In common with a lot of other people at this time of year I’m going to take a couple of days off. After all during the Christmas period most people will be scoffing turkey and mine pies and few people are going to want to be bothered reading about stuff like the savagery of Pakistan, how Afghanistan is heading back to the seventh century, the latest in a long line of failings by the Met and other police forces or what’s the latest lie from Boris Johnson about his party perambulations.
So I’m taking a few days off to have a laugh with my family, get up close and personal with some alcohol (although hopefully not as up close and personal as a former Duke of Clarence was alleged to have been) and watch some old movies such as Dambusters, a Bridge Too Far and The Desert Fox along with some other classic movies.
I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas whatever you are doing and wherever and whoever you are. I’d like to thank everyone for reading the words that I write or the words that I find. I’d especially like to thank all those who comment on this blog and I’d like to say that all your contributions are very much appreciated.
Depending on HQ or the Hangover Quotient, normal service may be resumed on Boxing Day (or thereabouts).
In the meantime here is this classic Christmas song spoof from those behind the Israeli comedy programme Latma TV.
I do love a bit of black humour.
So do I which is why Jihad Bells goes up every Christmas. I like some of the Latma TV stuff as they get away with jokes that they just would not be able to get away with in the UK, such as mocking jihadist terrorists for example.
As an aside this year my boy’s school managed to put on a Nativity Play despite all the corona panic which must have been a challenge for the teachers and I have to say the school did really well. Apparently the little ones had to be told repeatedly by the teachers prior to the play that the kids had to stay on the stage and not climb down to run to their Mummies and Daddies, we found that out as Laughing Boy kept telling us that this is what the teacher’s said. My son played a shepherd and I was really impressed by how hard he worked to learn the songs and movements that he had to do especially as he likes performing but is not too sure about people looking at him while he is performing (oh the logical confusion of six year olds LOL). We also got a chance to trot out a well known Jewish joke about the Jewish boy at the Catholic school who got the part of Joseph in the Nativity Play. He ran home all excited to tell his Mum that he’d been given the part of a Jewish husband. His mum then told her son to go back to the teacher and ask for a speaking part.
I play the piano for my own amusement and basically just practice by myself. This tends to be a problem because if I have to perform in front of even a tiny audience I generally fall apart and make a total hash of it. So I can identify.
I was also reminded of Tim Minchin’s Peace Anthem For Palestine:
“We don’t eat pigs and you don’t eat pigs,
Seems it’s been that way forever.
So if we don’t eat pigs and you don’t eat pigs,
Why not not eat pigs together?”
I used to play backing guitar with a pub / village hall band decades ago but I wouldn’t dream of going on stage with a guitar now. I just want to sit and tinker with it. I could probably get up and do a talk but I’d want copious notes with me at least for reference. I was very impressed with LB managing to conquer his fears of being in front of an audience. He’s normally frighteningly fearless in most things but not about public performance. I secretly think that he enjoyed the applause though.
Yes like the Minchin thing.
Merry Christmas, thanks for all the interesting postings.
Thank you. Any boxing day or monday spelling errors from me should be put down to residual alcohol
Public speaking never bothered me. My work often required me to have to educate colleagues about various aspects of engineering. In my past I was a martial arts instructor. I’m sure that it is all about confidence.
Wishing you, and those close to you, a very enjoyable christmas period.
Thank you for all the effort you put in to making this blog interesting, entertaining and relevant.