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General Non-Diabetic Stuff: Seasonal Reads

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    • CommentAuthorC.W
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2007
     

    As it is comming up to Christmas I thought I'd suggest a few good reads

    Can Reindeer Fly? The Science of Christmas
    The Xmas Files The Pyschology of Christmas
    The Hogfather (not squite Christmas but very funny)
    and of course what Christmas is complet with out good old Charles DIckens and his Christmas Carol?:jumping::rolling::swingin::thumbup:

    •  
      CommentAuthorLankyman
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2007
     

    I suspect that Charles Dickens is largely responsible for Christmas as we know it (although the 'traditional' image of Father Christmas comes from Coca-cola).

    Apparently, Dickens wrote at the time that our population was increasing in literacy and much of the imagery stems from his childhood, during which there were a number of very snowy christmasses (sp?)

    I must confess that, much as I hate the modern over-commercial christmas, the snowy ideal of a Dickensian Christmas with simple pleasures appeals greatly.

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      CommentAuthorBestBuddy
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2007
     

    The Hogfather

    I'm a big fan of Terry Pratchett too.

    I too hate the commercial mess we make of Christmas these days, but had the extreme good fortune to experience the perfect traditional christmas 'as it should be' about 5 or so years ago.

    We planned on spending Christmas on the Isle of Mull, my wife, dogs and I and nobody else.
    Due to a twist of fate, it ended up being more ideal than we planned.

    I had an old Citroen BX at the time, and it broke down just as we pulled into the cottage we were renting on Mull. The day after it started snowing really badly and didn't let up for 3 days. Our end of Mull was cut off from the ferry port, the ferries were cancelled anyway, and the top of Scotland was cut off from the rest of Britain.

    End result was it took 10 days for the spares to arrive and we spent Christmas and new year cut-off from the rest of the world in an idyllic setting.
    We were close to the Isle of Iona ferry point, so were able to walk down there and take the short ferry over to Iona and walk round the Abbey - there was a foot of snow everywhere and not a single tourist to be seen. Everything looked like a picture from the front of a Christmas card - there was even a local pub with a roaring fire, friendly locals and great beer - well worth walking a mile through foot deep snow - in fact, that made it better.

    Christmas can be perfect, you just a need a lot of luck and a broken down car.

    • CommentAuthorCaroline W
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2007
     

    I agree Christmas is far too commercial these days! One of the things that gets to me is everyone who wants to know me at Christmas and no other time of the year. There are a few people I'd write to once a month. When I hadn't had a reply by the end of June, they didn't get a card at Christmas!

    For presents this Christmas I have got everyone an environmental friendly re useble shopping bag. Each bag I have filled with £15 worth of stuff from the £1 shop. Hopefully everyone will have something they like, I haven't broken the bank and even if they hate their presents, they can still use their shopping bag! Ho Ho Humbug

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      CommentAuthorcolinb
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2007
     

    I had a girlfriend whose parents were a little too keen to flaunt their 'caring sides' at Christmas for my liking.

    Everyone in the extended family got a 'we have bought a goat for an African family for you' card.

    Now, admirable as charity is, doing it on behalf of someone else is downright cheeky - I'd rather have a card saying 'we decided not to buy any presents this year and have donated all the money to buy a herd of goats for a village in Africa' - it might look like a subtle difference, but the first option I found a little insulting, kind of like saying "we couldn't trust you to be charitable on your own behalf so we did it for you. Also, I do give money to chartity and STILL was expected to buy them a present - GRRRRR!
    : rant over :

    • CommentAuthorCaroline W
    • CommentTimeNov 22nd 2007
     

    I know what you mean about being charitable on behalf of others.

    There has been a piece on the news about charity Christmas cards. Depends where you buy them, depends how much the charity gets. They suggested buying cards direct from the charity to be more effective.

    I also never put stuff out for charity door step collections as it doesn't always get to the charity. I make the trip into one of our many charity shops to make sure they get my donation!

    • CommentAuthorC.W
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     

    Just been in my book shop at work and bought The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

    The grouchy green man whose heart grew bigger for Christmas looks good at 50! Saw the film a few years back and thought that was wonderfull, now I have the book and the toy.:crazy::jumping::tooth:

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