Re: Christmas

Hi. Thanks for all your replies.

I guess I'm pretty much like The Dog Lover in that I've no children. I am alone every evening after work, and especially at weekends, which can bring in itself a feeling of loneliness as I used to be one of those - life and soul, making people laugh.

Also, like The Dog Lover, I lost my partner in July as well, but three years ago, and I feel for you greatly, because I do know what it feels like, and it's still very fresh for you. Don't believe the rubbish about time healing because it doesn't.

Up until he died in July 2008, Gordon and I would have Christmas Day together and we'd put up the tree on my birthday, decorations and between us we'd have a traditional Christmas dinner.

Christmas of 2008 was very difficult indeed, but I was able to drive to my brother's house 10 miles away and have Christmas Day with him and his family. I've been there for the last two Christmases, but it's been made very difficult with the ever-increasing bad snow and ice so, although I've no doubt he'll invite me again this year, I am opting to stay home.

Antibrown, that was a kind thing that you said about chatting with me on Christmas Day, and it looks as though others will be on their own as well, so I'll make a point of coming online to have a natter. Perhaps we set a time nearer to the day and we can have a yap.

With your indulgence, I'd like to put on here a little story which I wrote about 5 years ago about the Christmas I remember as a child in 1956.

Re: Christmas

Christmas doesn't bother me really. Usually go to one of my Sisters for dinner around 1pm and get home around 3.30pm, when I sit down with a cuppa and 2 headache tablets-not used to all the noise her family make

I'll be on here as well Mollie, so you won't be on your own

Re: Christmas

It's a date, Merz.

Re: Christmas

Merz, Mollie, I'll be on too, but with the time lag of course.

Re: Christmas

We're forming a little 'Christmas Club' here Eileen

Re: Christmas

That's great, Eileen. I can't see the weather being clear enough for me to risk the drive to my brother's, so this will be something to look forward to, albeit in cyber space, but that will be good enough for me.

I'll put my little story on now, and hope you like it.

Re: Christmas

CHRISTMAS 1956

They were cold in those days fifty years ago, the houses I mean. No central heating and the ice formed on the inside of the windows as well as on the outside, not to mention the freezing fog. There were few people who had inside loos, so everyone had a “guzunder” under the bed which would slide easily in and out on the lino.

Taking a trip to the loo in winter then could prove very hazardous when trotting down the yard in the snow. The newspaper on the nail behind the door would get damp with the cold, and you’d end up trotting back with yesterday’s headlines tattooed on your backside.

That Christmas of 1956 I’d just turned seven years old. My little brother and I shared a double bed with loads of blankets and an old-fashioned eiderdown which kept us snug and warm.

Very early that Christmas morning I woke up. It was still dark outside so even only being a little girl I knew that it was early. I dug my brother David in the ribs and as he woke up he was about to start squawking so I put my hand over his mouth and I said, “It’s Christmas Day.” His big blue eyes bulged with excitement and we both sat up in bed to find a large present each at our feet. David dived on his and ripped open the wrapping paper which had been lovingly placed around the gift, and inside was a large red fire engine made of metal with all moveable parts.

His eyes shone with delight as he hugged his fire engine whilst I opened my present more carefully. It was a beautiful doll with dark hair and brown eyes which was dressed in a little red satin dress with a white fur trim and matching bonnet.

It took us all our time to keep quiet so as not to awaken the others as we stealthily crept downstairs to see if there were other presents for us, tittering away as we went.

We weren’t a particularly wealthy family in those days, but I suppose in the big plan of things we were better off than most what with having the shop, a telephone, a car and more tellies than anyone needs because we had a telly and radio shop. Our parents worked very hard to give us a holiday in Wales every year and in all honesty I can’t remember poverty but we must have had poor times.

Anyway, once downstairs we opened the living room door to a warm glow coming from the Christmas tree lights in the corner and the tinsel glittered There was a positive Aladdin’s cave of presents for us both. David had a police pedal car, complete with headlights and all sorts of other boy-type toys. That year the shop must have done particularly well because I had a navy Silver Cross coach-built pram complete with doll, a cot with yet another dolly under the blankets, a blackboard and easel, a desk and chair, another dolly to play with, and then there were lots of board games to keep us quiet. As I recall it, that was the year we got our Magic Robot which was new out
in the shops and I loved that game above all others, and we had compendiums of games as well between us.

As we were enjoying opening our presents and “oooo-ing” and “ah-ing” we hadn’t realised that the volume of our voices had risen in the excitement and we hadn’t heard the footsteps coming down the stairs. We nearly leapt out of our skins when the door opened and mum stood there. “What are you two up to?” she asked, but there was a smile on her mouth.

Sat like two rabbits caught up in headlights we half expected her to be cross with us, but she just threw her head back and started laughing then she came and sat on the floor with us while we hugged her. I wish I could do that now. Dad joined us shortly after, even though it was only about 5.30 in the morning.

I think that was the best Christmas we ever had as children, as far as getting toys is concerned, and perhaps the following years weren’t as good for the shop as that year, because I don’t remember getting so much at one time before, or after; but it didn’t matter.

We never really felt the cold much in our house because it was always made pleasant with the warmth of a happy family.

© Mollie M
06.12.06

Re: Christmas

I loved that story of your Christmas Mollie I recall mine being a little like yours back in the late 50's (I was 4 in '56). I remember coming downstairs and kneeling by the Christmas tree, looking at all the gifts and my Mother came down and said it was only 1 am!

And, Magic Robot was one of my favourites too, I loved playing with that.

I wish there was still that magical feeling at Christmas - I suppose it changes as we get older, I don't know.

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Thanks Carmen, and I'm glad my little story brought back memories for you too.

Christmas was always very special in our house, and nothing to do with the religious aspect.

There were five of us. Mum, dad, my two brothers and me, and mum would go all out to make Christmas special for us, the best way she could, with what she could afford, which was little.

Christmas Dinner was always a splendid effort, and bless her heart, she worked hard, but the one thing that is "Christmas" to me, is the smell of boiling onions when she made her home-made stuffing, which was to die for. No Paxo rubbish in this house and, to this day, I make my own stuffing to my mum's recipe.

I know it's supposedly about goodwill to all mankind (and animal-kind), but I try my best to do that every day of the year; not just once every 12 months.

Re: Christmas

Thats a nice story Mollie, I suppose we all have out 'Best Christmas' stories whether we were rich or poor.

As we get olde' our view of Christmas changes as do our priorities for christmas, these days with our friends get less and less due to them going off to a better place(so we are told) I suppose us older people just wish for our friends and loved one to stay safe.

My wish for this christmas is for everyone, old or young to have their 'Best Christmas' .