Aged twelve and a third, I think, being given a electric train by one well-meaning aunt and told by another that giving me books was now inappropriate as a present because I had too many for the gift to be remembered (or be meaningful)... for them ( Read more... )

Rudolph, Donner, Blitzen, Doc, Happy, Sleep, Grumpy, Sleepy and Fred1

1Went to a comprehensive. Kept getting into fights

Given this is a public entry, you get a previous year's: there's a traditional wreath on the iron-wrought outer doors, leading you into the main reception. Christmas tree behind the day bed, decked in reds, golds and silver. Hand-made and shop-bought baubles hanging under the supporting beam that nominally separates the lounge and dining room, the ( Read more... )

Given the degrees of harrowing and nasty stuff happening, right now, out there in the world, my Christmas wish is simple: everyone should "be nice" to be everyone else, regardless of race, colour, gender, creed, preference or persuasion. Be nice is a euphemism for "care deeply about the well-being of and do something about it"

Go to it, people

Full of win. Shares many common ingredients with cookies, but with extra spices and rum! It's like an exotic small frothy pirate! Don't understand why anyone would object...

Inspired by foxy76 and inbetween_girl, a somewhat belated countdown to Christmas:

Day 01 - Audio of one of your favourite Christmas songs: Growing up I enjoyed Do they know it's Christmas by Band Aid - everyone coming together, putting egos aside (on screen at least) and the theme of other people rather than "my loot" all resonated. Of course, I can't mention it ( Read more... )