Christmas When You Were Growing Up

[George 1978]

Finally put up the tree this morning - one has to motivate to get things done.

[George 1978]

Good point - it does look like a brother and sister relationship which makes it more innocent. Growing up with two older sisters I can almost imagine it like that!

The thing is, how old was he supposed to be at the time, hence a girl of his age?

[Victoria O'Keefe]

Is that Yellow Pages advert still shown on TV? - has it been shown this year, yet? I believe it was first shown in 1992-1993 and the year of one of the front covers (the Reading edition?) was seen.

Firstly, it wasn't Robbie Williams (neither the Take That star or the snooker player) who stepped onto the rather large Yellow Pages. Secondly, Yellow Pages have shrunk in size over the years (probably due to firms going ex-directory) so that it would have been quite difficult for that lad to step onto it to kiss his... friend.

I'm surprised the kid didn't feel like he was kissing an older sister given how much taller and older looking she is. Why didn't they use a girl his age?

[George 1978]

As a child and in my teens we had three TV channels, bbc1, bbc2 and itv.
How wonderful that was. We would look forward to the premier showing of a film and the fantastic comedies to watch.
Less choice but more to watch!

Despite having Sky, I wish it was still like that now - 30 million watching Morecambe and Wise; 20 million watching Blankety Blank, and a middle-aged Queen Elizabeth II with black hair right on cue at 3.00 pm.

Even with Channel 4 arriving, we still had that in the 1980s, although after Eric Morecambe's death had put a dent in traditional entertainment as we knew it.

[George 1978]

Is that Yellow Pages advert still shown on TV? - has it been shown this year, yet? I believe it was first shown in 1992-1993 and the year of one of the front covers (the Reading edition?) was seen.

Firstly, it wasn't Robbie Williams (neither the Take That star or the snooker player) who stepped onto the rather large Yellow Pages. Secondly, Yellow Pages have shrunk in size over the years (probably due to firms going ex-directory) so that it would have been quite difficult for that lad to step onto it to kiss his... friend.

[Moonraker]

As a child and in my teens we had three TV channels, bbc1, bbc2 and itv.
How wonderful that was. We would look forward to the premier showing of a film and the fantastic comedies to watch.
Less choice but more to watch!

[Victoria O'Keefe]

[beccabear67]

This will be one of the quieter (and sadder) Christmases for us having lost a long time member of the family back in July. For the first time we've decided to just skip the presents, nobody wanting anything particularly. Still doing the big stuffed turkey and sprouts dins however, five of us and a small dog. We always have Chinese take away on the Eve and doing that with a smaller order. I suppose there will be a King's address?

[George 1978]

Top floor of the Co-op department store in Nottingham circa 1985 where the toys and games section was, and going up there either via the lift or the wonderful looking staircase. (When I think of 1985 I always have the earworm of Madonna singing Into the Groove and Kate Bush going on about Running Up that Hill). Cue staff member in white beard and red cloak (sound familiar?) in this entry seeing youngsters such as myself. Girl before me in queue wanted a Game of Life and a beanbag (I hope that she got them!), but ironically enough, I cannot remember what I had asked for! I might have mentioned this a few times before on here, but then again, looking at the TV schedules, Christmas is indeed the time for repeats!

And I always wanted to know (circa 1987) why Father Christmas and my late mother actually had the same handwriting - I was probably old enough to know better by then...

[George 1978]

Just think of the extra loot, Richard - they will always pay you extra when working shifts on days when most would like to stay at home.

[Richard1978]

It looks like I'll be working between Christmas & New Year due to someone in my department is going on maternity leave & the temp covering her will still be picking up the ropes.

[George 1978]

I wonder what people think of that "bridge" between Christmas and New Year, notably 27th to 30th December? The January sales are on (advertised like mad during Coronation Street and ITV films), and I often use those few days to travel on the bus to the City Centre and buy items that I wanted for Christmas but didn't get for some reason. I use it to go to WHSmith (sometimes if I have vouchers) and get an autobiography of some celebrity, as well as probably get a new calendar or diary in those pre-Calendar Club days. And then get a McDonald's takeaway before catching the bus home where it would be after 4.00 pm and so it would already be dark. And the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures would be on TV later.

I know that a few years ago, I was in Tesco shopping on one of those days and overheard someone say how relaxing those days are.

[George 1978]

I did eventually put my Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve - I feel that one needs to be in the mood for doing that.

I don't think that I would fancy a curry on Christmas Day or on most days of the year either.

[Arran]

Turkey with the trimmings roast potatoes sprouts with chestnuts roasted carrots or parsnips red cabbage pigs in blankets sage and onion stuffing gravy.Xmas pudding served with cream or custard

There is the big question whether Christmas dinner has to be a roast meal? Vegetarians get nut roast, but few would actually choose it themselves. Does anybody fancy a curry on Christmas? Or maybe fish and chips?

I would like to know what sadistic bar steward decided that sprouts should be eaten for Christmas dinner when hardly anybody likes them or would eat them on any other day of the year. Do sprouts actually pair with turkey or is it some syncretic combination few chefs have even dared to question? Christmas pudding really is a bad dessert. A stodgy concoction full of treacle and spice, more often than not, drenched in alcohol that gives you indigestion after eating it is the worst thing to serve after a heavy main course. Nobody seems to eat a similar pudding on any other day of the year - which is probably an indictment to how unappetising Christmas pudding really is. There are much more enjoyable classic British puddings served with custard.

[Victoria O'Keefe]

Rock Sugar's "Can't Stop The Santa Man".

At one point they sing that Santa should join a union to get some workman's comp.

What would be the point? Santa's an independent contractor. He's his own boss. Nobody pays him to make and deliver toys. Heck, he doesn't even sell the toys. He gives them away.