Christmas's humble beginnings a sharp contrast to today's excesses
Julian's View • Published 15 Dec 2011 09:30
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The economic recession is something that has been on everybody's mind for the past number of years. There is no one who can't argue the fact that times are tough, and this will be a hard Christmas for many. We can blame who we like, however this is a global problem and it's not going away fast.
It's fair to say that many of us have become a little paranoid, especially with the banks. I heard a story recently of an old man who walked into a bank in Ballyconnell, he demanded to speak to someone. He was taken into an office to meet the bank manager, he informed the bank manager that he had lost trust in banks and wanted to withdraw all his money, about €10,000 altogether. The bank manager told the old man that this would be a very unwise decision, that if he were to walk out of the bank with that sort of money it would be a major security risk. The old man said he didn't care and insisted he wanted his money. Again the bank manager pleaded with the man, telling him how it would be "highly irregular to give any customer €10,000 in cash just like that". The old man looked at him and said "listen boyo, it's my money and I want it now", with deep regret but with no alternative the bank manager opened a safe and put €10,000 cash on the table. He said to the old man, "okay then sir, I'll need you to fill out a few forms before you can leave with all this". The old man looked at him and said "aw don't worry about all that, I just wanted to make sure you still had it". He stood up and left the manager's office.
That is a true story, it may sound silly, yet it does show how people have lost trust in banks. It is hard to believe that you could put money into an account, and that the bank could literally lose it all, yet it has happened. The question is how do we get out of this financial mess?
Well that's a question every politician would love to answer, and a question that every financial advisor thinks they can answer, but the reality is that there is no quick fix, no one has the answer and this mess will take time to get sorted out.
Christmas is just over a week away and by now most people have bought most, or at least some of their Christmas presents. It is also possible though that you are like me, leave buying anything for Christmas until about 5.20pm on Christmas Eve. Last year I forgot to buy any cards to go with the presents, so I had to make up a piece of tat on the computer, but sure it's the thought that counts.
I have to admit, like most children, as a child I was spoiled at Christmas. The thought of getting all these presents of a man in a big red suit was nearly too much to cope with. I remember when Sky TV first came out; I decided I wanted it for Christmas. This would involve Santa coming into my house on Christmas Eve, setting up the Sky box and wiring it to a satellite dish outside, and this would be ready for me when I woke up on Christmas morning. As one can imagine this was a problem and Santa had to set it up a few days before Christmas when I wasn't at home. I remember Sky was a big deal at this time and lots of people were getting it installed. There was an old man who lived down the road from us on his own; he said he was watching Sky for years before anyone had it, he was asked "how was this?" "Well" he said "there is a hole in my bedroom ceiling".
It was great though, waking up on Christmas morning with all the presents under the tree. I always left out a glass of milk and a few biscuits for Santa on Christmas Eve. The following morning the glass of milk was empty and most of the biscuits were eaten, except for the wafers. Santa didn't like wafers. I always remember this because the only other person I knew that didn't like wafers was my dad, strange coincidence I guess.
Most will agree though because of the financial mess this year, people have had to cut back a little, and maybe that's not a bad thing.
On Sunday night I attended the Enniskillen District Lodge Carol Service in Trory Parish Church. At the back of the Church was a model of the nativity scene. It made me think of the very humble origins of Christmas, and how nowadays it is so over commercialised that its true meaning quite often gets lost in the rush. For me it was nice to attend the Service on Sunday night with my family and friends and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
One part of the Christmas celebrations that won't change is Christmas dinner. Luckily for me my mum is an excellent cook, and each year provides us with an exquisite Christmas dinner. I think most people will agree on this, there is simply nothing in this world that tastes as good as your mum's Christmas dinner.
Turkey is the traditional meat at Christmas, each year I sit outside in the car as my mum lines up in the queue at Stewarts Butchers to get the turkey. Each year it reminds me of a story my Granny use to tell me. A lady went into a butchers shop on Christmas Eve many years ago. She asked the butcher did he have any turkeys left for Christmas?
The butcher said "well mam you have left it quite late, but I might have something in the back, the lady said "great go and get it for me". The butcher went into the back grabbed a turkey and brought it out to show the lady. "There you go mam, will that do you?" The lady looked at it and said "Awk it's a bit small, I have a big crowd coming for diner tomorrow, I don't think that would do the job".
The butcher looked at her and said "okay I might have one more, a bigger one, I'll go and get it". So again the butcher went into the back with the turkey. The problem was the butcher only had this one turkey left, so he stretched it as much as possible and made it look a bit bigger.
He brought it back out and showed the lady, "well mam that's the only other one I have is that big enough"? The lady looked at it and said "yes that's great, I'll take that".
The butcher smiled and said "okay I'll wrap it up for you".
The lady smiled and said: "Thanks and sure seeing I've got this big crowd coming tomorrow, I will take the other smaller turkey as well"!
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