[Bennie_R97]

@Tommysgirl this is one of the many reasons why I love dogs, they truly are human best friends! With growing up I have started to see how so many thing that were magical to me when I was a child shifted to what the actual reality is, but there is specific smells, tastes and lights that will still make me believe in the spirit of the festive season. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to travel through Italy thanks to my mum's job. Yes, I definitely advice you to book a Christmas in Italy, anywhere you fancy because it is absolutely amazing. 😀

[JoeSoap]

@retrotecchie
Brilliant. A man after my own heart 😂

[retrotecchie]

Originally Posted by JoeSoap

Ahhh... memories.

JoeGrinch

Paul Gilmartin sums up Christmas perfectly.

Eggnog, tinsel, falling snow
Buttered rum and mistletoe
Christmas trees and hanging lights
The sound of carols fills the night

Shopping hours long and hard
Visa phones and cancels card
Unpaid bills and mounting debts
Family gathers; depressions sets

Drinking starts, harsh words are said
Dysfunction rears its Yuletide head
Arguments turn into shovin'
Drunken brother punches cousin

Tree tips over, popping lights
Curtains catch, house ignites
No one hears the reindeer cries
Wedged in chimney, Santa dies

Though he kicked and did perspire
His chestnuts roasted on an open fire

[JoeSoap]

@retrotecchie
Good poem. Had never heard of Paul Gilmartin so have just read about him on Wikipedia.

[DebF_EONNext]

@retrotecchie this sounds like Christmas in my family 😂 🎄 I tend to have a smaller Christmas now with just MrF & our son, we have a very functional yet dysfunctional family 😆 so we tend to stay home for the actual day now to avoid the drama! We get round and visit family individually on Xmas eve and boxing day instead.

My daughter is older (she no longer lives at home she's flown the nest) and she has invited us for Christmas, it will be her first time cooking Christmas dinner for us so if you don't hear from me over the new year period it's probably food poisoning! She is due a baby next year so she wanted to have one last family Christmas just us before the baby arrives and it becomes all about the little one. Christmas will be very different for her next year!

[retrotecchie]

@DebF_EONNext

Cheer up...you will still have Hogmanay and Burns Night to let your hair down if Christmas turns out to be a bit meh.

One of my little guilty pleasures is a bit of haggis every January. Without the 'neeps, just the tatties. Washed down with a dram of Laphroaig if funds permit. Not to everyone's taste, the heavily-peated Islay malts, but it does usually mean I get it all to myself.

What's the haggis season been like this winter - good hunting or a lean year? Hopefully they've been plentiful so they're not too expensive.

[Tommysgirl]

Originally Posted by retrotecchie

@DebF_EONNext

Cheer up...you will still have Hogmanay and Burns Night to let your hair down if Christmas turns out to be a bit meh.

One of my little guilty pleasures is a bit of haggis every January. Without the 'neeps, just the tatties. Washed down with a dram of Laphroaig if funds permit. Not to everyone's taste, the heavily-peated Islay malts, but it does usually mean I get it all to myself.

What's the haggis season been like this winter - good hunting or a lean year? Hopefully they've been plentiful so they're not too expensive.

I think the haggises will be hiding from the cold at the minute, so too early to tell. 😋🍲

[retrotecchie]

@Tommysgirl

Minus fifteen up in Braemar today. The little rascals probably migrated South for the winter.