Hello Everybody and Bonne Reveillon, Happy Solstice, Happy Christmas, Bonne Noel, and grosse weinacht....
It's early on Xmas Day and I'm taking a break from wrapping presents for my family to have a coffee and say Hello to all you members.
I know that everybody will be up-to-the-eyeballs in busy work today and I hope that you have a good time...
My sister tasked me with making a traditional English bread sauce and to cook the sausages that were a tradition in our house when we were kids...I think it was to stretch the turkey and ham a bit more around the table! So, I'll drive to the City with my son at about 2pm and spend the whole of the day with my sister and her grown children and one grandchild. And whoever else decides not to spend the Day alone... that's why I buy Toblerone bars on the side as little presents in case I am embarrassed by some friend of my niece's buying me a present...
I have spent many Christmases alone; once, when I was 19 yrs old I had a job as a night security guard in London and walked around a tower block all night on my rounds while my family was at home in Ireland missing me... there I was, a kid trying to save a dollar for his education or drink (whichever came first) sitting behind a huge reception desk at 5am on Christmas Day in my oversize uniform and cap - trying hard not to cry from lonliness and self-pity. Luckily I had brought a copy of Marx's Manifesto to read and it put me to sleep within two minutes - sitting up straight in the chair with my arms folded... I think I earned about 60 pounds sterling for the Eve, the day and St. Stephen's Day. I washed in the Chairman's washroom and slept in the boardroom on the plush carpet during the day while the day-guy did his stint from 8am to 6 pm.
Those of you who are alone this Christmas Day I send you my love and affection and I wish only real strength for you in the coming New Year.
