Christmas

How Santa is destroying Christmas for our kids…

November 19, 2025 By Ellen 4 Comments

I dithered about allowing Boy Three to go to his after school club’s Christmas Party – and here’s why… Claus for concern pic: Kevin Dooley via Flickr It’s supposed to be magical. Children waiting for the kindly, bearded chap to deliver their heart’s desire into an old sock on Christmas Eve. Then they ooh and […]

Light Show – 100 words

November 10, 2023 By Ellen

Light Show They’re putting up the town decorations again – a giant gift, angel and stars all folded on the lorry. 45 days to go and the twinkling of jingles and holly is already scratchy. All I Want For Christmas is not to hear this song every time I prowl the aisles. The men […]

Not waiting for the 12th night – 100 words

January 3, 2023 By Ellen

Not waiting for the 12th night It’s time to say goodbye: To the tinsel, too naff for the tree, too scratchy for the neck To the single cracker To the unsent cards, drawn by a six-year-old, sold by the PTA To the optimistic baubles, a new one every year To the Santa hat with […]

Aftermath – 105 words

January 5, 2022 By Ellen

Aftermath. They went back into their box, the shiny balls and sparkly strings, the lights, the red and green, and all the things no one believes in. Someone asked ‘Who made this one?’ A daubed reindeer, it’s glitter balding. It was a hopeful child, certain that He would bring the gifts and make the magic. […]

Postcards from Christmas in Norway

January 3, 2022 By Ellen

Airport anxiety. There’s a line of people, shuffling and peering forward. Is it the right queue? Where should I be? What’s happening? Bladders are full, bellies are empty, smokers need nicotine and children whinge. Not just children. We like our plans to unroll exactly as we, well, planned them. So then, why are we in […]