If I could, I would bring you such a gift
That would see your spirit’s
lift
And up to heaven you
would soar
So, I could be with
you once more
And I could tell you
to let go
Let all the bitter
tears flow
Like the late
September rain
So that you can learn
to love again
That is the gift that
I would give
Because I want to see
you live
In the small but
thriving English county of Downshire people go about the tasks of their
everyday existence in ways that range from the mundane to the extraordinary as
their forebears had done for centuries before, in the varied and diverse
landscape, from the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy
ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling
hills of the Downshire Downs, to the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and the short
but beautiful coastline to the east.
But our story is set
in and around Turnoak-Under-Hawthorne, a large rambling village, originally
settled in the 12th century on the sparsely wooded slopes on the Northern
fringe of the Finchbottom Vale about 5 miles from Purplemere, and it was
everything you would expect from a Downshire Village.
It was three days before Christmas and as snow fell lightly around him
Jason Hunt found himself standing outside a row of terraced cottages, one of
which was his old childhood home.
Sadly, his parents had
gone now, his dad when he was only twenty-one and his Mum the previous
Christmas after 15 years as a widow, but they live on in his memory, especially
at Christmas.
Jason knew that for
some, Christmas was a nightmare time of year, but for him it was always a
joyful time, and he only had the very best memories of it and an abundance of
them.
One in particular that
always made him smile was his dad always stating after he’d finished decorating
the living room, the odour of emulsion still noticeable in the air.
“There will be no
drawing pins in this ceiling come Christmas”.
Of course, come
December the ceiling was covered with garlands, bells, stars, foil drops with
baubles at the end, balloons, snow men, angels, and Santa’s.
Pictures were removed
and replaced with something more festive, like huge stars or fresh holly and
lines were strung along the walls for the cards to hang on.
In one corner, on a
table, stood a two-foot-tall Santa Claus with his cotton wool beard and red
crepe paper suit all the more exciting as the children knew he was stuffed full
of sweets.
In another corner
stood the tree, a tree of epic proportions so tall that the top 14 inches has
to cut off in order to get the fairy on.
Every branch was full
to breaking point with countless baubles, parcels, bells, crackers, and tinsels
of every colour and beneath it the ever-growing pile of presents.
With the decorations
being his dad’s field of expertise, it was left to his mum to come into her own
with everything else.
She would remove the
curtains and nets and either replace them with clean or wash and return the
originals.
Everything would get
the spring clean treatment the sideboard would be adorned with the best linen
runner and all the tables would have their own festive doily.
The fruit bowl was
filled to overflowing with bananas, Satsuma’s, or tangerines and another one of
Brazil nuts, almonds, hazel nuts, and walnuts.
There was even a
Chamber pot decorated with sprigs of holly on the sideboard full of Christmas
fare.
Smaller bowls would
appear over the Christmas period containing peanuts, dates, sugared almonds, or
chocolate Brazil’s.
Come the day itself
presents were placed by the chair that the recipients were sitting in, when
they were younger obviously their presents mysteriously arrived at the foot of
the bed in a pillowcase left for the purpose but as they got older, they joined
the adults for present opening.
His Mum’s gifts were
always piled so high she always had to sit on the sofa in order to fit all her
presents on the seat next to her.
She always still had
half of them left to open long after the rest of the family had finished.
This was the time for
the younger family members to examine their gifts more closely while his dad
would sit smiling sagely in his armchair puffing on his pipe.
It was that memory
which brought a smile to his lips as he got back into his car and drove towards
home to make Christmas memories for his children.
I want you with me at Christmas
I want you to be at
home
And I know it’s not
possible
But I just don’t want
to be alone
Sometimes when you
least expect it life can really slap you in the face and then it kicks you when
you’re on the ground.
The slap came when Jackie Melville was taken ill in January last year and
needed surgery.
Her husband Bob had a steady job and they even had limited medical insurance
and although they had to pay the difference Bob knew he could cover it by
putting in some overtime.
Then came the first kick, in February with two thousand dollars in medical
bills unpaid, Bob lost his job.
In April Another kick, with the medical bills still unpaid and Bob unemployed
and Jackie unable to work for several months because of the surgery and with
mounting bills and no money for rent they lost the house.
Bob, Jackie, 9 year old son Sam and seven year old twins Ben and Josh moved
into a mobile home in a trailer park.
Over the following seven months the Melville's worked hard to rebuild their
lives.
In June Bob found another job and although not as well paid as the one he lost
it seemed to be more secure and in July Jackie, fully recovered was able to
return to work herself.
The boys did their bit as well by washing cars, cleaning windows and doing odd
jobs on the park.
By December they had managed to pay off their debts and even had a bit left
over for Christmas.
They were doing so well that in another six months they would be able to move back
into a house.
Then on the 20th December life kicked them again.
During the night the electric heater in the mobile home burst into flames and
rapidly spread.
The alarm was raised by Clinton Avery, a shift worker and one of the other
residents of the park who was returning home when he saw the burning trailer.
Thankfully everyone was rescued safely but the Melville's lost everything all
that remained after fireman Billy Daly had doused the fire were a few scraps of
melted toys half-burned books and scorched and tattered clothing.
They had lost everything to fire, smoke and water, including all the children’s
clothes and the Christmas presents.
How cruel for a family who had worked so hard to get back on their feet to be
dealt such a blow.
This would be bad enough at any time but just before Christmas compounded the
cruelty.
But it is under the very circumstances experienced by the Melville's that
brings the best out in people.
That night the family were boarded in various homes on the park and the next
day they had a visit from a man called Howard Daly.
Howard was the brother Billy Daly, one of the firemen, and he gave Bob and
Jackie the key to a mobile home on the park belonging to him which he wasn't
using and he said that they were welcome to stay as long as it took to get back
on their feet.
The Melville's were overcome with Howard's generosity but that was only the
beginning, in the space of a day-and-a-half, friends, family and strangers
helped the family get back on track.
The pharmacist at the drugstore refused to accept Jackie's money for the twin's
asthma medication.
In fact nobody would accept any money and people just kept on donating goods.
One man, he wouldn't give his name, pulled up at the trailer park in his
pickup, unloaded a brand new microwave, kettle, and a toaster and he said
“I had these at home,
and I heard you needed them more than me,” got back in his truck and left.
Pat Phillips who was a teacher at the local School, and knew the family, drove
Jackie from place to place to collect medications, clothes, dishes and such
like.
Come Christmas day the boys had some toys including a race track, a football
and a baseball glove.
Due to the generosity of friends and strangers alike the Melville's were able
to enjoy their Christmas and look forward to a hopeful New Year just five days
after they thought their Christmas dreams had burned away.
This story goes to prove without any shadow of doubt that the Christmas spirit
truly dwells within the hearts of mankind.
Christmas wishes just for you
Sent with love, tried and true
I send you love, I send you cheer,
I just wish we weren’t apart this year
It was St Thomas’ Day when the newly married Steel’s checked into
their suite at the Abbottsford Regents Hotel.
Antonia had freshened up after their journey and had redressed in
clean underwear while Luke was in the other room reading the room service menu,
and when he appeared from the sitting room, he was happy to see Antonia dressed
in stockings, suspenders, and matching yellow bra and panties, and she was just
about to slip on her yellow dress.
Her dress was draped over a chair, her yellow underwear, garter belt
and one stocking were strewn on the floor, and Luke was holding Antonia, naked
and panting, in their bed.
“Now that’s what I call room service” Antonia panted and then she
giggled.
They did order room service, which they ate in bed, Luke was
completely naked, and Antonia wore a single stocking.
So that St Thomas’s Day marked the beginning of a wonderful Christmas, and that Christmas marked the
beginning of a very remarkable life together.
I can’t wait until Christmas
I just want to let you
know
You have all my love
This Christmas tied up
with a bow
