A public service announcement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4GHQkKwHa0

Yikes!!!

Holiday party with 'Ol Pookers tonight...

My primary job as his loving, supportive spouse???

Keep Eric from drinking so much holiday punch that before the party ends, he offers up his rendition of Cher singing Oh Holy Night.

(As long as I am the one driving home, I am fine with him singing it in the car after the party. Eric really does a very good Cher.)

Angela, I think you married a mimic, I used to do a pretty good Richard M. Nixon...

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Christmas is complicated.
For instance if you are a vegan/vegetarian since we tend to eat a lot of meat at that time.
I'm not so I started to see a small TV serie called "The Lusts Of The Flesh".

Part 1 of 3. Henrik Schyffert is the typical ambivalent carnivore. Like many of us, he eats meat to virtually every meal, while more and more arguments say he should not. Can he get to know an animal and eat it? Henrik is challenged by his son to get to know a pig and then kill and eat it. If he fails, he must stop eating meat altogether. Henrik assumes the challenge and start out as an apartment pig farmer.

Maybe I will become a vegetarian after all:)

.....Maybe I will become a vegetarian after all:)

Wait until someone makes you the stereotypical 'nut roast' or pretend 'haggis'....

You'll soon return to chomping down on animal flesh.

I'm with Angela here... Celebrations can be a pain in the bum :)

.....Maybe I will become a vegetarian after all:)

Wait until someone makes you the stereotypical 'nut roast' or pretend 'haggis'....
You'll soon return to chomping down on animal flesh.
I'm with Angela here... Celebrations can be a pain in the bum :)

Hehe. Haggis is called Pölsa here but that dish is never served on our Smörgåsbord at Christmas.

Anyway. Kids still loves Christmas celebration.
Not so complicated to them.
As long they ate their porridge so they can get their presents....

Anyway. Kids still loves Christmas celebration.
Not so complicated to them.
As long they ate their porridge so they can get their presents....

I actually do love Christmas even if I think it is a pain in the pants.

.. and when I see the surprise in the young ones eyes in my life opening a gift it all makes sense.

"Porridge Before Presents" sounds like an excellent rule for all of us. :)

I like my porridge made with water and on top a little splash of milk and a trickle of honey.

(I know... I am an imperfect vegetarian. I steal milk from calfs and I nick honey from bees.. Mmm.)


Hey moomin have you heard of 'First Aid Kit'? They are superb. Sisters and souls.

I liked their tribute to Leonard Cohen...

I liked their tribute to Leonard Cohen...

Hmm...
That one is blocked by SVT due to publishing rights according to the message I get.
Rather strange if SVT is true because that's the national TV broadcaster over here.

Anyway back to kids.
Zat You, Santa Claus?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3TXwWANFbM
Who's there? Who is it stopping for a visit?
'Zat you, Santa Claus?
Are you bringing a present for me,
Something pleasantly pleasant for me?
Then it's just what I've been waiting for.
Would you mind slipping it under the door?

Why just after celebrating Thanksgiving a custom introduced by the Puritans* that landed at Plymouth Rock, do Americans celebrate Christmas?

* In 1659 the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay Colony actually banned Christmas.
This was just following what had happened in the UK since the Scottish Kirk banned Christmas in the 1640's.

I liked their tribute to Leonard Cohen...

Hmm...
That one is blocked by SVT due to publishing rights according to the message I get.
Rather strange if SVT is true because that's the national TV broadcaster over here.

If you are using the internet in Sweden then it's possible your local companies (those that have control or financial benefit) may have the power to block your ability to watch local content or connect to a wider world that reflects back your own culture.

I am a bit surprised as here in the UK we suffer quite lot of government issues with the internet. The department of work and pensions pops up a lot when browsing certain (legal) websites. I didn't expect someone else within the EU to say they suffered social control.

All I can suggest is do what a soul needs to to hear a song by another and try Tor Browser.. It's portable so if it doesn't work just delete the folder.

One way or another.

I liked their tribute to Leonard Cohen...

Hmm...
That one is blocked by SVT due to publishing rights according to the message I get.
Rather strange if SVT is true because that's the national TV broadcaster over here.

If you are using the internet in Sweden then it's possible your local companies (those that have control or financial benefit) may have the power to block your ability to watch local content or connect to a wider world that reflects back your own culture.

I am a bit surprised as here in the UK we suffer quite lot of government issues with the internet. The department of work and pensions pops up a lot when browsing certain (legal) websites. I didn't expect someone else within the EU to say they suffered social control.

All I can suggest is do what a soul needs to to hear a song by another and try Tor Browser.. It's portable so if it doesn't work just delete the folder.

One way or another.

Got it:)
https://www.svtplay.se/video/15581229/first-aid-kit-tolkar-cohen-pa-dramaten/first-aid-kit-tolkar-cohen-pa-dramaten-avsnitt-1
Only in Sweden sorry to say.

When Leonard Cohen passed away in November 2016, First Aid Kit sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg decided to make a tribute concert to their idol. They invited a number of Swedish artists and actors to interpret the Canadian singer and poet in word and tone. It became a peculiar and refined performance at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm. Playing Susanne, Sisters of Mercy, Hallelujah and So Long, Marianne.

Got it:)
https://www.svtplay.se/video/15581229/first-aid-kit-tolkar-cohen-pa-dramaten/first-aid-kit-tolkar-cohen-pa-dramaten-avsnitt-1
Only in Sweden sorry to say.

When Leonard Cohen passed away in November 2016, First Aid Kit sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg decided to make a tribute concert to their idol. They invited a number of Swedish artists and actors to interpret the Canadian singer and poet in word and tone. It became a peculiar and refined performance at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm. Playing Susanne, Sisters of Mercy, Hallelujah and So Long, Marianne.

The poetry stuff is rather dark. (Kind of Celtic - From my perspective.)

It does fit together though and the songs (in particular Suzanne) are sung by angels.

I like the glockenspiel and notes in the background.

The poetry stuff is rather dark. (Kind of Celtic - From my perspective.)
It does fit together though and the songs (in particular Suzanne) are sung by angels.
I like the glockenspiel and notes in the background.

I guess we are rather off topic here.
So back to Christmas complications.
Here we celebrate Saint Lucia's Day at december 13th.
Lucia who according to legend brought "food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs" using a candle-lit wreath to "light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy%27s_Day
Very odd to celebrate an Italian Saint.
And to sing a Napoliatan fisher song to her:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul24itfobYQ

In Trieste kids expect gifts on December 6, San Nicolo', St.Niklaus, Santa Claus.
Tullio

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Right, I'm off to write my letter to Santa...

Santa?
No. You must be talking about "Tomten".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisse_(folklore)#Modern_Tomte
In case you have forgot his adress it is:

Tomten
173 00 Tomteboda
Sweden

It's a true adress, really, and every kid who post to Tomten will get a reply from him :)

Sent mine last week 1st Class to Lapland.

Yes. Lapland is where he lives.
Tomten’s post office has received letters from 199 countries and he receives hundreds of thousands every year.
Tomten can be reached at the following address:
Santa Claus,
Santa Claus’s Main Post Office,
96930 Napapiiri,
Finland.

When you stop believing in Santa, you start getting underwear for Christmas. (And I don't mean the naughty type!)

North pole location:

Magnetic: Heading for Russia...
Geographic: Arctic Ocean.

Santa would have to be located on the biggest island near the Geographic North Pole, hopefully He is helping to feed some of the starving polar bears there...

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I'm not a big lover of religion or faith in any of it's forms, they seems to create so much misunderstanding and panic in the ranks if you're unwilling to follow their chosen path. But I fully understand that many get solace and comfort from their faith...but me.. I'm happy wandering in the wilderness with my moral compass to guide me...

I love celebrations. I do wonder if I am a bit perverse for liking the idea that we all come together in a great train wreck of tangled mess in the center..

It's never about Christmas.. It's about pudding and may be more about if we care about each other and ourselves enough so we no longer cling to ideas like 'me'....

Crike

y....I've rambled a bit...not like me....and a serious post to boot...I'll have to have a lie down..

I raise a glass to friends, to those no longer with us, that are always in our hearts....

Right, I'm off to write my letter to Santa...

I hope you have been a good boy!

moomin.

If this is your idea of Christmas - then count me in :)

What do the men and boys have to do?

:)