donations. As they say...I dare you to make an difference in the world..... for one better day...... in someone's life. No Ba humbug...not now...POE has an reputation for oood kind hearted people...yep..that makes you one of them! Be glad for the good things in life, the simple things... and the memories you have made and can make while your breathing every day of your life...it's not about "Christmas" only...it's about you as an person. Life si so special.  In the meantime...for some merriment here's your Christmas story this year...on the next post.

First line above is "working"....yeah I did that also...at the hospital.

Now for the story.....

Last year my neighbor Bob displayed....a wreath upon his door. It looked an little bare, so he wanted something more. He hung a string of lights..to make the festive mood complete...which caught the jealous eye of Old Man Potts across the street. Now Potts was sour and cranky, not the jolliest of guys. You could see his cutthroat nature....in his cold and steely eyes. And when he saw what Bob had done...he hung an bigger wreath...with fancy frosted pinecones, and an velvet bow beneath. He decked his lawn with ornamental reindeer and an sleigh....Then added flashing lights....that really clobbered Bob's display. But Bob would not accept defeat...he really looked alive!.....and soon an whole Nativity appeared out in his drive.

The Kings upon their camels...with the faithful entourage...were guided by an gleaming star...on top of Bob's garage. A host of plastic shepherds...kept their flocks upon his lawn. "Take that!" he yelled across the street...and Pott's yelled back...Bring it on!"

The gloves were off, an now those two put on an frightful show...Their lights made downtown Vegas look like Podunk, Idaho!There were choirs of angels, toiling elves, and blinking candy canes,There were heaps of gift-wrapped boxes, hauled by working model trains. There were polystyrene snowmen...standing ninety-one feet tall. there were motor driven Santa's shouting "Merry Christmas, all!There were huge majestic Christmas trees that towered to the sky, Even up to Christmas Eve, their contest was a tie.

So bob and Potts stood on their lawns, each glaring at his foe...declaring he would not give in....till It began to snow! Now dreaming of an white Christmas...has never been my style....but once that blizzard started up...I couldn't help but smile. It covered every ornament...It silenced every bell....It buried every reindeer...and each tiny elf as well. It squelched those shouting Santas...it dimmed each garish light....Till everything was peaceful ...in an  sea of endless white.

And then poor Bob and Old man Potts...who'd battled tooth and claw..could only shake each other's hands...and call the thing an draw.  And as for me...I made an vow...by which I still abide. Whenever Christmas rolls around....I hang my wreath inside.

Hi Shirley

What a lovley posting

On Sunday I will be wrestling with the Christmas tree it much to big for the lounge we bought it in 1989 Its American manufactured one that you can dismantle and store away, yes its a bit of a chore each year but when its all decked out and the rest of the lounge is decorated with Christmas decorations the apartment takes on an entireley differnt mantle bringing with it an enhanced feeling of peace and tranquility.

To the big fellow upstairs please keep bringing me a Christmas as I am in the last quater of the century of my life.   

Shirley says>>>No Ba humbug...not now...POE has a reputation for good kind hearted people...yep..that makes you one of them! Be glad for the good things in life, the simple things... and the memories you have made and can make while your breathing every day of your life...it's not about "Christmas" only...it's about you as an person. Life is so special.

Very true Shirley and yes POE really does have that reputation. Something to be proud of and why it's the best England website on the net bar none!

I enjoy Christmas Neil and also enjoy seeing everybody else happy, but the preparation and expense is horrendous, as you know. This is the time of year when traders generally have us over a barrell and that can't be good for anybody. What happened to the few new pennies, an orange, a blenheim apple in a sock at the bottom of the bed, we were well happy? Ah, Christmas! 

Yep I remember that also Ron

My farther used to paint egg shells for the tree decorations in the early forties.