Sunday, 30 May 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WHO STOLE SANTA'S SACK? (2007)

 

Jay Leno narrates the animated musical tale “Who Stole Santa’s Sack?” which follows the exciting journey of a young orphan girl, Sophianna, and her unlikely band of adventurers, a feisty elf (Paul Rocco), an ambitious young reindeer (Dart), and a fox and polar bear duo (Buster and Charlee) they meet along the way as they search for the secret coal mine of Krad, who stole Santa's magical toy sack.

Throughout her pursuit for the elusive sack, the young heroine Sophianna, and her allies each discover their potential for compassion, loyalty and the importance of never losing hope.

The film is enhanced by the vocal talent of Edward Asner (Krad), Kathy Bates (Miss Dowdy), Colin Ford (Dart), Brad Garrett (Charlee), Shirley Jones (Victoria Claus), Norm MacDonald (Buster), Daniel Roebuck (Paul Rocco / Jacque), Andy Griffith (Santa Claus), and Madison Davenport (Sophianna).

 

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1914

 

Just after midnight on Christmas morning the unofficial “Christmas Truce” began, German troops ceased firing their guns and artillery and then started singing Christmas carols. Later in the day men from both sides left their trenches and met in No man's land where they traded gifts with the enemy. The truce lasted for three days.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

 

You better watch out

You better not cry 

Better not pout 

I'm telling you why 

Because Daddy

Has just worked

A 14 hour day

And now has to drive

300 miles of Christmas traffic

To spend another bloody Christmas

At Grandma Browns

House of doom

So he is not in the mood

For any of your shit

OH SANTA CLAUS THE BELLS THE BELLS ARE CALLING

Oh Santa Claus the bells the bells are calling

From town to town, where goodwill doth abide

The summers gone, the autumn leaves have fallen

We’re near, we’re near another Christmas tide

 

So come ye back to us on Christmas Evening

When all the land is hushed and white with snow

And we will leave your milk and cookies

Oh Santa Claus, you know we love you so 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SANTA WITH MUSCLES (1996)

 

Blake (Hulk Hogan) is a self-absorbed egocentric uncaring multi-millionaire who lives in his mansion with his lackies who tries to fill his time with self-defence routines and crazy reckless road stunts.

On one such outing he is pursued on foot into a mall and disguises himself as Santa Claus, then while hiding in a rubbish chute he falls and bangs his head and when he wakes up he is found by a fiendish elf, Lennie (Don Stark) who convinces him that he is in fact.....Santa Claus.

In his new guise he goes to the aid of an orphanage, run by Leslie (Robin Curtis), which is under pressure to sell to an unscrupulous tyrant Ebner Frost (Ed Begley Jr).

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1868 b

 

The Ezo Republic was founded in Hokkaido by Shogunate rebels.

HER WASSAIL

 

She would sing for her supper

And wail for her wassail

To get her turkey dinner

And a pint of Christmas ale

ARE YOU WEARING RED VELVET?

 

Are you wearing red velvet?

That’s really nice to see

And so, fitting for the season

It makes me feel so Christmassy

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRAZIES (2015)

 

Christmas with the Krazies is an endearing comedy Christmas drama, set in present-day “Chicago”, centred around a Greek family at their dinner table on Christmas Eve.

Michael (Robert Krantz) is a workaholic by choice and has spent his entire life putting in the hours and has had to sacrifice a lot of family time in order to provide for that family.

However, after hearing a rumour that he's getting a long-overdue promotion, Michael invites his whole family over to celebrate, including his Uncle Telly (also played by Robert Krantz), but when the promotion falls through, Michael must spend a long night with 14 Greeks around his dinner table, and while he deals with the most important people in his life, he faces the prospect of failing to make the transition from workaholic back into the loving husband and father he once was.

This is a very enjoyable film with great warmth and humour.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1901

 

The Boers launched a surprise attack against the British forces in the Orange-Free state at the Battle at Tweefontein.

RUBY THE RED NOSED BIMBO

Ruby the red nosed bimbo

Had a very strawberry nose

And if you ever saw her

You would even say it glows

 

All of the other bimbos 

Used to laugh and call her names. 

They never let poor Ruby 

Join in any bimbo games. 



Then one lonely Christmas Eve 

Someone came to play: 

Ruby with your nose so bright

Let me grab your tits tonight

 

Then all the fellas loved her

As they shouted out with glee, 

Ruby the red-nosed bimbo

You can now go down on me!

CHRISTINGLE MINGLE

 

It is the season that makes my senses tingle

The time of year when the sleigh bells jingle

And we come together for the Christingle mingle

When the Clauses and the Grinches intermingle

And happy clappy’s and traditionalists comingle

As we celebrate the service of Christingle

Saturday, 22 May 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY (2006)

 

Kevin (Jay Mohr) tries desperately to be involved with his son Ben (Logan Grove) and ex-wife Jill (Daphne Zuniga), even if it means spending Christmas with her parents, Trudi and Arthur (Adrienne Barbeau and Tim Thomerson), who loathe him, and Granny Conlon (Ruta Lee) who likes him a little too much.

But what he hadn’t bargained on was the double whammy of sharing the day with Jill’s new boyfriend Todd (David Millbern) or the fact that the only road out of Town was blocked by a boulder.

But he could have coped with all of that for one day, but during dinner his son Ben suddenly wished that it was Christmas every day, and from then on in true Groundhog Day tradition Kevin was forced to relive Christmas Day over and over again until he gets it right.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1896

 

John Philip Sousa wrote “Stars & Stripes Forever”.

AN ARDENNES CHRISTMAS

 

The next time you’re whining on about what a crap Christmas you had because your mother-in-law over did it on the sherry and told everyone what she really thinks about you or when your wife’s uncle Stan spent Christmas afternoon asleep on the sofa breaking wind with monotonous regularity.

Or your brother’s new girlfriend who kept hitting on your wife or your Gran who said “just a small dinner for me I don’t have much of an appetite” then spent the afternoon eating all the chocolate Brazils.

If this strikes a chord think again and Spare a thought for the half a million or so men of the allied forces and six hundred thousand Germans who spent Christmas 1944 outside in the snow in the Ardennes forest during the battle of the bulge.

Men like My father sheltering in foxholes scratched out of the frozen earth with no hot food or drink.

Unable to light fires for fear of giving their position away and regularly coming under enemy fire or being shelled

Then once you’ve hewn out a decent sized foxhole and settled down into it out of the icy wind an order comes down the line to move out and you move a hundred yards or less and dig another hole.

Go and tell your petty gripes to them and see if you get any sympathy.

SANTA SHOWS THE WAY

 

Several years ago, in a small town in Pennsylvania a paramedic responded to help a motorist who had suffered a heart attack.

When he arrived on scene, he noticed a man in a Santa suit directing traffic around the area of the incident.

He later discovered it was a firefighter who had been playing Santa at a children's party and came upon the accident on his way home.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SANTA'S DOG (2012)

 

Santa’s talking dog, Hercules, in “Santa's Dog” takes us on a magical, fun-filled and touching mission, to prevent Max Moogle (Anthony Robinson), an adorable yet mischievous twelve year old boy, from making the naughty list, which he is in danger of doing.

And Hercules takes him to the North Pole to meet Santa and argue his way onto the “nice list” in the Elf court and Hercules successfully acts as Max's attorney.

However, Santa (George Maguire) tells Max that in order to make the nice list he must help a man called, Rick Wilder, (Danny Arroyo), a bitter man, find the spirit of Christmas and along the way prevent Rondo (Richard Van Vleet) the leader of the terrible toy-stealing Dogs of the North, from destroying Christmas.

Friday, 21 May 2021

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1868 a

 

Despite bitter opposition United States President Andrew Johnson granted unconditional pardons to all persons involved in the Southern rebellion.

IT WAS ANOTHER SUV CHRISTMAS

 

It was another SUV Christmas

Thanks to my significant other

No not that kind of SUV, I got

Socks, Underwear and Viagra

THERE IS A SINGING ELF

 

There is a singing Elf

Up at the North Pole

With a powerful voice

For one so small and dapper

 

The singing Elf croons

All day in the workshop

So the other Elf’s call him

The Christmas Wrapper

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WISH FOR CHRISTMAS (2016)

 

Anna MacLaren (Anna Fricks) is a self-obsessed high school senior who is at odds with her community minded Christian parents, Luke and Elizabeth (Joey Lawrence and Leigh-Allyn Baker) and is frustrated by the way they put others first.

But things really come to a head when she finds out that the Winter Ball is being moved to Christmas Eve and her parents insist that she attends the Christmas Eve service at church with them.

Upset and frustrated because she didn’t get her own way she storms up to her room and wished that her parents didn't believe in God.
The next morning, she discovers that her wish has been granted, and is initially pleased with the change in them, but as time goes on she realizes she has brought disastrous consequences to her family, friends and community, but change her heart.

So in an effort to put things right she sets about restoring her parents faith, and with the help of some wise counsel from her Uncle Paul, (Jeff Schroeder) her new boyfriend, Colton Smith (Ryan Boudreau) and a street corner Santa (Bill Engvall) she is led through a series of Christmas Adventures that lead her inevitably to her Church on Christmas Eve.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1837

 

The United States forces defeated the Seminole Indians at the Battle of Okeechobee.

A PEACEFUL NIGHT

 

One interesting and long held Scandinavian Christmas tradition was the belief that it was considered dangerous to sleep alone on Christmas Eve.

As a result the extended family and the servants would sleep together on a freshly prepared bed of straw.

RISQUÉ OR RUDE

 

If you do something at Christmas

That’s either risqué or rude

Then don’t be at all surprised

If it ends up on Yule Tube

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A HOLIDAY WISH COME TRUE (2018)

 

Recently separated parents Tracie and Rick (Schuyler Fisk and David Clayton Rogers) (Rogers) spend every other holiday with their young daughters Harper and Ava (Abby James Witherspoon and Skylar Olivia Flanagan). But after Thanksgiving the girls conspire and tell their parents that they only have only one thing on their wish lists for Christmas, and that is to spend Christmas with both Mom and Dad with their Grandparents, Mimi and Ed (Dee Wallace and Glenn Morshower) at their farmhouse with the rest of the family.

Tracie and Rick know that the temporary reunion will be no walk in the park, but they agree for the sake of the children, but Mimi is less than keen and fears that the Christmas gathering will help rekindle the lost romance between her daughter and the man she loathes, which would make her granddaughters' greatest Christmas wish come true.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1831

 

Louisiana and Arkansas were the first states to observe Christmas as holiday.

SCANDINAVIAN YULETIDE

 

The Scandinavian’s are among many who claim to the Yule log tradition as their own.

Because of dark cold winters traditions concerned with warmth and light abounded.

Yuletide which means “the turning of the sun” was celebrated at the winter solstice and has long been a time of extreme importance to the Scandinavians.

Originally the Yule log was a whole tree carefully selected and with great ceremony was brought into the house.

One end was placed in the hearth and the rest of the tree stuck out into the room and was slowly fed into the fire timed to perfection to last the entire Yuletide season.

INSULTED SANTA

 

The local shopping Mall Santa

Turned out to be a very grumpy chap

When a little girl put a bin bag down

Just before she sat on his lap

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WELCOME HOME WARRIOR (2017)

 

Amanda (Julie Benz) is an Army Widow, who works as Curator at a struggling local museum, owned and run by Tom (Jay Brazeau) but with her hours at the Museum reduced she decides to rent out the room over the garage to cover her drop in her income.

But she is shocked when Master Sergeant Jim Mullins (Michael Shanks) knocks on her door as she wasn’t aware she had let the room to a soldier, which wasn’t ideal as she already found the season very difficult, as it was on the Eve of Christmas when she lost her husband two years earlier.

Despite her misgiving she takes him in as he has just returned from Afghanistan and was injured, it wasn’t until later that she realises he is also a war hero.

Because of her loss she didn’t bother with decorations or any of the trimmings in fact she didn’t embrace any part of the season but together they help each other heal, her from a broken heart and he from an injury to his leg, and they find true love along the way.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1776

 

George Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised and defeated 1,400 Hessians.

CHRISTMAS PIE

 

Christmas Pie is not as the name might suggest a Christmas delicacy but is in fact an entertainment originating from the tradition of the mummers play’s and is performed in the church.

It has evolved over many years and now includes poetry and prose, religious readings, short sketches and seasonal music to become very much like the Christingle services.

MY WORST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER # 3

My worst Christmas present ever

Without a doubt, I have concluded

Was when I received a box of batteries

Labelled “toys not included”

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS CAMP (2018)

 

Haley Hanson (Lily Anne Harrison) is a workaholic advertising executive who is keen to land a traditional toy company as a new client, and get a big promotion into the bargain, but when her boss points out that she specializes in social media and all things hip and would not understand the needs of such an old-fashioned business, she reluctantly agrees to attend a Christmas Boot Camp.

The Camp is run by recently widowed Ben (John James) but it’s his son Jeff (Bobby Campo) who contributes most to helping her to remember what makes the holidays so special and restore her Christmas cheer.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1758

 

Farmer and amateur astronomer Johann George Palitzsch was the first to sight

Halley's Comet on its first predicted return.

CHRISTMAS COMMON VILLAGE

 

Christmas Common is a village situated near Watlington in Oxfordshire.

The Christmas common woods are owned jointly by the National Trust and the Forestry Commission.

Combining Woodland and chalk grassland the area offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside such as Watlington Hill and the woods of Lower Dean and Shotridge also Fire Wood, Queen Wood, Watlington Park, College Wood, Pyrton Hill, Howe Wood and Greenfield Copse.

 

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 34

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all thru the caravan

Not a creature was stirring

Which wasn’t the plan

But the camp site was flooded

So that was the reason

And would be out of action

For the festive season

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS (2018)

 

Blanca Snow (Michelle Randolph) is asked to spend Christmas with her dastardly stepmother, Victoria (Carolyn Hennesy), and she agrees in an attempt to fulfil her late father's wishes and create new memories as a family.

However, Victoria plots to edge Blanca out of her father's inheritance and keep the money, his business and his mansion, for herself.

Her first step is to renovate the house, so she hires a talented designer, Lucas Prince (Colt Prattes), to do the design as Victoria has designs on him, but when he arrives at the house he instantly falls in love with Blanca, and Victoria is jealous and outraged.

So with the help and assistance of Zane (Rich Barnes), Victoria has her stepdaughter hypnotised so that she forgets everyone she knew and everything about her father's will.

When Blanca wakes up in a quaint motor lodge out of town with severe amnesia, she receives the help of seven quirky friends, the Holly Jollies, to help her figure out her life.

While attempting to regain her memory, she finds herself the object of affection to both house painter Hunter (Liam McNeill), and Lucas Prince.

But who can she trust? And will she finally remember her past, and stop Victoria from stealing everything her father left for her?

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1741

The Astronomer Anders Celsius introduced the Centigrade temperature scale. 

THE HAMLET OF CHRISTMAS PIE

 

Christmas Pie is a small hamlet between the villages of Normandy and Wanborough in Surrey.

Quite how the hamlet of Christmas Pie, got its name has been a puzzle for many generations.

17th century maps show a Christmas Farm and in an article in an addition of the Surrey Advertiser it stated there was once a Pie Farm.

Another story tells of a farmer whose name was Christmas, which was a fairly common name in West Surrey at the time.

The story tells that the man, who had a large family and no prospects of feeding them through the festive season went into the wood and trapped rabbits and other small game which his wife cooked into a pie and thus the name was coined.

If that tale is too farfetched for you another theory is that it takes its name from the popular Christmas pie church festivities.

The only flaw in this theory being that as Christmas Pie is a hamlet it has no church and never has done.

As there is documentary evidence of a Christmas farm and a Pie farm I think the most likely origin of the name is that at some point after the 17th century the two farms merged for whatever reason and became Christmas pie farm which in time became Christmas Pie.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN EDEN

 

It was the night before Christmas

That magical time to believe

When Adam said in the garden of Eden

Hey it's Christmas, Eve!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS (II) (2017)

 

“A Song For Christmas” is set in a small town where two single parents, Vet Jennifer (Kelli Williams), who is new in town, and bespoke furniture maker, Nate (Jonathan Scarfe), stumble into the possibility of love for Christmas, only to discover that their daughters Charlotte and Melissa (Pippa Mackie and Kayla Wallace) are embroiled in a rivalry at school as they compete for the Christmas Solo at the Christmas Festival.

When the rivalry gets out of control and Charlotte is on the wrong end of some nasty pranks things come to a head and the parents and the school get involved, but will that lead everyone to a peaceful and merry Christmas?

An enjoyable tale of teenage angst and mature courtship, beautiful music and perfect friendships.

Alistair Abell stars as Nates brother, Pete, Ricky He and Naika Toussaint as Charlotte’s friends Henry and Audrey, and Natalie von Rotsburg as music teacher Ms. Baxter.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1717

Floods ravaged the Dutch coastal provinces, and many thousands were killed. 

CHRISTMAS ISLAND

 

Located some 2600km north-west of Perth, Western Australia Christmas Island is a mere dot in the Indian Ocean.

Its closest neighbor is Java; 360km away However Christmas Island is an Australian Territory.

Christmas Island was for centuries protected by its isolation and rugged coasts.

The island was first included on British and Dutch navigational charts from the early seventeenth century but it was the Captain of the East India Ship Company vessel the Royal Mary, William Mynors, who named the island after he arrived on Christmas Day 1643.

It was phosphate mining which first brought prosperity to the island in 1891 which continued right up until the Japanese occupied the island during the Second World War.

Then After World War II Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new Colony of Singapore until in 1957 when the Australian government acquired Christmas Island from the Singapore Government for a compensation of 2.9 million pounds.

The island was a Crown colony until its transfer to Australia was finalized on 1st October 1958.

In 1980, a National Park was declared in the Egeria Point area. The National Park now covers over 65% of the island.

Although phosphate mining continues in a small way and the authorities have flirted with gambling as an attraction the islands main source of prosperity now is tourism.

Christmas Island is a natural paradise with its national park containing species of flora & fauna found nowhere else in the world.

The vivid Red Crab for example inhabiting the forest floor and the Myriads of tropical fish swimming in the coastal waters or further out the spinner dolphins or the majestic whale shark.

Now in the 21st century The Island has been chosen as a suitable site for a space satellite launching station the decision will be made shortly.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 38

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all round the Close

The Carol Singers perform

For the festive and the morose

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS ORANGES (2012)

 

Experience the journey of Rose (Bailee Michelle Johnson), an orphan who teaches the meaning of hope to all those around her especially Mr. Crampton (Edward Herrmann) who runs the orphanage, who learns the lesson of forgiveness, and the knowledge that it's never too late to change and that a kind word goes far!

I recommend you take the opportunity to share a slice of Christmas sweetened with friendship, and oranges, in this poignant story based on a classic holiday tale.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1651

 

The Massachusetts General Court ordered a fine of five shillings for anyone who observed the day of Christmas

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 39

Twas the night before Christmas

And alone in the Croft

The owner banged his head and cussed

As he did all too oft

OUR TURKEY GOT INTO A FIGHT

 

Our Turkey got into a fight

When he went to the Gym

But he lost and other bird

Knocked the stuffing out of him

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS AT MAXWELL’S (2006)

 

With a successful career in the wine business, two amazing children and having married his high school sweetheart Suzie Maxwell (Jack Hourigan), Andrew Austin (Andrew May) has everything.

However, life and a past secret quickly bring an unwelcome change and in an instant, life no longer has the order and sweetness it once held, after Suzie falls extremely ill and as Andrew struggles to find answers, his children Chris and Mary quietly search for their own.

Facing a hectic holiday season, Andrew and family retreat to their summer home on Lake Erie to celebrate their last Christmas in peace away from the demands of the city, and their world opens up to a moment in time they will never experience again as their small lakeside community quickly brings them its own wonderments as this Christmas changes the Austin family forever.


SEASONAL SNIPPET # 04

 

In Rome between the great Saturnalia festival and the solstice festival of Brumalia came the Festival of Infants known as Juvenalia, and the Sigallaria, or Doll Festival and the children were presented with gifts at both.

NEUROTIC CHRISTMAS

 

One Christmas I was given

A neurotic clockwork Teddy

And it was ready to play with

As it was wound up already.

OH NO HE ISN’T

 

My great uncle John was an actor on the stage

Who was best known as a pantomime dame

Famous for his ugly sister and widow twanky

But not anymore which is a great shame

 

He has gone to that great pantomime in the sky

No longer will he don grease paint and his regalia

I will still see him though from time to time

Because he’s not dead he’s just working for Ryan air

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – EACH PRECIOUS HEARTBEAT (2016)

 

When Alice (Sharon Lawrence), a beloved neonatal intensive care unit supervisor is forced to take early retirement, her young colleague, Jenny (Emilie Ullerup), decides to turn the upcoming staff Christmas party into a surprise celebration for her.

But the plan is complicated by the hospital's new CFO Matt (Kristoffer Polaha) who has been tasked with cutting costs, and he was the one instrumental in letting Alice go.

It’s up to Jenny to show Matt that the hospital and its staff is about heart and not the bottom line.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1599

 

The city of Natal was founded in Brazil.

JULENISSE - JOLLY BRINGER OF GIFTS

In the Christmas tradition of the Scandinavian countries are a variety of Christmas gnomes responsible for the gift giving and one of them is called Julenisse.

And the Children in Scandinavia wait for a little bearded gnome called Julenisse to put presents under the Christmas tree in the night.

The children must leave a bowl of porridge out for this jolly bringer of gifts with a sack on his back who rides a sleigh drawn by a reindeer.

If the children forget to put out the porridge, he plays tricks on them.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 40

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all thru the Mill

Nothing was stirring

As the great wheel was still

Only the fire in the hearth moved

As it kept away the chill

Friday, 14 May 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS CRUSH (2012)

 

Twenty-eight-year-old Georgia (Rachel Boston) is convinced that the man of her dreams is the one “that got away” back in high school Craig (Jon Prescott).

She has tried dating other men over the years, but they just never seem to compare to her high school flame.

When Georgia’s mother, (Marilu Henner) tells her about her high school reunion a week before Christmas, she is thrilled to finally have a chance to win Craig back.

But as she gets to relive high school for a night, she begins to realize it might not be Craig who got away at all, but Ben Oliver (Jonathan Bennett) an old friend with whom she'd fallen out of touch, but was now within reach.

Harry Hamlin also stars as Mr. Taylor, the socially awkward teacher that all the girls had a crush on, and some of them still do.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1492

 

Christopher Columbus' ship the Santa Maria docked in what was to become the Dominican Republic.

THE GOOD LIFE - SILLY, BUT IT'S FUN

 

For those who are visiting from another planet the Good Life, Written by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey was about a man who on reaching his fortieth birthday decides to give up the rat race and become self-sufficient.

The man having the midlife crisis is Tom Good played by Richard Briers who with the help and support of his long suffering wife Barbara, Felicity Kendal turns his detached Surbiton home into an urban farm.

This doesn't go down too well with their good friends and neighbours, Jerry Leadbetter played by Paul Eddington and his snooty wife Margot, Penelope Keith.

The Christmas episode, Silly, But It's Fun, first broadcast 26th December 1977 is in my opinion the funniest Christmas sitcom ever made.

Most Christmas sitcoms highlight the most negative aspects of the day creating a kind of nightmarish microcosm of family life at Christmas.

The good life was the story of contrasts with the Good’s making the best of the resources they had while the Leadbetter’s just bought the best of everything and lots of it.

It “ Silly, But It's Fun” Margo ordered Christmas to be delivered from Harrods on Christmas eve but refused delivery when the tree was six inches shorter than the one she had ordered.

As she rejected the tree she also rejected everything else including Jerry’s gin under the impression that Harrods would redeliver Christmas including a tree of the requisite height for her later that day.

She was sadly mistaken and on Christmas day she had to phone around canceling all their Christmas engagements under the pretext that Jerry has Chicken pox.

Jerry was unperturbed at having political chicken pox but horrified when he discovered that there was no more gin.

Enter the Goods who save the day by inviting the Leadbetter’s to their house for the day and a good time was had by all.

They all got plastered on pea pod burgundy and played silly games.

The moral of the tale being that you can’t buy Christmas you have to make it yourself.

IF ASKED WHAT HE DID FOR A LIVING # 1

 

If asked what he did for a living

He would have replied “I’m a spy”

And when he hides in the bakery

At Christmas he’s a mince spy

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SEASON'S GREETINGS (2016)

 

Darcy Blake (Laura Bell Bundy), has what she considers to be the perfect job as she works for Harrington House, a successful greeting card company, in the editorial department.

Where she writes heart-felt, meaningful copy for cards, which is very important to Darcy, especially at Christmas, which was important to her as a young girl.

She realizes that she is a bit out of step with her fellow millennials but that is fine with Darcy, however everything is about to change when Will Harrington (Casey Manderson) arrives at the company to take over from his grandfather and he has a very different view of the holidays and considers greetings cards as old hat, so which one is going to have their opinion changed?

SEASONAL SNIPPET # 05

 

In ancient Rome After the festival of the Saturnalia, came the Festival of Infants known as Juvenalia, at which the children were presented with gifts.

HEART FELT THANKS

 

About ten years ago an Ambulance responded to a call in a restaurant in Warwickshire after a 56-year-old man was reported to have suffered a heart attack.

When the paramedic arrived, they assumed the man was a customer and quickly set to work and revived the man and took him to the hospital.

When the man duly recovered it transpired that he was not a customer at the restaurant but the owner and to show his gratitude he invited a group of thirty hospital and ambulance staff to his restaurant for a grand meal.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 42

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all thru the City

Peoples were alone for the season

Which was such a pity

The Church was the one place

Where they never felt alone

As they were welcomed

And made to feel at home

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MERRY EX-MAS (2014)

 

Jessie and Noelle Rogers (Dean Cain and Kristy Swanson) are divorcing after he is wrongly implicated in a sex scandal, but at Christmas, after a mix up as to who had the use of their cabin for the holidays they become snowbound during a blizzard, along with his yoga instructor girlfriend Tasha (Rebecca Grant), Noelle’s wealthy suitor, Flynn (Lochlyn Munro), Jessie’s former mother in law, Roz (Trish Cook) and his daughter Carrie (Shannon Kummer), which all makes for a very fraught Christmas and an enjoyable movie.

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe steals the show as Flynn’s self-absorbed lawyer Ashley Williams she is so good that you end up loving her despite her totally deplorable nature.

TRIVIAL TITBIT # 10

 

The Roman poet Virgil wrote about the decorating of pine trees in honor of Bacchus, the god of drinking and revelry.

TAKE CARE

 

A recent report by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that “decking the halls” at Christmas can be dangerous. The report stated that an estimated 17,465 people were treated in American hospital E.R’s between 2000 and 2003 for falls related to putting up Christmas decorations.

TOBLERONE

 

Toblerone, the perfect Christmas gift

For the friends you remember

At the very last possible moment

On the twenty fourth of December

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS ANGEL IN TRAINING (2016)

 

Upon her untimely death, Eve (Kristin Davis), a workaholic finds herself in training to be a Christmas Angel in Heaven, under the instruction of Pearl (Shirley MacLaine).

Despite being the worst recruit in the history of Christmas, she's assigned a hard luck case, Max (Eric McCormack) and his daughter Lauren (Jaeda Lily Miller).

And as she is forced to help solve their problems, she starts to discover the meaning of Christmas and despite being told not to, she falls in love along the way.

TRIVIAL TITBIT # 09

 

From December 17th to the 23rd the Romans ornamented their temples and homes with green boughs and flowers for the Saturnalia.

MEET THE KIDS

 

Meet the kids was a TV program in the 1960’s broadcast live from a Children’s hospital on Christmas morning.

It was hosted by well-known comedian Lesley Crowther who went from bed to handing out presents and chatting to the sick children.

He would also do lighthearted interviews with various members of staff but the show was principally about the children.

The whole show lasted little more than half an hour and it would normally end with a choir of nurses singing carols around the Christmas tree.

It was Heartwarming stuff but probably deemed to be to twee for sophisticated 21st century audiences.

CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE WORKHOUSE # 2

 

It was Christmas Eve in the workhouse

And not a hint of the season in sight

No stockings hang by the fire side

So, it’s just like every other Night

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – NORTHPOLE: OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS (2015)

 

A successful businesswoman, Mackenzie Warren (Lori Loughlin), inherits her beloved aunt's inn, and chooses to restore the hotel to its original grandeur only to sell it right before Christmas.

Unbeknownst to Mackenzie, it isn’t just an Inn, it’s a place of particular importance to Santa and it’s crucial to future of Christmas and must remain in the family and be run as a working inn.

She receives some unexpected help from a team of elves headed by the cheerful Clementine (Bailee Madison), and a handyman Ian Hanover (Dermot Mulroney) who help Mackenzie rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1024

 

Boleslaw I Chrobry was crowned as the first king of Poland.

A MOTHER’S GRATITUDE

 

It was Christmas Eve almost twenty years ago when paramedics Harry Tyler and Yvonne Hughes had to resuscitate a six-month-old baby boy who’d stopped breathing at its home in Chertsey. 

It was touch and go for a while, but all ended happily and Every Christmas since the day the baby's mother has delivered Sweets and Chocolates to the Ambulance station where the two paramedics worked.

These gestures of gratitude are not uncommon though it is unusual for them to continue for 20 years.

CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE WORKHOUSE # 5

 

It’s Christmas Day in the workhouse

Just another grey day to endure

Jamie Oliver is cooking the dinner

So, no Turkey Twizzlers in store

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MR CHRISTMAS (2005)

 

Tom (Sam Page) is the guy who can find the perfect gift for that special someone, that’s his business and he’s very good at it, and he is in very great demand especially at Christmas which is why he is known by his nickname “Mr. Christmas”

He is very good at what he does due to his ability to determine the perfect Christmas gift to fir a person's personality.

 

When Tom’s good friend Paul (Sam Guinan-Nyhart) comes to him asking for help in finding a gift for his girlfriend, Jenny (Tara Holt) , Mr. Christmas finds himself in a bit of trouble. The more he learns about Jenny during his research, the more he likes her, and the guiltier he feels being caught between his heart and his best friend.

And With Christmas rapidly approaching, Tom dreads his encroaching deadline as it will mean an end to his time with Jenny and perhaps an end to his only chance at being with his one true love.

SEASONAL SNIPPET # 03

 

On St. Nicholas' Day, during the middle ages, a 'Boy Bishop' was elected, and he exercised a blasphemous Episcopal jurisdiction by parodying ecclesiastical functions and ceremonies.

NOEL'S CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

 

Noel's Christmas Presents was hosted by Noel Edmonds and ended in 1999 after eleven years.

The basic premise of the shows was Noel rewarding special people with special Christmas presents tailored to the individual.

The people qualified by either overcoming or dealing with great adversity in their own lives or those who gave up their own time and dedicated themselves to the needs of others.

The presents were many and varied from flying a spitfire to a visit to Santa.

It was broadcast on Christmas day after the Queen’s speech and was guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat to all but the hard hearted.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 41

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all thru the Barn

In fact, not a creature was stirring

At all on the farm

They were bedded down warmly

In the fresh laid hay

And slept in quiet harmony

Until the breaking of the day 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS ANGEL IN TRAINING (2016)

 

Upon her untimely death, Eve (Kristin Davis), a workaholic finds herself in training to be a Christmas Angel in Heaven, under the instruction of Pearl (Shirley MacLaine).

Despite being the worst recruit in the history of Christmas, she's assigned a hard luck case, Max (Eric McCormack) and his daughter Lauren (Jaeda Lily Miller).

And as she is forced to help solve their problems, she starts to discover the meaning of Christmas and despite being told not to, she falls in love along the way.

TRIVIAL TITBIT # 09

 

From December 17th to the 23rd the Romans ornamented their temples and homes with green boughs and flowers for the Saturnalia.


MEET THE KIDS

 

Meet the kids was a TV program in the 1960’s broadcast live from a Children’s hospital on Christmas morning.

It was hosted by well-known comedian Lesley Crowther who went from bed to handing out presents and chatting to the sick children.

He would also do lighthearted interviews with various members of staff but the show was principally about the children.

The whole show lasted little more than half an hour and it would normally end with a choir of nurses singing carols around the Christmas tree.

It was Heartwarming stuff but probably deemed to be to twee for sophisticated 21st century audiences.


CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE WORKHOUSE # 2

 

It was Christmas Eve in the workhouse

And not a hint of the season in sight

No stockings hang by the fire side

So, it’s just like every other Night

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – 12 CHRISTMAS WISHES FOR MY DOG (2011)

 

Willing to try anything to transform her life, Laura Lindsey (Elisa Donovan), follows her best friend's suggestion and sets up a session with a life coach, Noel (Chonda Pierce), who tells Laura to make 12 wishes to make a positive change in her life.

Laura is sceptical and thinks it’s a load of hippy nonsense but to her great surprise it worked, however before long, Laura realizes that her wishes were sparking unforeseen circumstances and she must act quickly to get her life back before Christmas and recover her dog as well.

FESTIVE FACT # 24

 

In Germany, during the reformation carols were greatly disapproved of, so as a result many were converted into hymns.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 37

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all along the Avenue

The Christmas lights are twinkling

For everyone to view

PEOPLE TRAVEL CONSIDERABLE DISTANCES

 

People travel considerable distances

To be with those they hold dear

Because these are the special people

They only see once or twice a year

But the realization that once or twice

Was way too much soon became clear

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SIMPLE GIFTS (2013)

 

The George’s are a modern successful family who seems to have it all, until they don’t, when David George (Kevin Sizemore) loses his job just before Christmas.

When Julie (Claudia Esposito) finds out they decide not to tell children Nick, Natalie and Nina (Barrett Carnahan, Emily Capehart and Siomha Kenney) and enjoy Christmas regardless as everything had already been purchased and David is certain he will find another job in the New Year.

Life doesn’t always work out how you hope it will and the new job never materializes and as the year passes the bills just keep rolling in, eating away at their savings and the kid’s college funds, until finally the bank repossess the house and they end up living in a motel.

But things go from bad to worse when Julie is forced to get provisions from the food bank and then are evicted from the motel as they can’t pay the bill.

After taking refuge in the church Henry Banks (Terry Kiser) who was on the receiving end of a random act of kindness by David the previous Christmas, offers them a place to live and work on his Christmas tree farm.

But even then, they still have a fight on their hands to save the farm from

Senator John Cutter (Michael Guy Allen) who was to develop the land into warehousing in order to get himself re-elected.

This is a warm-hearted Christmas tale to remind us that in the holiday season, the best gifts in life are the simple ones, and that miracles do happen, if you believe.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 43

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all thru the pub

The air was scented with cinnamon

From all the festive grub

From spiced Christmas Ale

Or Gluwein served from a tub

GIFTING

 

My mum gave me a gift and the receipt,

Like she did every single year before

Then I could take it back if I didn’t like it,

So actually, what she gets me is a chore

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 800

Pope Leo III crowned Charles the Great of the Franks, Charlemagne, Roman emperor.


THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – NORTHPOLE (2014)

 

Northpole, the magical home to Santa & Mrs. Claus (Robert Wagner and Jill St. John), has grown into a huge city powered by the magic of holiday happiness around the world.

However as people everywhere get too busy to enjoy the festive time the way they used to, the great city is in trouble.

So if there is anyone who can help save the cherished traditions of Christmas they had to be found and a young Elf girl, Clementine (Bailee Madison), thinks she knows someone, a young boy, Kevin Hastings (Max Charles), who might have a chance if he can convince his protective mom, Chelsea (Tiffani Thiessen), to rediscover the magic of the season.

So with the added help from Kevin's charming teacher Ryan Wilson (Josh Hopkins), and a gospel singer named Josephine (Candice Glover), and bringing his mom in on the fun Kevin and Clementine set out to save Christmas.

IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS

 

Sometimes when you least expect it life can really slap you in the face and then it kicks you when your 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 there 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 childrens clothes and the Christmas presents.
How cruel for a family who had worked so hard to get back on there feet to be dealt such a blow.
This would be bad enough at anytime 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 pick up, unloaded some bunk beds 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 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.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1100

 

Boudouin I of Boulogne was crowned King of Jerusalem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 36

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all along the street

The faithful walked to Church

Where they would meet

To celebrate the Mass and wait

For Christmas Day to greet

Monday, 10 May 2021

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – HEAVEN SENT (2015)

 

This is the story of Good Samaritan Sarah Fitzpatrick (Lindsey Gort) who has a fatal accident just before Christmas and finds herself in the “lobby” within touching distance of the gates of Heaven where she meets Daphne (Kathleen Rose Perkins), who is St Peters successor, who has some unwelcome news for her.

Having walked the Christian path and lead a good life Sarah is certain that she will be let in, but she is shocked to find out that her name is not on the reservation list, and as she was not “Good” enough the enter and too “Good” for the other place she seems destined for an eternity in purgatory.

However, she is granted the chance to return to Earth as an “angel in training” with the requirement to help a soul in need.

The needy soul we find out is her ex-boyfriend Jordan (Derek Theler) who she broke up with on Christmas Eve a year prior to her own passing.
Sarah has the 12 days before Christmas to secure her place on the list to enter heaven by making Jordan move on and begin a new life with Amanda and her son Mason (Melanie Liburd and Caleel Harris).

Jeremy Luke puts in a very creditable performance as Jordan’s friend Stuart in this is a very enjoyable film which I would readily recommend, even though it has a really dumb ending.

A CHRISTMAS WISH

 

On a Christmas Eve at midnight

When I got into bed

I lay upon my pillow

And there beside my head

Was Santa with his trousers off

And this is what he said

Happy Christmas little girl

I’ve unwrapped this gift for you

So, take this gift with pleasure

To make your wish come true

Because Santa comes but once a year

And tonight, he comes with you

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 597

 

England adopted the Julian calendar

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 35

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all thru the place

Not a creature was stirring

With not a sound nor a trace

The whole family were next door

Where to their utter disgrace

With the neighbour’s away

They were robbing the place