So from me to all my Blogettes A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and to all those with new babies A VERY NAPPY CHRISTMAS.
Christmas Day brings back some vivid memories for me. Some good but some not so.
Overall I had a very happy childhood as you will find out if you are silly enough to buy my autobiography (all proceeds to charity) when it becomes available in the New Year. I've written a whole section on Christmas but below are just a few of the memories.
My father always seemed to work on Christmas Day morning so being an only one I had nobody to play games with because my mother and grandmother were too busy cooking. I remember watching television for most or all of the afternoon with Top of The Pops being followed by The Queen's Christmas message and then Billy Smart's Circus. This was in the days when animals used to be part of a circus. I remember some idiot putting his head in the mouth of a Tiger or Lion in the name of entertainment and horses going round and round in circles in the small ring. Not to mention Elephants and various other assorted animals.
I suppose in those days this was all very acceptable as was The Black and White Minstrel Show where white singers were blacked up whilst they sang Negro Spirituals. This was voted the most racist programme of all time - beating Love Thy Neighbour into second place. Love Thy Neighbour was a gross and disgusting situation comedy which ran for 53 episodes. It had two families living next to each other and the feuds that existed. One was a white family and the other a black and it gave vent to many emotive racial words with the opinionated white character being as obnoxious as Alf Garnett in Til Death Us Do Part. But at least we knew that Garnet was a self opinionated racist.
I never saw anything much wrong with the Black and White Minstrel Show, but then I was only a boy and Al Jolson was acceptable a few years before. As I grew up the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show became a staple diet. I still watch re-runs and they are as clever and funny as ever. Their gentle humour is an antidote to some of the aggressive stuff that passes for comedy today. I still remember the mickey they used to take out of Des O'Connor and the episode where Eric admitted to Ernie.
"Erne I've a criminal record."
"Yes Des O'Connor's Greatest Hits."
It was something like that. I often use that line myself.
As I mentioned recently I found sleep an impossibility on Christmas Eve as a boy. But Christmas Night's sleep was the sweetest ever. When I had children of my own we used to hire a cottage or flat in York for a week and we all remember that with great fondness. Now we have grandchildren, the magic of Christmas has returned again and we will be spending today with them.
I am very aware that for some this Christmas and every Christmas will be a time of struggle and sadness, particularly for those who have lost loved ones during the year when the days around Christmas can be very painful.
In the new year I am looking to work on a major piece of writing for my e-magazine around the struggles of local people to make ends meet. I have some interesting data and statistics and will be looking for some people prepared to chat with me about their situations. I will be looking at those trying to do their best to alleviate some of the suffering.
* * *
Throughout this year I have referred to my wife as my other threequarters. Well over the last few days she has been my other 95% as I've struggled with that deadliest of illnesses - The Man Cold. I have gone from sweating to shivering and back again but now seem to be on the road to recovery. I did a Covid test just to be sure and it was negative. Had it been positive it could have wiped out Christmas for me.
* * *
Finally today a comment on recent events:
One thing that has annoyed me over the past few days is pictures of strike picket lines where the strikers are laughing and joking and singing. It's a miserable time for everyone, at least they could do is try to look serious if they want to be taken seriously.
ONCE AGAIN A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.