Christmas decorations For some reason the working-class need to start early in their expression of Christmas. After the final 'fizz, crackle and pop' of Guy Fawkes and little Dale has lobbed his last soggy Airbomb Repeater through an old person postbox the sink estate continues its iridescent blaze as the Christmas bulbs are dusted down for the annual light show spectacular as the National Grid begins to groan. Garden trees will be strangled by pulsating fairy lights whilst huge plastic Santa Clause park up in the front garden with the old mattress and busted toys awaiting a good kicking by passing drunks. Dave at number seven has gone all out with his ...  Read the complete review

===CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS=== I am sure most of us will have Christmas traditions of one sort or another. Some will have come from our own childhoods and have been altered, added to or adapted when we reached adulthood. ===CHILDHOOD CHRISTMASES=== Having one sister much older than myself I was often a sort of 'only child', through she would try and make it home for Christmas Day. Not having a car or relatives living in close proximity our Christmas was always spent with just myself, my sister before she had her own family, and our parents. Decorations were always put up three weeks before Christmas - and even today I ...  Read the complete review

When I was young it seemed like families had more traditions. For instance in my grandparents house, the evening meal was served at 5:00, every night. Never 5:05, always on the dot. You showed up reasonably clean, sat politely while the food was brought out, shared in pleasant conversation, and helped clear away after your meal. This was not optional, you couldn't say you just eat later,and of course microwaves were non existent. There were other traditions, big or small, like pocket money on a Friday, Church on Sunday, etc... But now we tend to take things as they come. That's OK sometimes, I'll admit, my children eat whenever they feel hungry, and if that ...  Read the complete review