Well, it's already begun! As I type, Santa is delivering presents to all the good boys and girls of the Solomon Islands. (This information is being brought to you courtesy of Norad Santa; the only way to fly with the man of belly like a bowl full of jelly!). In less than twelve hours he will be doing the same across the UK before wending his way over to America (whomever it is who keeps checking in to the blog from the U.S. don't forget to leave out your milk and cookies!!).
Do you remember the simpler time of life when we believed in Father Christmas? We never questioned the illogic of one man living in the north pole delivering presents to every child on the planet, we just believed. Then, over time - and hopefully not too early - reality sets in, and we realise the impossibility of the existence of the man. Those of us who have children relive the excitement from another perspective, seeing it from the outside; however said excitement is surely infectious. Although we say 'Christmas is for the kids'; we get a kick out of youngsters living in the world where the impossible becomes possible.
I remember when the penny finally dropped for me. If I was honest with myself I suspected for some time, but when the official truth came out it was a bit upsetting. Then my brother talked to me, and although I don't remember precisely what he said; I remember the gist of it, and as a result I am proud to say in total honesty, that I still believe in Santa Claus.
Is Father Christmas a corporeal being, flesh and bone, racing round the globe and delivering presents at 25 times the speed of light? I seriously doubt it. Saint Nicholas was indeed a real saint, noted for his kindness, generosity and good deeds - particularly to children - and it seems the legend took off from there. I would seriously doubt that the original little Saint Nick has even seen a reindeer, much less a flying one!
Santa may not by 'real', but he exists. What he represents is an idea, a feeling; he is the true spirit of Christmas. At times during Christmas we are Santa, at others we receive gifts from him, at all times we feel him. When a house is filled with laughter, Santa laughs; when a house is filled with love, Santa loves; when a house is filled with joy, Santa smiles. Oh yes my friends; he is real, he is very much alive, and I will always believe in him.
I have never had 'the talk' with a child when they first realise the awful truth, but it is precisely this - an honest and truthful answer - which I would say to them. Rather than being an end to a dream, it is just a slight change to it; a change that hopefully will last a lifetime.
I truly wish that Santa lives happily in your homes, and that he brings you all that you could possibly wish for.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Monday, 24 December 2012
Sunday, 23 December 2012
HO HO HO!!!! - The Single Life
I am a single man (ladies, form an orderly queue and take a number), and very happy to be so. Don't get me wrong, I would much prefer to be in a stable (holding a box of frankincense....see what I did there?!!), loving, and life-long relationship, but until that Miss Ying to this Mr Yang shows up (my money is on number 34) I am not just going to 'make the best' of the bachelor life, I am going to enjoy it. There are lots of perks about being on your own, perks which are given up when entering into a relationship (yes, you usually gain more - different - perks than you lose (not least of which is a snog from time to time!); so you are better off, but hey.... glass half full single guy talking here!). The decision making process is much simpler (thinking for one rather than two), and on those days when you have such an arse of a day you just want to get home, sit down and not talk to anyone; you can.
There are times when I feel the solitude though, and none more keenly than at Christmas. Now don't worry; I'm not spending the entire holiday moping around the house singing 'lone-leeeeeeeee, I'm so lone-leeeeeee'. The symptoms are neither chronic nor constant, but there are moments during Christmas which would be lovely to share with a special someone. The Pretenders have it right when they sing......
'The lights on my tree,
I wish you could see,
I wish it ev'ry day,
Logs on the fire,
Fill me with desire,
To see you and to say,
That I wish you merry Christmas,
Happy new year too,
I've just one wish on this Christmas eve,
I wish I were with you.'
The thought of cuddling with that special someone in a decorated living room, candles everywhere, presents under the sparkling tree, bottle of champagne fizzing away, Christmas Carols on the stereo or (not and!) a movie playing (take your pick) on the TV does make me wistful. The peel of the bells while walking through the middle of Chester on the way to midnight mass at the cathedral does make me wish there was someone with their hand in mine to share it with. All of the above would be really, really lovely.
Sadly this year - as for a few Christmasses past - it is not to be; maybe next year (I'll give it to someone special!!). Wistful and wishing I may be, but I am also determined that those feelings will not make me settle for anything less than the right relationship with the right person, and I am absolutely sure I will know beyond doubt when that opportunity comes along. Until then, the Christmas movies and cathedral bells will be seen and heard by just me!
In case I don't have the chance to say it before the big day; I would like to wish everybody a VERY Merry Christmas. My genuine and heartfelt wishes are with you for happy holidays, and an exciting, joyful and of course healthy new year. In with my seasonal wishes, I would like to thank you. Whether this is the first time you have stumbled across this blog, or your umpteenth visit, you have become a part of it; and on this, the first and only full calendar year of the challenge, I am so grateful to you all. This challenge would have been impossible without you reading about it, and now we are so near its conclusion - and with what I hope will be your continued support - I am confident of a successful 2013 (and you know what THAT means!).
There are times when I feel the solitude though, and none more keenly than at Christmas. Now don't worry; I'm not spending the entire holiday moping around the house singing 'lone-leeeeeeeee, I'm so lone-leeeeeee'. The symptoms are neither chronic nor constant, but there are moments during Christmas which would be lovely to share with a special someone. The Pretenders have it right when they sing......
'The lights on my tree,
I wish you could see,
I wish it ev'ry day,
Logs on the fire,
Fill me with desire,
To see you and to say,
That I wish you merry Christmas,
Happy new year too,
I've just one wish on this Christmas eve,
I wish I were with you.'
The thought of cuddling with that special someone in a decorated living room, candles everywhere, presents under the sparkling tree, bottle of champagne fizzing away, Christmas Carols on the stereo or (not and!) a movie playing (take your pick) on the TV does make me wistful. The peel of the bells while walking through the middle of Chester on the way to midnight mass at the cathedral does make me wish there was someone with their hand in mine to share it with. All of the above would be really, really lovely.
Sadly this year - as for a few Christmasses past - it is not to be; maybe next year (I'll give it to someone special!!). Wistful and wishing I may be, but I am also determined that those feelings will not make me settle for anything less than the right relationship with the right person, and I am absolutely sure I will know beyond doubt when that opportunity comes along. Until then, the Christmas movies and cathedral bells will be seen and heard by just me!
In case I don't have the chance to say it before the big day; I would like to wish everybody a VERY Merry Christmas. My genuine and heartfelt wishes are with you for happy holidays, and an exciting, joyful and of course healthy new year. In with my seasonal wishes, I would like to thank you. Whether this is the first time you have stumbled across this blog, or your umpteenth visit, you have become a part of it; and on this, the first and only full calendar year of the challenge, I am so grateful to you all. This challenge would have been impossible without you reading about it, and now we are so near its conclusion - and with what I hope will be your continued support - I am confident of a successful 2013 (and you know what THAT means!).
Weigh in (77)
Considering I chickened out of the weigh in last week (full English-itis) it was with some trepidation when getting on the scales. Activities (exercise, diet) have been very unroutine-ish of late (for reasons why, just see previous posts) so I honestly didn't know what to expect. It's two pounds on from the weigh in two weeks ago, leaving me at 15 stone 9 pounds.Could have been worse, but of course could have been better.
I am struggling with the diet, and the holidays have come as something of a regrouping relief. The fact that my week is now split 4 nights home/3 nights hotel is proving - I was going to say more, but to be honest - as difficult as expected. If it's not a Subway sandwich it's a meal at the hotel (where the chef decided to give me an extra portion of chocolate pudding.....in the interests of North-South relations, how could I refuse?!!.....okay, by saying 'no thank you'.....but I regret to say, I didn't). I did make an effort to 'fashion' an evening meal, but it turned out to be a culinary disaster which I will not repeat here in case it puts you of eating......forever......
There is certainly hope however, as there is plenty of improvement I can bring to what I am eating; and I can use the Christmas break to plan my meals when I am doing the hotel thing (the odd healthy-option subway, one health-conscious meal at the hotel, maybe even cook something at home and bring it with me!). Add to this the fact that I have managed to establish a routine of running on both Monday and Tuesday evenings with the SPAAAAAAARTAAAANS means a two pound gain can quickly become a weight loss.
It's a weird thing about routine; you can't establish one until you know what you have to work with. After two official weeks in the official job I have enough to make a plan; it is far from impossible to 'make it work', and let's face it, with a marathon coming up in less than four months that is very good news indeed!!
The running is going well; and I will be packing up my 'gear' when I go off to my Mums later so I can put in a few miles in between turkey slices, bucks fizz and prezzies. Can't speak for how long the runs will be, but I just want to keep my hand (foot!) in before the real hard labour begins in the new year. (Why do I have the feeling that the time between now and April 21st is going to evaporate mighty quickly?!!).
I am looking forward to Christmas; it kinda feels I have been holding my breath over the last month and I can finally exhale, relax, enjoy time without rushing, and then set my stall out for 2013 and all the challenges and hopefully successes it will bring!!
Bring it on........
I am struggling with the diet, and the holidays have come as something of a regrouping relief. The fact that my week is now split 4 nights home/3 nights hotel is proving - I was going to say more, but to be honest - as difficult as expected. If it's not a Subway sandwich it's a meal at the hotel (where the chef decided to give me an extra portion of chocolate pudding.....in the interests of North-South relations, how could I refuse?!!.....okay, by saying 'no thank you'.....but I regret to say, I didn't). I did make an effort to 'fashion' an evening meal, but it turned out to be a culinary disaster which I will not repeat here in case it puts you of eating......forever......
There is certainly hope however, as there is plenty of improvement I can bring to what I am eating; and I can use the Christmas break to plan my meals when I am doing the hotel thing (the odd healthy-option subway, one health-conscious meal at the hotel, maybe even cook something at home and bring it with me!). Add to this the fact that I have managed to establish a routine of running on both Monday and Tuesday evenings with the SPAAAAAAARTAAAANS means a two pound gain can quickly become a weight loss.
It's a weird thing about routine; you can't establish one until you know what you have to work with. After two official weeks in the official job I have enough to make a plan; it is far from impossible to 'make it work', and let's face it, with a marathon coming up in less than four months that is very good news indeed!!
The running is going well; and I will be packing up my 'gear' when I go off to my Mums later so I can put in a few miles in between turkey slices, bucks fizz and prezzies. Can't speak for how long the runs will be, but I just want to keep my hand (foot!) in before the real hard labour begins in the new year. (Why do I have the feeling that the time between now and April 21st is going to evaporate mighty quickly?!!).
I am looking forward to Christmas; it kinda feels I have been holding my breath over the last month and I can finally exhale, relax, enjoy time without rushing, and then set my stall out for 2013 and all the challenges and hopefully successes it will bring!!
Bring it on........