The seemingly obligatory Christmas post

We don't do Christmas.

Well, lets amend that immediately, because for the most part, even if you don't do the usual Christmassy things - decorations, presents and alike - Christmas does you. It won't let you go even if you've loosened the grip on your side.

Some examples. We haven't done presents for many years, not since my Mother died and that was back in 1995, fourteen and a half years ago if you want to calculate it to something close but not too specific. We do cards mostly because it would be unkind not to send greetings to those who have in some way greeted you. Thats Christmas 'doing you' - at least until I find an expression that suits the notion better.

On a less practical basis, it's difficult to escape the season in any place, especially with so much of life revolving around the bloody TV. Not that you'd do without it - The TV and Christmas together. No, you can't escape it at all, but the point, or at least one point since there seem so many, is that the season is a time to be kind and good and caring and all those good things as if the rest of the year is not a time to be all those things.

Here's a different angle. Recently our friend was involved in a car accident. Nobody was hurt beyond superficial bruising even though the cars involved were written off, but our friend, despite the brave face, was shaken up considerably. Now in those circumstances, you do what you can don't you. And we did. As it happened, our other friend did so much more, but you don't need details, and I wouldn't be popular if I gave them. The point is that we did the Christmassy things - the caring, sharing, giving kind of stuff - not because it was Christmas but because it was exactly the right thing to do.

When my Mum was alive we did do Christmas. I remember vividly the last one before she went. We'd found at a local antique centre a set of pottery a few pieces of which my Mum had received as a wedding present from her mother - Denby Wheatsheaf. The intention then was that she'd recieve the full set bit by bit, but before that could happen my Mum's Mum passed away. We decided on a different approach and bought up everything that was available at the antique centre. We gave it to my Mum in one big box. It was Christmas of course and we were doing the stuff you do during the season, but she was so pleased with what we'd done. I hope I'll always remember that morning sitting on the floor surrounded by wrapping paper. That and the look on her face. Just the look on her face.

This year we bought people presents. They didn't start out as Christmas presents, they just sort of ended up wrapped in brightly coloured paper because it was that time of year. Done again, but we're not unhappy about it because it's good having friends who go out of their way to help out.

Enough of that. Here's a Christmas song.



It is for me.