The Bah Humbug Thread

[Dave2002]

Christmas is the time I have to drive 42 miles to the nearest supermarket without piped music. It's Waitrose in either York or Willerby.

Is that a vote for, or against?

I'm with Mary on the Christmas Eve carol service from Kings College.

The "most wonderful time of the year" .... absolutely not! Too much sentimental clap trap, and watching films such as Miracle on 34th Street, and being manipulated by the media.

Sorry guys!

[BBMmk2]

I've worked EVERY Christmas since 1991 due to my being a nurse so it's really ceased to have any real meaning. However, New Year is much more important since, as a Scot, getting completely rat arsed is so much more important!

I was in nursing for a good few years! Had to retire for health reasons

[P. G. Tipps]

The "most wonderful time of the year" .... absolutely not! Too much sentimental clap trap, and watching films such as Miracle on 34th Street, and being manipulated by the media.

Dave, Christmas Day, especially the afternoon, does have its little alternative pleasures which I discovered some time ago.

It is actually by far the best day of the year for a wonderfully peaceful walk in the country with just the cows and sheep for company. If I get the opportunity I always do that before the celebrations later with my fellow-humans, and long before it gets dark, weather permitting of course.

I've never been forced to watch Miracle on 34th Street or any other movie on Xmas Day but maybe I've just been lucky!

[Dave2002]

I've never been forced to watch Miracle on 34th Street or any other movie on Xmas Day but maybe I've just been lucky!

There's also "It's a Wonderful Life".

Apparently, in Sweden they watch a short film called Dinner for One. I've never seen it, though perhaps I'll make the effort to watch this year. I noticed I have a video cassette of it in a tidy up a few days ago. They also watch Donald Duck, or so I've been told - if I'm remembering correctly, which perhaps I am not.

[johncorrigan]

Apparently, in Sweden they watch a short film called Dinner for One. I've never seen it, though perhaps I'll make the effort to watch this year.

It's a staple of German TV on New Year's Day, Dave - bit like Morecambe and Previn on Christmas here. It's got Freddie Frinton who I recall as a kid playing the drunk husband in 'Meet the Wife' with Thora Hird (or am I making that up). Anyway he reprises the role of the drunk in 'Dinner for One' - must be late 50s/early 60s. About 20 minutes long. I used to watch it with German friends at Hoggers and they killed themselves laughing!

[Ferretfancy]

About ten years ago I spent Christmas in Beijing, and the weather was more or less as it is in London today-mirky, not quite raining and depressing. Preparations for Christmas was unbelievable, except for the fact that the infant Christ was missing. There were decorations everywhere, huge Santas, reindeer etc. etc. The lobby of the hotel had a log cabin in snow housing a cobbler making wooden shoes.

A really nice commercial festival, as of course it should be!

[Petrushka]

Is that a vote for, or against?

I'm with Mary on the Christmas Eve carol service from Kings College.

The "most wonderful time of the year" .... absolutely not! Too much sentimental clap trap, and watching films such as Miracle on 34th Street, and being manipulated by the media.

Sorry guys!

Dave2002: No-one is forcing you to watch Miracle on 34th Street or anything else. Lose that grumpiness and embrace whatever part (or none) of Christmas that does it for you. I've never watched Miracle etc or any of the 'sentimental claptrap'; in fact the television is rarely on apart from the racing from Kempton on Boxing Day. Once you see that you can ignore what you don't like about Christmas and embrace what you do like then you will have a much happier time. Try it and see!

Could be the key to a happy life never mind just Christmas!

[antongould]

Dave2002: No-one is forcing you to watch Miracle on 34th Street or anything else. Lose that grumpiness and embrace whatever part (or none) of Christmas that does it for you. I've never watched Miracle etc or any of the 'sentimental claptrap'; in fact the television is rarely on apart from the racing from Kempton on Boxing Day. Once you see that you can ignore what you don't like about Christmas and embrace what you do like then you will have a much happier time. Try it and see!

Could be the key to a happy life never mind just Christmas!

Very well said IMVVHO - I've never seen them either .......

[teamsaint]

Dave2002: No-one is forcing you to watch Miracle on 34th Street or anything else. Lose that grumpiness and embrace whatever part (or none) of Christmas that does it for you. I've never watched Miracle etc or any of the 'sentimental claptrap'; in fact the television is rarely on apart from the racing from Kempton on Boxing Day. Once you see that you can ignore what you don't like about Christmas and embrace what you do like then you will have a much happier time. Try it and see!



Could be the key to a happy life never mind just Christmas!

Spot on Pet ,


As for the commercial nonsense,it isnt just Christmas that this applies to, of course.......

[P. G. Tipps]

Very well said IMVVHO - I've never seen them either .......

Me neither, forum monkey-hanger ...

[doversoul1]

There were times when I loathed Christmas. It meant doing family duties including having to watch (endlessly, it felt) the programmes on TV that my elderly parents-in-law enjoyed, and having to eat far more than I could possibly enjoy. In those days, the mere thought of Christmas depressed me seriously. The very idea that I was supposed to enjoy it made it worse. Now I do what suits me and enjoy the quiet time.

I don’t know what your Christmas is like Dave 2002, but I hope sometime in the future, you’ll be able to enjoy Christmas in your own way. It is a good time to reflect on the year that’s gone and contemplate what may be coming in the new year.

[richardfinegold]

As a Jew in a Christian World, I've had a different experience with Christmas than any other posters here. One of my first fistfights as a child was with a Catholic boy and his brothers when I airily informed them that there was no such thing as Santa Claus (and their mother called my mother to complain about me as well). Later I remember many dull days when nothing non Christmas related was on the telly, all the shops were closed, and in general it being the only real time of the year when I felt that we were different and didn't fit in.
My first wife was Jewish but her family, who were excessively involved in our lives and were instrumental in the failure of our marriage, were Christian wanna bees, celebrating every Christian Holiday and pretty much ignoring the Jewish ones. I was an Atheist by then but I found this very strange and after several years of interminable boredom
on Christmas Eve and Day eventually voiced my unwanted opinion. I also would take call for other Christian Physicians
on Christmas to allow them to be with their families (and to get away from my wife's clan for a few hours) and have had my share of memorable Professional issues on Christmas. Actually, when I was still seeing patients in the Hospital (I stopped that 2 years ago) my favorite part of the day was bringing little tokens for my Patients and for the Hospital staff.
My second wife is from a large Irish Catholic (actually, half Irish, half German--my standard line is that after consuming a few Guinness they get an irrisistable urge to invade Poland) Family based on the East Coast. I enjoy celebrating with them as they are a very respectful and loving bunch (the apple didn't fall from the tree). The only problem is the travel--between New England and the Midwest, the chances of having our travel plans interrupted by a snowstorm of biblical proportions in late December are around 50%. I asked my in laws many times why they
didn't retire to Florida.
Any way, Merry Christmas to all you on your Splendid Island. Late this afternoon we are going to a great Choral Christmas Concert at Concordia Church-we are great friends with the Music Director and join him and some of the Musicians at his house for egg nog and Holiday cookies. Now that's a tradition I can get into!

[P. G. Tipps]

It might be a bit old-fashioned to admit to, and wide-open to accusations of sanctimoniousness from some quarters, but surely one of the pure joys of Christmas is witnessing the general bonhomie, greetings of goodwill, and seeing others enjoying themselves?

And the young kiddies' faces ... priceless!

[doversoul1]

And the young kiddies' faces ... priceless!

They don’t come very cheaply these days.

[Tevot]

I get the 25th off but will be working from around 2.30 pm on the 26th until around 1.00 am on the 27th. I'll be off for the rest of the 27th and the 28th (a public holiday as Boxing Day falls on a Saturday). Suits me.

You don't happen, Bryn, to work in China by any chance ?

We have two long weekends for Christmas and New Year. Our big holidays come in February - Chinese New Year - where we have 3 weeks on holiday.

Best Wishes,

Tevot