CROMWELLIAN

 

The lord protector Oliver Cromwell

Killed thousands, the truth to tell

Beheaded the king and closed hostelries

And he cancelled the Christmas festivities

THROW AWAY CHRISTMAS

 

Cards adorned with Robins and snow

Holly sprigs and festive candle glow

Advent calendar and paper chains

Decorations never to be used again

Ribbons and bows and paper wrapping

With tree and wreath all go in the bin

Though Christmas may be throw away

The love can be recycled every day

MY CHRISTMAS FRIEND (Acrostic)

 Merry Christmas

Yuletide friend

 

Cherished memories of

Heartfelt love and

Remembered moments

Instantly recalled

Special moments of

Time spent together

Merry Christmas’s

And happy new years

Special friend of mine

 

For me always

Remembering your smile

Instantly helps me

Each time I’m down at

Not being with you

During the season

CHEWIDDEN THURSDAY

 

On White Thursday

It’s St Chewidden’s Day

He’s revered by “Tinners”

Since their heyday

For sharing the secrets

Of Smelting they say

 

(On the last clear Thursday before (i.e. at least one week before) Christmas)

ALL-TIME CLASSIC MOVIE FAVOURITES – IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

 “It’s A Wonderful Life” is a fantasy family drama co-written and Directed by Frank Capra based on the story by Philip Van Doren Stern.

The film is a slightly dark, almost bittersweet tale of a savings and loan manager George Bailey (James Stewart), a bit an earnest do-gooder who struggles against a greedy banker Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) and his own self-doubting nature in a small town.

After suffering a financial catastrophe, he see’s suicide as a possible solution to his predicament only to be rescued by a whimsical, endearing, trainee-angel named Clarence (Henry Travers).

However its only when George says he wished he had never been born that Clarence is able to show him what life would be like for his mother (Beulah Bondi) and Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell), his friends Ernie, Bert and Violet, (Frank Faylen, Ward Bond and Gloria Grahame), former employer Mr. Gower (H.B. Warner) and his loving wife Mary (Donna Reed), in a world in which he had never existed.

So, George Bailey, after years of feeling trapped in a small town finally recognizes his life to be wonderful and truly rich.

A typical performance by the ever-dependable James Stewart and ably supported by the beautiful Donna Reed and the incomparable Lionel Barrymore as the grasping villain of the piece.

It’s definitely not the kind of film that would be made today as it is definitely on the schmaltzy side and nobody seems to write happy endings anymore, but no Christmas would be complete without watching Frank Capra’s Christmas classic.
Even thought it was not a success at the box office at the time, it is now one of the most popular and heart-warming films ever made...

ARE YOU WEARING A RED CHRISTMAS OUTFIT?

 

Are you wearing a red Christmas outfit?

You look very beautiful in it

In fact you look very cute

In your Santa’s little helper suit

A Christmas hat sits atop your curls

In a way only suited to girls

A beautiful red velvet dress

And white fur trim to impress

Striped woollen legs of red and white

Are they stocking or tights?

Stockings would be in reason

More in keeping with the season

But I would not disparage woolly tights

They too have their own delights

Come and help me trim the tree

And say you dressed this way for me?

CHRISTMAS FARE

 

There has never been a good time to be poor

Certainly not Christmas

As Dickens wrote

“This time when want is keenly felt by the poor”

And there has never been a good place to be poor

Certainly not Victorian London

Now a wealthy Victorian family

Would dine upon a Christmas dinner

Of Vegetable soup

Oyster patties,

Roast turkey or goose,

Boiled leg of mutton with caper sauce

Followed by Port wine jelly,

Mince pies and plum pudding

Queen Victoria is known to have eaten roast swan

While in the country

A piece of Smoked bacon

Or rabbit pie was had

The poor in town or country

Dined upon whatever could be found