CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE HOSTELRY

 

The local hostelries are full

As they approach the brink

And raise their glasses high

For yet another festive drink

The season roundly toasted

Measured by each glasses chink

The next morning’s celebration

Will be a silent one I think

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE NIGHT POND

 

After suffering the loss of his best friend Charlie (Joe Perry) on Christmas Eve, sixteen year old Bobby Whiteside (Kristian Wang), has to endure his father Cole (Ryan Northcott) leaving home and most cope with an uneasy home life where he constantly argues with his mother Sarah (Anne Hawthorne) and brother Jeremy (Jayson Therrien).
Feeling that the world is against him he thinks his best option is to leave the township where all his torments reside and is prepared to forsake his family, even his little sister Roxie, (Maddie Dixon-Poirier) who is the only one of the family that he has a decent relationship with.

But one night he venture out onto the lake where he and Charlie played countless games of winter hockey and while clearing the surface ice away he makes a shocking discovery, something magical, a perfectly groomed hockey rink, that appears only at night and only in his presence.

But when a local construction company purchases the surrounding land for development Bobby joins forces with his high school crush, Karen (Siobhan Williams) to rally the town in opposition to the plans, and then play one last game on the night pond, with an old friend.

This is a great story, brilliantly acted, exquisitely directed by Jack Kissack, and made in a darker and bleaker tone than the more traditional Christmas offerings and is well worth a watch, but give it a miss if you're looking for a Happy Christmas sugar fix.

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

RUSH AND SCURRY

 

Hurry, hurry shopping in Surrey

Hurry, hurry, rush and scurry

Worry, worry, fresh snow flurry

Hurry Murray rush and scurry

Let’s get home and have a curry

SOAP TRADITION

 

Christmas is all about traditions

But they evolve across the years

Some fall from favour all together

Then new ones seem to appear

 

This is certainly the case

Of one of the more recent traditions

To the familiar Christmas fare

The TV soaps festive additions

 

This is when the tired old plot line

That’s simmered away since June

Suddenly explodes in your face

And not a moment too soon

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (2006)

When Norbert and Madeline Bridges (Matt McCoy and Jane Sibbett) and their children move to a small town, the first thing they do is have a mixer to meet the neighbours.

Amongst others they meet the Manning’s, Donnie and Irene (Adam Ferrara and Carol Alt) and an inebriated Donnie starts boasting about the upcoming annual Christmas Decoration contest, and Psychologist Norbert see an opportunity to gather important material for the book he is writing on human behaviour, and throws down the gauntlet.

As a result it very quickly gets out of hand, involving lies, manipulation and spying and when it reaches its peak there is only one solution and that is to ban Christmas.

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