N Gauge Forum

Not long to go now that we are well into December and Xmas is in the air.

I am not a religious person (normally only go to church for Weddings & Funerals), but I do enjoy the carol singing we always have in our Complex Reception area on Xmas Eve, when residents (& holidaymakers) come together to enjoy the atmosphere and sample the free Sangria, sausage rolls, and mince pies on offer. I always act as DJ for the occasion and after the carol singing play all the popular Xmas hit songs.

I try and put aside any differences I might have had with others just before and during Xmas week, and my wife and I try and be pleasant to everyone we come across, even though they may have done or said some not very nice things during the year.

My birthday is December 11th, and that is when I really get into the Xmas mood, and the festivities last a long time here as the Canarians themselves make more of an issue of the 3 Kings Day (January 6th), the day before (Jan 5th which happens also to be our Wedding Anniversary) the 3 Kings parade through the streets on camels throwing sweets to all the children, and this is followed by a big Fireworks display (despite Fireworks having also been previously set off at Midnight on New Years Eve).

My son's birthday is in fact on Xmas Day itself, and we have a number of other relatives who also have birthdays around Xmas time, so it is an expensive period but well worth it.

On Xmas Day in our complex Father Xmas (Papa Noel) rings his bell and appears at the Poolside and hands out presents to all the children (of all Nationalities), accompanied by his little helpers dressed in Elf costumes (including my wife), but he is glad to get out of his costume at the end as it is usually a hot day.

My birthday is this Friday, and besides going out for a celebratory meal in the evening, I am going to open a bottle of one of my favourite wines for lunch that I have been saving for the occasion.

All the decorations are now up, both at home and all around the complex, and planes seem to be landing every 30 seconds at Tenerife South Airport bringing holidaymakers  who like to enjoy their Xmas in the Sun, and our complex is totally booked up for the Xmas/New Year period, and we are looking forward to meeting again the people who come back year after year at this time and stay in our rental apartments. Before they go back to the U.K. they nearly always book again for the same period the following year.

Most people do seem in a better (more festive) mood here this time of year, and I think the good weather helps, but I do sympathise with thoses who are suffering the cold and floods that the U.K. is currently experienceing right now.

I have posted it before elsewhere - but I am going to do so again here as it is more appropriate. The pictures at the top of the card were taken in our former Glan Conwy village & home at Xmas, the ones at the bottom show Castle Harbour at Xmas some years ago, since then the Reception area and our Apartment have both been revamped considerably.

Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year (Feliz Navidad & Feliz Ano Nuevo) to one and all.
PS. Decided to also add some further Xmas photos taken around our complex last year.

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Sundry%20and%20Miscellaneous/Xmascard2009.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Sundry%20and%20Miscellaneous/Xmascard2009.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/D1.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/D1.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/D4.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/D4.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2749.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2749.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2776.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2776.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2778.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2778.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2793.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2793.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2813.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2813.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2827.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Xmas%20in%20Castle%20Harbour/IMG_2827.jpg.html)

It means someone can't spell  ;)

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 09, 2015, 06:05:01 PM
It means someone can't spell  ;)

Quite right everyone knows its spelt Crithmath.  ???

It's simply a time of commercialism where various organisations  try to sell you a lot of stuff that isn't needed and they usually end up succeeding because other people expect you to buy it.

It's not even a true religious festival. Historical evidence was that Jesus was born around Easter time. However due to dwindling numbers the Christians of the time (around the 10th century) changed the date to end of December to take advantage of the solstice, and other end of year pagan festivals, to piggyback off the festivities already existing.

So bah humbug from me, it means nothing of consequence, but I do celebrate solstice and new year.

Wow, good on you firefox, that really is bah humbug.

I agree with Firefox too, plus I get increasingly annoyed at continuous carols on radio and in shops.

I will spend the day alone as I do most days, so to me it's just another day.

I absolutely detest Christmas (or Consumerfest as I think of it) - a time of pointless gluttony and consumerism, when people feel compelled to spend money they don't have on crap for people who don't really want it anyway; A time for arguments when families are forced together with nowt to do but irritate each other as the world stops for the day. It is so ubiquitous that it's very difficult to avoid it entirely, although I do the best I can! For the past good few years I've made a point of going to work on the 25th December (it's a good time to do work on the network servers).

One aspect which I find particularly inexplicable is this whole 'Christmas Market' thing. Until a few years ago the one in York was just one weekend, but now it drags on for about six weeks and hordes of people come for the opportunity to buy overpriced tat from modified garden sheds. Weird.

I'm sure I will get labelled as 'Scrooge' (not for the first time!), but I've no wish to stop people doing whatever they want - what I object to is the way it is imposed on everyone - the crap music, the false joviality, the 'celebration' although nobody is sure quite what they are celebrating. The default is opt-in and if you want to opt out you have to make a point of doing so.

'Ex' means former or Has been...

'Mass' means the property of an object most erroneously refer to as 'Weight'

therefore 'Ex-mass' or in text shorthand 'Xmas' is something or someone that has lost weight...  :hmmm:

Must mean me then cos I've lost weight!!

Anyway, seriously guys, why sooo grumpy? Whatever commercial nonsense is going on is a sideline to what it is all about for me - Family, friendship and FUN. It has been a very difficult year for all sorts of reasons in our household and we are looking forward to getting together to relax and enjoy each other's company. I have nearly 3 weeks off this time so may even get in some model making during the break - a win win situation!!

Best wishes and (dare I say)
    MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!!!

Simon

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 09, 2015, 06:05:01 PM
It means someone can't spell  ;)

The word 'Xmas'  actually dates back to the 16th century, it supposedly was used as an abbreviation to save space by those writing manuscripts as vellum was costly. It is not a modern commercial term.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas

I'm a mine of useless information.

...and there was me thinking this was a friendly Forum, and members would be in a happy mood at "Navidad" (I'll say it in Spanish so I can't be accused of spelling it wrong!).  8)

LOL, you shouldn't ask questions if you're not prepared for honest answers  ::)  The majority of the world doesn't celebrate this, remember.

As Firefox says, it's not even at the right time of year.  It would seem that the old pagan festivals around the middle of winter were still more popular, and the then Pope decreed the move (no, I don't know which one, but I had thought it a bit earlier than the 10^th Century - possibly Constantine in the 330s ?), the old "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" routine ...  For anyone still convinced it's the right date - consider why the shepherds were watching their flocks  ::)  No doubt Ozzie Bill will be upset with me too (but then, he celebrates in the middle of his summer  :P).

I also agree with Scrooge of York David, in that things like the Christmas Markets go on for far too long ... Halloween hasn't even arrived by the time some of these arrive  :o  That's just commercialism trying to rip people off early.  And the tat that's sold in them ?  Just look at the German Market in Birmingham for prime examples  :thumbsdown:

After saying that - I'm taking over 2 weeks off work  ;)  What's the betting I'll be bored by Day 3  :headbutt:

I don't see what people's opinion of Christmas has to do with whether or not the forum is friendly and on that basis will keep my thoughts to myself :zippedmouth:
The only thing I'd suggest is if you think you won't like the answers, don't ask the question :no:

Quote from: newportnobby on December 09, 2015, 08:27:32 PM
I don't see what people's opinion of Christmas has to do with whether or not the forum is friendly and on that basis will keep my thoughts to myself :zippedmouth:
The only thing I'd suggest is if you think you won't like the answers, don't ask the question :no:

To my mind NN I think some topics are best avoided on a forum like this as they promote a range of emotive and sometimes very strong feelings. Such topics will almost guarantee conflict and bad feelings. I have strong feelings about Xmas (sorry for the spelling Mike Dunn) but would not inflict those feelings on this forum.
Anyway, I hope everyone gains much enjoyment from this end of year season. The most important thing is 'WE SHOULD ALL GET TO PLAY TRAINS.'
Seasons greetings to everyone!!

:beers:

Well I like Christmas and what it stands for. It is a great time and people are generally good to others at this time. The commercialism is too much but markets etc will only keep coming back if people spend money there. I like to buy nice things but don't normally spend massive amounts on presents.
Regardless of faith Christmas is a commemoration of the official birthday of a guy who did exist and gave airings to interesting ideals. These ideals include loving others as much as you love yourself, not judging others, not returning violence with violence. Sounds quite reasonable to me and quite advanced thinking for 2,000 years ago.

I totally agree, Bob, and would like to think my thoughts about Christmas don't make me an 'unfriendly' person. I'm glad those who work for a living have some time off and how they spend that time is up to them. As I am retired it is no holiday for me so perhaps carries less meaning anyway.
I'm still keeping schtum about what I think of Christmas, though.

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 09, 2015, 08:27:11 PMWhat's the betting I'll be bored by Day 3  :headbutt:

Errr ??? Why, has something terrible befallen your model railway ? !

Yeah, I need to find my mojo to get on with track laying  :thumbsdown:

Quote from: bridgiesimon on December 09, 2015, 07:57:54 PM
Anyway, seriously guys, why sooo grumpy? Whatever commercial nonsense is going on is a sideline to what it is all about for me - Family, friendship and FUN.

Exactly that :thumbsup:

Clare and I LOVE Christmas, favourite time of year in fact! All the brightly coloured lights and decorations, little festive events, and never tire of the cheesy old songs played over and over - Slade, Wizzard, etc :D

The commercialism only gets to you if you let it - this year is probably going to be the leanest and cheapest Christmas we've had since we've been together, but we're still looking forward to it just as much as ever as it's about being together and having fun 8)


Paul

Christmas: Eat too much, drink too much and argue with the relatives.

Also 'Bah! Humbug!' is a quote from a book about Christmas. So if threatened with good will, I just say 'No, thank you!'

Which is not to say that I don't enjoy a good singsong and a nice bit of turkey, just leave the religious baggage at the door.

Which, technically, I believe we're supposed to do here.

Jen and I have a very quiet Christmas. As I worked away for so many years, it is a bit of quality time we spend together. No relatives, no visitors until after Boxing Day. We have a lovely lunch, open a bottle or three of champagne and snooze through the Queen's speech. Lovely jubbly.

It means the Motheri in law coming for dinner.!!!
Bob

Quote from: Bob Tidbury on December 09, 2015, 11:15:05 PM
It means the Motheri in law coming for dinner.!!!
Bob

I always found a turkey had more meat on it, Bob :-X

Quote from: newportnobby on December 10, 2015, 01:21:00 AM

Quote from: Bob Tidbury on December 09, 2015, 11:15:05 PM
It means the Motheri in law coming for dinner.!!!
Bob

I always found a turkey had more meat on it, Bob :-X

You haven't seen his Mother in Law :laugh:


Paul

Christmas?
Hmmmm.
Nine days of Santa Specials which is manic but good fun.
A house full of wife, mother in law, youngest daughter and eldest daughter along with her family.
If I'm lucky I'll get to go out for a walk on my own.
Then I'll get to see the credit card bill and be told we can't afford any railway stuff.

 :laughabovepost:

Christmas to me is working six nights a week, 12 hr shifts, just so that the general public can keep the recycling going.

It's hard work organising all that paper to go through the right doors.

What's Christmas  mean to me I am now able to watch many Disabled children faces light up like Christmas tree thanks to some of you guys gifts of kindness and my local youth club   who the children truly have nothing or never even seen model trains Season greeting to one and all.mike

I think that says it all.

I am a Christian so for me Christmas is first and foremost about Jesus. Noting wrong with celebrating it on a different day to his actual birthday since we don't know for sure when that was anyway (and besides, the Queen gets 2 birthdays ;)).

I enjoy the festivities, food and family (although not the crass over-commercialisation) but for me, faith is the heart of it. I respect other people's beliefs (or lack thereof) and I do not claim that my way is right, just that it is right for me.

So please take your pick of the following salutations as best suits your mood.  :beers:

Merry Christmas
Happy Hanukkah
Merry Modelling
Happy Holidays
Happy new year
Bah Humbug

This is on my other railway - apologies for it not being the correct scale for this forum. I haven't tried it but I don't think you can run N gauge in real snow.

[smg id=32763 type=full align=center caption="xmas071"]

I do real ploughing as well. Apologies for going off topic as well as off scale!
[smg id=32765 type=preview align=center caption="DSC02918 (2)"]

We seem to be ahead of the game this year, for a change !

*  Christmas cards all posted on 1^st December (or was it the day before, so people got them on the 1^st ?  No matter !)
*  All presents for those other than SWMBO & myself bought, wrapped, and handed over
*  50% of the food shopping complete
*  "Special treats" hamper looks quite full !  Was empty last year until 22^nd !

And to cap it all - the turkey just went into the oven to cook !   :laugh3:

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:38:25 AM

And to cap it all - the turkey just went into the oven to cook !   :laugh3:

At roughly 20 minutes per lb, are you sure SWMBO hasn't bought an ostrich? :goggleeyes:
Mind you, I've heard it takes a week just to eat one of the drumsticks :laugh:

damn small ostrich then - it fit into a small bowl (albeit standing up  ::)) when carried into the kitchen after defrosting !

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:38:25 AM
*  Christmas cards all posted on 1^st December
,
the turkey just went into the oven to cook !   :laugh3:

NPN beat me to it,, then my internet crashed !
:laugh3:
I often do long slow roasts but that is stretching it a bit ?!

Two things about growing old and Xmas -
fewer cards to write
and no mother-in-law :(
We dont do turkey at Xmas cos we eat it quite often during the rest of the year, we usually have home grown (by daughter) goose, yummm.

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:54:22 AM
standing up 

Will NPN beat me to this one as well I wonder

Mike, you are supposed to kill them first.  :smiley-laughing: :o

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 11:08:06 AM
Mike, you are supposed to kill them first.  :smiley-laughing: :o

Oh, so that's why I'm pecked all over  :D

Nah, afraid you fell into my fiendish trap - where did I say it was the Christmas turkey ? :P

We went shopping the other night (see 3^rd bullet above  ::)) & ended up with a free whole frozen turkey - seeing as we already have the Christmas turkey breast in the freezer (alongside a nice joint of beef from Hereford), this was just a 'spare' ... so we're cooking it now to make pies etc we can freeze, without having the beastie taking up a whole drawer in the freezer.  Talk about left-overs  :smiley-laughing:

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 11:16:47 AMafraid you fell into my fiendish trap - where did I say it was the Christmas turkey ? :P
beef from Hereford

Nice one :) Actually I did suspect an elephant trap but thought it was going to be along the lines of the discussion about the real date and pagan festivals etc. !!

We did have Hereford (the breed) beef for Xmas for a few years, but daughter has stopped doing that, two much paperwork and testing and restrictions and stuff for a small hobby.

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:54:22 AM
damn small ostrich then - it fit into a small bowl (albeit standing up  ::)) when carried into the kitchen after defrosting !

Wouldn't you stand up so you could see over the rim of the bowl (note to fellow modellers - it is not hygienic to keep your turkey in the toilet :no:) to ascertain a heat source so you could get warm?

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 11:23:38 AM
We did have Hereford (the breed)

This is both - Hereford beef from Hereford  :thumbsup:  Used the butchers in the Indoor Market too.  Can't get much more local than that !  It probably travelled further to get to our freezer  :D

Indeed Karhedron.  The date of the celebration of Christ's birth in December was emerging by the 3rd century.  There are none in my own circles who have hangups about it either way.  so for me also it is a core faith event in the calendar.  And this year the privilege of preaching at the Christmas Eve Midnight Communion Service.  As well as handling the 2 following Sundays.

So for a greeting I will unashamedly draw from Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens seasonal novel

May God Bless Us All

Completely messed up here.  The Brussel sprouts were put on a low simmer on the 1st of September as per usual, now we are christmassing in the UK we find ourselves with nearly 1 cwt of semi cooked  accompaniments and no idea what to do.
Luckily Mrs "H" overslept that day so the turkey will not be ready until January 6th.
Help !!

I see your mistake.  Nothing this year should have started before November 22nd...Stir-up Sunday.

Unfortunately over here, the carols started in the stores on Labor Day (September 7th).

Quote from: Jerry Howlett on December 10, 2015, 03:05:16 PM
Completely messed up here.  The Brussel sprouts were put on a low simmer on the 1st of September as per usual, now we are christmassing in the UK we find ourselves with nearly 1 cwt of semi cooked  accompaniments and no idea what to do.
Luckily Mrs "H" overslept that day so the turkey will not be ready until January 6th.
Help !!

I believe the RAF are in the market for cluster munitions, Jerry :-X

 :laughabovepost:
Sounds more like biological warfare ?
I hope it is 1cwt mixed and not 1cwt sprouts else all of europe will be off to Sy elswhere !

1/2 hr ago I put a Guinea Fowl in the oven, but that will be long gone afore Xmas. Infact I expect it will all be gone in a couple or 3 hrs except the bones which will be in a stock tomorrow.
Yummy.

I should have the nieces around this year, which is nice.
I still think it should be moved to August... December is a silly time to be trying to travel across the country...  And back again...

Quote from: Luke Piewalker on December 10, 2015, 05:26:17 PM
I should have the nieces around this year, which is nice.
I still think it should be moved to August... December is a silly time to be trying to travel across the country...  And back again...

Cue the song Hi ho silver lining

It wouldnt be much of a mid-winter Solstice festival in August though  :worried:

Once the work is over I can relax for a whole four days this year, we are normally back to work the day after Boxing Day.

I tend to call it Yuletide, because that is what it was before the Christains wanted more people to have an imaginary friend.

I shall be doing all those pagan things, bringing in the holly and the Ivy, eating mince pies, etc etc.

Quote from: JasonBz on December 10, 2015, 05:37:26 PM
It wouldnt be much of a mid-winter Solstice festival in August though  :worried:

Yeah, but I wouldn't have to phone my dad on an hourly basis to time my run over Beattock Summit... And then do it all again for New Year...

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 05:42:54 PM
bringing in the holly and the Ivy, eating mince pies, etc etc.

soon followed by "first foot"-ing and carying lumps of coal here and there

hands up who remembers doing that ?

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 05:47:41 PM

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 05:42:54 PM
bringing in the holly and the Ivy, eating mince pies, etc etc.

soon followed by "first foot"-ing and carying lumps of coal here and there

hands up who remembers doing that ?

I thought the coal was a Scottish thing, because if you went visiting you were expected to provide some of the fuel for the fire

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 05:49:47 PM
I thought the coal was a Scottish thing, because if you went visiting you were expected to provide some of the fuel for the fire

Oh! I thought it was ammunition for our slingshots incase we met any Reivers !  /jest :)

Yes you are right  :claphappy: but I was brought up in Carlisle and there we had mixed allegiances and traditions ( not to mention parentage ! )

Edit
PS, some would say a lump of coal for a tot of whisky was a fair swap ? :)

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 07:01:44 PM

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 05:49:47 PM
I thought the coal was a Scottish thing, because if you went visiting you were expected to provide some of the fuel for the fire

Oh! I thought it was ammunition for our slingshots incase we met any Reivers !  /jest :)

Yes you are right  :claphappy: but I was brought up in Carlisle and there we had mixed allegiances and traditions ( not to mention parentage ! )

Edit
PS, some would say a lump of coal for a tot of whisky was a fair swap ? :)

Depends on the quality of the whiskey, can't abide that Teachers and Grants stuff they call Whiskey

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 07:16:49 PM
Depends on the quality of the whiskey, can't abide that Teachers and Grants  :censored: they call Whiskey

Perhaps a Mod would like to remove the gratuitous swearing that's pulled this thread down ?

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 07:25:32 PM

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 07:16:49 PM
Depends on the quality of the whiskey, can't abide that Teachers and Grants  :censored: they call Whiskey

Perhaps a Mod would like to remove the gratuitous swearing that's pulled this thread down ?

It's not a swear word, it's actually Anglo-Saxon/Olde English for animal manure.

I can assure you that my eight year old nephew hears worse than that in the school playground.

It might be an old Anglo Saxon word but it is one of a number of old Anglo Saxon words we do not allow on our family forum so has been removed.

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 07:33:34 PM, it's actually Anglo-Saxon/Olde English for animal manure.
I can assure you that my eight year old nephew hears worse than that in the school playground.

That may be so, but can he exersize judgement on where and when it should be used ?

Thank you Mike, and Caz for the edits
oops xxed with Caz whilst I was thinking on it.

Quote from: Caz on December 10, 2015, 07:46:10 PM
It might be an old Anglo Saxon word but it is one of a number of old Anglo Saxon words we do not allow on our family forum so has been removed.

Can you show me the list.

SMF is supposed to have a word censor, it may be a good idea to add it

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 05:47:41 PM

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 05:42:54 PM
bringing in the holly and the Ivy, eating mince pies, etc etc.

soon followed by "first foot"-ing and carying lumps of coal here and there

hands up who remembers doing that ?

:claphappy:  :claphappy:  :wave:

:beers:

Dave G

One advantage I find living in a block of retirement flats with an entry phone -  no :censored: "carol singers" hammering on the door, then shouting part of an out of tune version of "we wish you a merry Christmas" whilst holding out their  hands expecting money

Thankfully none of that here. We have organised events where people go along for an evening out and sit on the grass in front of a stage and sing along.

Mind you, it's summertime, innit.

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 08:15:24 PM
Can you show me the list.

SMF is supposed to have a word censor, it may be a good idea to add it

It does, but if you can't do as my Moderator tells you, you can get off of this forum.

Quote from: Graham Walters on December 10, 2015, 07:16:49 PM
Teachers and Grants (stuff) they call Whiskey

They dont, they call it Whisky.

Got to admit to being a little surprised at the number of Forum members who replied to this thread who seem to be anti-xmas (and I make no apologies for the shortened spelling).

Over here (in Tenerife) have yet to meet anyone who is not currently in a good mood  and looking forward to the holiday period.

As one poster said – seeing the delight on childrens faces on Xmas Day when they open their presents is a joy to behold.

Anyway, enough said, it's my birthday and I'm going to enjoy the day plus a nice meal out at sea front restaurant this evening, and tomorrow will be meeting up for a drink and a "chinwag" with an NGF member whom I haven't seen before who is out here on holiday.

My late brother in law was a Geordie.  He told us the first footings (including the lump of coal) was normal practice in South Shields at midnight New Years Eve (Hogmanay).  So not just a Scottish thing.  I suppose someone had to stay at home while the rest of each household went around each other!

Quote from: Portpatrick on December 11, 2015, 11:19:22 AM
My late brother in law was a Geordie.  He told us the first footings (including the lump of coal) was normal practice in South Shields at midnight New Years Eve (Hogmanay). 

Sorry - he was either a Geordie (ie Newcastle) or he was a Sand-dancer (South Shields) ... which was it ?  There is a considerable difference  :P

Sand-dancers tend to side with the Mackems, rather than the Geordies ... and yes, this is a tradition there.

Sorry to be pedantic, but if your late Brother-in-Law was from South Shields then he was a Sand Dancer and not a Geordie
On the first footing topic I remember my Father going out before Midnight with a bottle of whisky and a lump of coal. All the men would meet up in the street and avail themselves of the whisky before first footing after midnight, this was signalled by the River Tyne shipyard factory hooters being sounded.

Rob, Geordie and proud !!

Oh dear oh dear.  Got that one a bit wrong it seems.  Apologies to Geordies and Sand Dancers alike.

Never heard of the term "Sand Dancer" before.  But yes, Mike Henderson was brought up in South Shields so Sand Dancer he was - and a keen follower of Newcastle FC.  Mind you I cannot be sure where his father originated from if that is relevant.  But his parents (both well into their 80s) still live in South Shields.  I think he had been a pilot for one of the ship yards - or something of that ilk.

Still we seem to be agreed that the first footing tradition is not unique to the land of my father's mother, who was emphatically and proudly Scottish and not British to her dying day.  Which no doubt influences my interest in the railways of Scotland.

didn't Georges men get defeated in a Scots battle and on returning got as far as the Tyne . in the meantime the Jocks run down the west and came across country to the south of the Tyne , and wouldn't let the English cross - so having set home here the got the nickname Geordies (Georges men) , and then the Scots couldn't get back either so they settled down settled down in what became known as Sunderland - gaining the nick name Mackems !
so first footing (Whiskey an' all!) south of the Tyne ?

(me I'm a Smoggy !)

I really have no idea what you're drinking & smoking ...  ::)

AFAIK, "Geordie" is a pit-related term, whereas "Mackem" is a ship-making & sailing related term.

[edit]
Found a decent definition : see the top answer here  (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mackem)...  :thumbsup:

Can we get back to the original topic and keep this a happy thread please folks.

Yep, only about 3-4 of the last 15-20 posts related to what people
were doing at at Christmas.

For me Christmas means a celebration of the birth of a guy 2,000 years ago. It's up to individuals to decide whether they think he was the son of God but this guy did exist. His ideals form the basis of a lot of the laws and standards of the Western world. For me this means a time of contemplation about they way I live my life. Am I doing the right things, what should I do better etc.. I guess this gives rise to New Years resolutions.
It also means exchanging presents. This does not necessarily mean spending big money but it means thinking about the people you are giving to. For instance I have spent just £4 on a calendar for an old and dear friend. The calendar has photos of where we grew up when we grew up which makes it much more valuable than a £50 gift token.
It also means contacting friends I may not have seen since last Christmas and maybe having a glass or two of something together as we catch up.
When I was at work it also meant time to play trains but now I am retired I can do that any day.

Apologies for the extent to which I contributed to what some have felt went off topic.  Though my first intervention  some days ago was right on topic.

That said, as our family traditions were shared, it emerged that for some the festival period meant the first footing tradition.  To which I commented that my late brother in law followed that practice in South Shields.   He brought it with him when he came South!   At which point my broadly based understanding of who were actually Geordies was corrected!  So perhaps not so very off topic.

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 04:27:11 PM
:laughabovepost:
Sounds more like biological warfare ?
I hope it is 1cwt mixed and not 1cwt sprouts else all of europe will be off to Sy elswhere !

1/2 hr ago I put a Guinea Fowl in the oven, but that will be long gone afore Xmas. Infact I expect it will all be gone in a couple or 3 hrs except the bones which will be in a stock tomorrow.
Yummy.

No chance of Guinea Fowl, since the introduction of the Euro the Italians have been unable to create a suitable currency conversion to allow this bird to be sold in shops.  The 2700 Lira bird was hard enough to source but due to budgie cuts it is sadly no more.

Too much chianti today....

Quote from: Jerry Howlett on December 12, 2015, 02:25:00 PM

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 04:27:11 PM
:laughabovepost:
Sounds more like biological warfare ?
I hope it is 1cwt mixed and not 1cwt sprouts else all of europe will be off to Sy elswhere !

1/2 hr ago I put a Guinea Fowl in the oven, but that will be long gone afore Xmas. Infact I expect it will all be gone in a couple or 3 hrs except the bones which will be in a stock tomorrow.
Yummy.

No chance of Guinea Fowl, since the introduction of the Euro the Italians have been unable to create a suitable currency conversion to allow this bird to be sold in shops.  The 2700 Lira bird was hard enough to source but due to budgie cuts it is sadly no more.

Too much chianti today....

Instead of a turkey, how about a Norwegian Blue Parrot? Beautiful plumage, so I'm told :-X

As I started this thread, thought it about time I made another post on it.

What's that saying about "...the best laid plans..."

I intended getting into the spirit of Xmas yesterday (my birthday), but in the afternoon was taken ill and had to retire to my bed, and didn't get up again until this morning. Seems some of the recent arrivals here in Tenerife have brought a "bug" with them (a stomach bug) and one of them had kindly passed it on to me!

As my wife had invited numerous friends round this morning to help wrap Xmas presents that will be given out to children on site on Xmas day, it was better that I got up and left, so went for a game of snooker but had nothing alcoholic to drink (as stomach was still a bit "iffy") then returned home to pick up the misses to meet with Forum member "colpatben" for the 1st time who with his wife is on holiday here in Tenerife.

Unfortunately when I got home the misses had now got the "bug" herself so she took herself to bed, and I went in the Stag to meet with Colin and Patsy on my own.

!st time I have met with another member of this Forum, and a really nice couple they are (they are from the Bexhill in Kent area), and we had a nice long chat about all sorts of things and not just about model railways.

After a few hours I took my leave to check back on my wife, but she is still feeling unwell.
Not a good start to the Xmas period, but hopefully things will only get better.

 :hellosign:
To an agnostic like me..it does mean not much, but I did help the same my wife and my daughter to decorate the house, the Christmas tree and staging the italian classic Presepe.....but mainly does mean meeting my parents , tablewares full of italian christmas specialties and glasses full of many kinds of wine...Chianti, Sagrantino, Sangiovese..ecc ecc.

Cheers.

Marco
:NGaugersRule:

Quote from: Jerry Howlett on December 12, 2015, 02:25:00 PM

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 04:27:11 PM
1/2 hr ago I put a Guinea Fowl in the oven,

No chance of Guinea Fowl, since the introduction of the Euro the Italians have been unable to create a suitable currency conversion to allow this bird to be sold in shops.  The 2700 Lira bird was hard enough to source but due to budgie cuts it is sadly no more.

Too much chianti today....

:laughabovepost:  :(
Are all Italians currently on Chianti ? :) is that why their mathematical abilities have deserted them ? :D I'll remember that when we get to vote, out =continued supply of Guinea Fowl,,,, that should sway things !!! ( note to mods, that is an attempted jest not a political statement ;) )

Ummm, no idea what 2700L would have converted to but these 4 birds cost me £3.25 each(just over 1kg each) not a lot different from chicken . Two already eaten, the other two in the freezer will probably be used Boxing Day and/or New Year *
You could of course raise some yourself ? But your closer neighbours may not enjoy :) . They are as good as geese as noisy watchdogs but less agressive, they are more sensible than chicken in that they have the wit to climb trees when tremendous danger threatens. But I now find it less trouble just to go to the shops  ;D

* BACK TO TOPIC >> Xmas day means a quiet time, the rest of the family being off feasting with the families of their partners etc.
Boxing Day is more noisy :) and New Year is the greater indulgence.

Quote from: newportnobby on December 12, 2015, 04:16:53 PMhow about a Norwegian Blue Parrot? Beautiful plumage, so I'm told :-X

Shirly you mean an ex-NBP ?
(see earlier when Mike had a standinguppee turkey )

New socks, new pants, other underwhelming presents and family arguments. The true meaning of Christmas.

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 13, 2015, 09:17:09 PM

Quote from: newportnobby on December 12, 2015, 04:16:53 PMhow about a Norwegian Blue Parrot? Beautiful plumage, so I'm told :-X

Shirly you mean an ex-NBP ?
(see earlier when Mike had a standinguppee turkey )

Oh no - it's just perching, Malcolm (yes, yes, I know, I'd nailed it to the perch ;D)

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 13, 2015, 09:17:09 PM
they are more sensible than chicken in that they have the wit to climb trees when tremendous danger threatens.

That's no good when it comes to the time for the dinner pot! I'm damned if I'm climbing any trees with axe in hand. What would Elfin Safety say? :worried:

Quote from: newportnobby on December 13, 2015, 09:44:36 PMOh no - it's just perching, Malcolm (yes, yes, I know, I'd nailed it to the perch ;D)
, I'm damned if I'm climbing any trees with axe in hand. What would Elfin Safety say? :worried:

:laughabovepost:
Creased with laughter !
Actually, first time round I thought they were complete twats of the first water, and that included Spike ( I know, I know, not PC these days not to appreciate him, ther's a novel inversion ?! )
Now I have to suffer the despair of my daughter when she finds me watching (and laughing) Fawlty,, rose-tinted in old age.
,
no no, you have it all wrong, no climbing required, (*#&$ :censored: elfin at our age) - - you make like a friend trickling mixed corn from your fingers then move quick (!), gosh did they teach you nothing at school  LOL !

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 13, 2015, 10:22:45 PM
then move quick

Well, there's NPN stuffed in that case !!!














(makes a change from the turkey  :-X)

The thread is asking about Christmas.  :beers:

Quote from: Bealman on December 14, 2015, 09:19:30 AM
The thread is asking about Christmas.  :beers:

Now then someone told me they were going to cancel it....

Quote from: Bealman on December 14, 2015, 09:19:30 AM
The thread is asking about Christmas.  :beers:

I lost the thread about 10 chickens ago............... :(

Basil Fawlty surely would try to cancel Christmas, but let's stay focused here.  :thumbsup:

I think the OP intended to post in a positive vein, but the thread has wandered a fair bit.  :beers:

George

Don't  worry, Agrippa.... I've been trying to win Christmas leg hams in the local club raffle for a month now. May as well have bought one. ;)

Mounting annoyance and the number of so-called celebrities clogging up all sorts of media to talk dribble about tat they are either trying to sell or appearing in, to pander to the every thickening intelligence of the average British numpty  >:D

Quote from: Bealman on December 14, 2015, 09:19:30 AM
The thread is asking about Christmas.  :beers:

And we are trying to be jovial, ho ho ho   :beers:

At this time of year we tend to forget the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of
Our Lord etc. I'm a traditionalist so I'll celebrate in my own quiet way.

ie   A good skinful on Christmas Eve, get up late on Christmas Day, have a fry up, then
open a few bottle of beer and watch Die Hard and Where Eagles Dare.

Later in the evening Rachel Riley calls round for a glass of gluhwein........ :D

Sounds positively idyllic :claphappy:

Aye laddie , ye cannae whack it................ ;D

So we all round to Agrippa's place for Xmas then ? Sounds good.

Point of order - where are all the Santa emoticons ??

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 14, 2015, 10:26:53 AM
Point of order - where are all the Santa emoticons ??

They're stuck up the chimney.......... :D

Quote from: Agrippa on December 14, 2015, 10:38:13 AM

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 14, 2015, 10:26:53 AM
Point of order - where are all the Santa emoticons ??

They're stuck up the chimney.......... :D

QUICK LIGHT THE FIRE  >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D

Quote from: Agrippa on December 14, 2015, 10:19:31 AM
At this time of year we tend to forget the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of
Our Lord etc. I'm a traditionalist so I'll celebrate in my own quiet way.

ie   A good skinful on Christmas Eve, get up late on Christmas Day, have a fry up, then
open a few bottle of beer and watch Die Hard and Where Eagles Dare.

What are the BBC not screening "A Night to remember" or "Sink the Bismarck" ?.  Next thing they will be screening films in colour !  Now where did I put the opener for my Watneys Party Seven tin ?

Jerry

After looking at some of the responses which an innocent and well-meaning question elicited, I was thinking about deleting "N Gauge Forum" from my bookmarks, but an honest question deserves an honest answer.
Christmas means
:confused2: trying to get all those semi-quaver runs right when singing the "Messiah" ("His yoke is easy" isn't!) ;
:worried:  trying to remember which version of the harmony to the "Gloria"s I'm singing with each of the three choirs I'm in;
:help: sending cash to the Salvation Army, Christian Aid, RNLI, Barnado's, Red Cross, Legion etc rather than to Hattons, Union Mills, Brimal etc;
:thumbsup: remembering that though I wish Christmas could be separated from all the commercialism, many people and businesses (even postmen) may benefit from the financial boost they get;
:wave: keeping in touch with friends I've made over the years even if we don't see each other often;
:thumbsup: sharing with lots of other singers in visiting old people's homes and sheltered housing;
:thumbsup: supporting the food banks in their respective towns run by the two churches I attend;
:) remembering the websites and the exact specs of the gear I need for the railway so that I can give accurate answers to the question "What do you want for Christmas?";
:uneasy: remembering that the Christmas story identifies God as coming as a helpless and vulnerable baby, born to an unmarried teenager who becomes a refugee from violence in the Middle East;
:thumbsup: being thankful that so many of the values of our society - respect for each other, toleration, unselfish help and appreciation, justice for the poor, valuing each individual equally (values normally exercised on this forum) - arise from the teachings of that baby;
:'( praying for the Christian communities in the Middle East (Bethlehem 1990 95% Christian: Bethlehem 2015 95% Muslim) suffering largely as a result of Western governments' policies;
:bounce: rejoicing;
:beers: and now being grateful to all those who contributed to this thread for making me try to define what Christmas means to me this year.

Tiny Tim had it right - "God bless us all!"

I use the term Xmas unashamedly as I am a staunch atheist though I did have a christian upbringing.  For about 20 years the season has always been a reminder of family members who always passed away at this time so as the years passed the festive spirit progressively dwindled in this household.  3 years ago I was laid up signed off work with a broken ankle, last year I was a couple of months into unemployment and I find myself still unable to get work this year also.  I have never managed to have xmas in my own home since leaving the family house in 1997, this year I'm going home to my apartment up in Inverness and my Mum's joining me (I've been staying in her spare room in Falkirk recently trying to find work there).  But I have to start packing things up and re-decorating for selling in the new year as I can no longer afford to keep it, the Halifax have been utterly uninterested and my savings have all but gone now as I've tried everything to keep the place so far.

...So neither my Brother or I have any kids and I was more recently choosing to make charity donations instead until I became out of work.  My Mother and I just hate this time of year but she's slightly more tolerant of it than I am.  I do realise it means allot to many folk, but personally I wish I could just press fast forward from the end of November to mid January and skip it entirely and let everyone else happily get on with it themselves.  Not to dampen everyone elses jolly time and I do hope my festive spirit comes back at some point.  I can't see any improvement in the engineering industry for the foreseeable, the oil crash is affecting everything and looks like we are nowhere near the low that is sure to come.  I sincerely hope the work front changes in 2016 somehow because I just can't see any light at the end of the tunnel yet.

So I'm definitely scrooged out these days but merry xmas to everyone else...

(http://s9.postimage.org/mrhatptvz/Scrooge.jpg)

Rich

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb2xc89xcrU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb2xc89xcrU)

whatever , just remember the 2nd commandment ,

Is that the 'Do Not Get Caught' one?

Quote from: Yet_Another on December 17, 2015, 05:06:50 PM
Is that the 'Do Not Get Caught' one?

Something about graven images. I think that's the 'stop praying to your N gauge Kettles' one!!
:) :beers:

 :laughabovepost:   :laughabovepost:

and I was thinking it was the one about the " right to bear arms "  ?

I thought we were not supposed to talk religion ???

or the right to bare legs................... :D

Just legs? haruumpf that's no fun .................. :D

but someone is going to be offended Mark my words,,
oh hang on, someone already was.   

Now this is what Christmas is all about...
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/10/thumb_33019.jpg) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=33019)
... Santa Specials on preserved railways! Not that BabySquid understood who the dude in the red costume was, but he enjoyed the whole experience.

In the spirit of Bah Humbug, this being my first visit to the UK around Xmasyuletidetime for a number of years, it did strike me how much the country seems to go into Obssessive Christmas Overdrive around this time of the year, or maybe it was just the jetlag making me grumpy.

Looks like the Festiniog?

Quote from: Bealman on December 18, 2015, 02:29:02 AM
Looks like the Festiniog?

It may or may not look like the Ffestiniog, but it's definitely standard gauge. Though there seems to be some sort of narrow gauge attached.

Apart from not being able to spell (inexcusable when I've been on it)  :-[ I'm curious as to where that is  ???

Quote from: Bealman on December 18, 2015, 03:07:24 AM
Apart from not being able to spell (inexcusable when I've been on it)  :-[ I'm curious as to where that is  ???

The GWR. Not that GWR of course, though they originally built the line.

Quote from: railsquid on December 18, 2015, 12:49:39 AM
it did strike me how much the country seems to go into Obssessive Christmas Overdrive around this time of the year, or maybe it was just the jetlag making me grumpy.

Nope, don't think you're being more than usually grumpy ... this Overdrive seems to hit on the 1st December, I'm always amazed the food shops have anything left by the 10th, let alone the 23rd  ::)

There has been some good discussions on this thread with over 100 posts. However it is beginning to go off-topic so I have locked the thread.

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 17, 2015, 05:41:06 PM

I thought we were not supposed to talk religion ???

Thank you for pointing this out MalcolmAl. Section (i) of the Code of Conduct



Thread  :locked: