After yesterday’s all-day rain, today we’ve had bright, crisp sunshine. If it stays clear we’ll have a cold night I should think. As it is we’ve had a rather fine sunset sky.
Here’s a linguist’s view of Christmas spirits, sent to me by my Italian friend. You have to have taught or at least studied complicated grammar to really get the joke.
Granddaughter Number Two and I spent some time, not too much time, selecting suitable Christmas presents for various members of the family. Here’s a cartoon about unromantic christmas gifts.
Skimming through odds and ends of news online yesterday after Granddaughter Number Two and I had returned from rainy Manchester, I came across the headline “A potato is for life, not just for Christmas” at the start of an article by Emma Beddington. This led me to a photo of a potato shaped flask.
Apparently it’s a late-18th-century Staffordshire pottery flask – intended to be filled with strong drink and used to toast a safe journey for a traveller – shaped like a very realistic, knobbly spud, complete with green bits. It has been donated to the Nairn Museum. The benefactor who donated the flask apparently explained it was so ugly that no one in his family wanted to inherit it.
The article also led me to the potato wall calendar. Calendars are frequently given as Christmas gifts. This one features different photos of potatoes for each month of the year. Originally priced at £38.84, it is now available for the bargain price of £29.13. I don’t think there will be a rush to buy them but you never know.
Many workplaces are having their Christmas socials, complete with Secret Santa gifts. This never used to happen when I was in full time work, for which I am quite grateful. Nowadays it is almost obligatory to give presents to just about everyone. As a primary school teacher our daughter has amassed a range of ‘best teacher in world’ coffee mugs, not to mention bottles of wine that she never drinks. Here’s a link to an article about Secret Santa gifts going horribly wrong. Another reason to have nothing to do with the idea!
Another Christmas staple is crackers - another source of Christmas gifts nobody really wants unless you do really expensive personalised Christmas crackers. However, the children do enjoy pulling crackers so I need to acquire some before the southern branch of the family (our son and family) arrives at the weekend. Here is a selection bad Christmas cracker jokes:
- Why is Prince Andrew not writing any Christmas books? He hasn’t got any titles.
- Which pop star carves her own wooden nativity scene? Sabrina Carpenter.
- What is a French burglar’s favourite Christmas film? Louvre, Actually.
- Why won’t Angela Rayner get any Christmas presents this year? Santa can’t decide which address to deliver to.
- Where has Santa been more than Nigel Farage? His house in Clacton.
That’s enough nonsense.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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