Christmas memories of my sisters

Welcome to my Christmas special blog. Hopefully you will have done all your shopping, got presents wrapped and the turkey defrosted so you can relax at home with your feet up ready for the big day... No? me neither. I'm sure everything will get sorted just in time....but that's something to do with having a wonderful wife (what a creep)

I've been searching high and low for some suitable Christmassy pictures for this post. Trouble is we never really took many pictures at Christmas. I'm not sure why? Probably because we were so excited we just forgot. So anyway, I have been promising some of you more pictures of my childhood, and as it's Christmas I've included some of my favourite one's. There's a few of Mum and Dad too.....and as a treat ?.. for all my mates, I've included the worst ever, ever, ever times infinity, picture of me. I must be feeling brave. Hope you enjoy.

Our Christmas tree earlier today

As a kid I used to love Christmas. I got so excited from about the middle of November. Does anyone else remember how time seemed to stand still when you were very young? At the beginning of December, Christmas was an age away. The days ticked by soooooo verrrry slowwwwly. I remember the last day at Primary school before we broke up for Christmas was always good fun. It signalled that Christmas was almost here. Mums were asked to make a particular dish (cakes or buns or sandwiches) in and we would have a party with hats and balloons. Each year-group had their own party and at one stage Mum was sending three of us in with different baskets of food. Harvey wasn't old enough  for school at that stage.

 Me, Janet and a friend (I'm the one in the middle btw)

A 'just walking' Erika. That's my Grandad (Dads side) in the background

also framing the shot wasn't top on the photographers skill set back then. 

Harv and me at the IOM TT - cool cardigan!

By then, Christmas was almost upon us and I could hardly contain myself. I am sure Janet, Erika and Harvey were the same too.

We were allowed to ask Santa for one 'big' present as we called it. So the four of us would endlessly look through the Littlewoods catalogue for ideas(remember those) and watch all the adverts on iTV (remember when there was only one channel with adverts? wow how times have changed). We would make lists as long as your arm (why as long as your arm?) Then with some very tough decisions, whittle the list down to just one present. However, you were never sure you were going to get that present mind. I can still picture my Dad looking at the list one year and saying "you can forget that...a (kids) motorbike?...I'm not getting....err Santa won't be bringing that!". So, all dejected I had to go back to the list and choose something a little more sensible....like a 'do it yourself surgery kit' (just joking) Anyway it was a good life lesson having to prioritise and compromise with 'Santa' to get the present we wanted, or more accurately  what we were given.

 Mum with Janet in Gran and Grandads back garden

Dad and Janet with Gran and Grandad (Mums side)

Its funny but there is a smell that reminds me of Christmas eve. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, when I smell fresh gloss paint, especially when a room is warm, I think of Christmas. It was one Christmas eve that Dad decided to re-gloss the skirting boards at home. I'm not sure why? We might have had visitors due and he wanted to spruce the place up a bit. I can vividly remember the smell in the bedroom as I longed for the morning to come round, listening out for Santa and not getting a wink of sleep.

On Christmas eve all four of us kids had a pact that we would wake each other up once Santa had gone. I don't think any of us ever slept at any point on Christmas Eve night. I think we were only really waiting till such point that we were not going to get seriously told off by Mum and Dad. It would begin by  whispering to each other something like "Harv....do you reckon Santa's been yet." Harvey was in the bunk bed below. As soon as he knew I was up for going down stairs he was out of bed. "lets go get Janet and Erika" Harv would say. "Ok you creep over the landing and get them" as he knew we would be in for it if Mum and Dad heard us. I reckon it was usually about 3.30 to 4am when we crept across the landing. As soon as I pushed the door I could hear the girls. They were already up and ready to attempt the creeky stairs. Looking back I am sure Mum and Dad could hear us. We were rubbish at being quiet.

My favouritest picture of Janet in the whole wide world bar none

I don't think there was anything in the world that could compare with the excitement of Christmas morning. Wondering what presents lay in store for you in the living room. Mum and Dad would make four neat piles on the settee and arm chairs and as we opened the door and switched the lights on there was always a squeal of delight from the girls as they saw their presents for the first time.

 Mum looking lovely on honeymoon

Dads honeymoon joke. A clip round the ear soon followed

However one year still stands out in my memory and for a couple of reasons. We had all crept down stairs and discovered our presents as usual. Janet, Erika and Harvey had all found their 'Big' present and were full of smiles and giggles. But I didn't seem to have one. I was distraught. I searched all around the cushions and under the settee but there was no present from Mum and Dad. I took myself off to bed sobbing my heart out. I was thinking that no one loved me any more (are you feeling sorry for me yet?). Anyway, what I will always remember is Erika coming in my room, putting her arm around me and and saying "Brian, please don't cry, it must be somewhere" I just cried more.

Well with all the commotion Dad had got up and found my present. It had fallen down the inside of the settee (where all the coins go). It was a digital watch and I was made up. I had that watch for years. It was a Casio and it played "the Yellow Rose of Texas" when the alarm went off. Happy days............!

Once we had opened presents from Uncles and Aunty's we were all pretty bushed and to be honest I don't remember the Christmas dinners too much. I think all four of us were ready for bed by lunchtime but we were happy as could be. I do remember having Canada dry to drink. I used to love Canada dry ginger ale. It was 'beer for children', as Dad would say. I always wanted to try some of Dad's Harp lager but Mum would put a block on that idea. So the ginger ale was a good compromise. Those were magical times.

Beer for children...Innocent days

 Don't you find that as you get older the magic of Christmas seems to fade a little more as each year goes by? I think it starts when you find out that Father Christmas doesn't exist and you wonder why your parents shamelessly lied to you for all those years about some chubby bloke from Lapland in a red jump suit. I should have realised that Santa was never ever going to get down our chimney, as Dad had blocked it over years before. That and the elaborate hoaxed mince pie with a bite out of it and footprints made with icing sugar on the hearth. For a start, Santa lets face it, with his tummy must like his grub, so there was no way he was going to half eat anything. And why was there snow on the hearth? there was never any outside. Don't get me started on the carrot for Rudolph! What was he doing trying to come down the chimney? He's  got four legs and weighs about half a tonne... and what about all the other reindeers? they never got anything. Santa should be reported to the RSPCA!

Anyway enough of the Santa conspiracy theories. From Rosemary, myself and Monty. Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Let's hope we can raise loads of money for Ataxia UK.

Me Mosery n Moo

Yes ok, there's another shot too. You thought I'd forgotten hadn't you!

Well here goes. Scroll down

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

is it me or is it a gangly young Frank Spencer?

I am going to get some stick for this picture

Well I reckon that picture alone is worth a donation. What do you think? If you would like to donate you can click directly on this link just giving

BTW. My New Years resolution is to sort out my grammar and punctuation. Years of texting and email autocorrect have made me very lazy with my English. I also promise to stop using brackets (or parenthesis my American nephew calls it) lol.