Thursday 8 December 2016

Cards...


This, the second card to have arrived, reflects somewhat on the sender in my opinion!
Each year we exchange expensive gifts, this year I sent one of those small tubes of coffee costing about 20 pence, this is the reply!  A card designed for those who send large cheques to their family and friends arrives and as the wording tempted me to believe in a fortune awaiting inside I opened it with much anticipation.  Here is the result, one much used worn penny that may have found a home in her shoe for some considerable time stuck to a picture of an old man and his hat!   I mean really!
In times past I have received a short length of glittering blue cord, a chocolate biscuit and a pencil that had been tied in a knot!  When it comes to spending money on great gifts this lass has not yet started!  I imagine her granddaughter will however be piled with vast amounts of gifts none of which will contain a hat with a penny inside!
And what does she mean by 'old man's hat' anyway...?


More old fotos!
I like this one, it speaks of the sea and journeying to far off places on an adventure of some sort.  I am afraid the 'Brent' never quite managed that as it spent most of its life pulling and pushing boats in the Thames around London Docks.  However the time spent near water is never wasted in my mind especially when there are few about, you can enjoy what views there are, note individuals working on their boats and just enjoy an atmosphere very different form that found in car laden towns.  If I ever find the energy I may rush back to Maldon and see how the Tug is preparing for Christmas.


I noted it again today when wandering about the shops, the stress that comes with Christmas.  People are often grumpy and inconsiderate while shopping, the woman are, men are always thoughtful I find, but at this time of the year when the 'season of goodwill to all men' is in operation I find that 'goodwill' is harder to discover than at any other time.  The lassies at the checkout are a wee bit stressed with the constant flow of people but still happier and more considerate than many customers.  I did find one or two decent folks today and while the checkout girl gossiped with one slow old dear I gossiped with a lass who has lost three stone by avoiding sugar!  Sad to say she had to as diabetes arrived but it goes to show how much we can lose.  I considered the two large Xmas puddings, the ice cream, the three small Xmas puddings and the many sweet things I have to stuff down this Xmas and considered a new diet after this is over.  I started some of it today but will slowly remove the rest over time.  How often have I began a new diet...?
Anyway it is a stressful time but it need not be.  Presents must be bought for important people and folks always leave it too late.  Not all are strapped for cash and buying things as the money comes in many can prepare throughout the year but don't and leave it all to the last minute, not a good idea.
The cheerful music, played over and over again until the folks in the shops speak through gritted teeth, does not help matters.  Much is irrelevant to Christmas anyway, soppy and sentimental but meaningless in regard to Christmas itself.  Most cannot be heard from the hubbub below and interestingly while many sing along few will consider visiting a church carol service and join in.  
Ass it is the phrase 'Goodwill to all men' is incorrect.  I believe it actually reads 'Peace to men of goodwill,'  the word 'peace' probably being 'shalom' and having more than just 'peace' in the meaning.  You can check it out for yourselves.  So many phrases we use are incorrect and far from their original meaning.


Football will be on soon, must fly....

6 comments:

the fly in the web said...

I do hope that the Brent was not a Bovril boat....

Lee said...

I'm not getting stressed over Christmas...and I shan't get stressed over Christmas. I've just made a triple quantity of a rich fruit cake and one is presently in the oven...and the second one will go in when the first one is cooked. One is for me and one I will post to my ex for Christmas.

My Christmas, intentionally, is going to be very low key; it'll just be me and my two furry rascals. I'll treat myself to a few things that I like, but I won't be going overboard.

I am going to my landlords' annual Christmas get-together on the 21st December. I'll be taking along with me a large antipasto platter made up of tasty, tempting bits and pieces of the edible variety; as well as truckload of lamb-beef mince meatballs to be served with a sweet chilli sauce, and also with a tzatziki dip to vary things a bit.

I made the meatballs the week before last and they're sitting, waiting, in my freezer. That should do it for my contribution to the party, I reckon! Of course, I'll take along a couple of beers and a bottle of red wine. One of my family lessons was - I was taught never to go anywhere empty-handed...so I keep doing as I was so often told!!

Adullamite said...

Fly, The 'Brent' would float on anything...

Lee, I await the parcel of puddings with great interest...!

Jenny Woolf said...

What freaks me out is those robins or something all over Waitrose. Something to do with their ad which I haven't seen since I gave up watching TV. I only shop there because it is about 50 yards away and I am too lazy to go to Sainsburys which is about 200 yards away. But it's on everything, the mugs, the mince pies. A real hijack of Christmas!

carol in cairns said...

That's nice that you exchange humour and inexpensive gifts with close friends. I dislike the shops at this time of year ~ and the radio and TV.

Adullamite said...

Jenny, I have no seen any of the famous adverts, lucky me!

Carol, Too much pap around indeed this year.