December 24th
December 24, 2023 § Leave a comment
Remembering Christmases past, the grandparents laugh and say, “Christmas is about having enough duvets. And avoiding the motorway.”
“Plus love, hope and Quality Street.”
December 23rd
December 23, 2023 § Leave a comment
Over tea and mince pies, the friends compare 2023 highlights. A son’s wedding, some bowel surgery, seeing the Caravaggios in Rome. Ups and downs.
December 22nd
December 22, 2023 § Leave a comment
Therapist, Mags, sees her final client for 2023. Despite her work, everyone is still mad. She doesn’t predict a fall in demand for 2024.
December 21st
December 21, 2023 § Leave a comment
On the shortest day, they walk in the park. The London Planes are bare; it’s dark by four. But think of Spring, they say.
December 20th
December 20, 2023 § 1 Comment
“The choir of children sing their song
Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong”.
Yeah, but nothing says Christmas quite like “The World’s Strongest Man.”
December 19th
December 19, 2023 § Leave a comment
Danny, on hold to HMRC, wonders what else he could do with this time. Stop a boat, cut a waiting list, punch a PM.
December 18th
December 18, 2023 § Leave a comment
Her mother has bad eyes, so Beverley writes her cards. Clemmie doesn’t use postcodes and strikes through names of friends lost since last Christmas.
December 17th
December 17, 2023 § Leave a comment
“Says here, the Home Secretary’s parents would have struggled to be together under the new rules.
“Can he look his mother in the eye?”
December 16th
December 16, 2023 § Leave a comment
She hasn’t bought any presents yet, but the shops are rammed. Instead, she sides with the Devil and, from the sofa, fires up Amazon.
December 15th
December 15, 2023 § 1 Comment
“Come for a drink,” they say after the work Christmas lunch. In his paper-hat, Alfie agrees but in truth, he just wants to sleep.
December 14th
December 14, 2023 § Leave a comment
A group of teenagers kick a football around the misty park. Two years ago, in Mariupol, they played in the snow with their fathers.
December 13th
December 13, 2023 § Leave a comment
Getting everyone together on the 25th is exhausting. Bless the family but secretly she misses Covid Christmas, when they all just stayed at home.
December 12th
December 12, 2023 § Leave a comment
Rishi cheers the passing of the Rwanda Bill. Meanwhile, in the Bibby Stockholm, they wonder how to trace the mother of the dead immigrant.
December 11th
December 11, 2023 § Leave a comment
“You know you did these stories last year?” he says. “Everything is still bollocks, so what’s the point?”
She shrugs. “It’s all a puzzle.”
December 10th
December 10, 2023 § Leave a comment
In the shadows of the candle-lit church, the soloists sings, “Once in Royal David’s City”. Beautiful but to us, no longer young, infinitely sad.
December 9th
December 9, 2023 § Leave a comment
A bunch of old folk belt it out at the funeral. “Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it’s our last”.
We’ll miss Shane.
December 8th
December 8, 2023 § Leave a comment
She’s looking for a book for her elderly mother, something about the countryside. Ronald Blythe perhaps.
“But did I buy her this last year?”
December 7th
December 7, 2023 § 1 Comment
Terri is doing rosary Advent.
“I will say 70 prayers for you,” she says.
It’s been a rough year. Debs, a non-believer, is touched.
December 6th
December 6, 2023 § 2 Comments
He’s playing five parts in a touring pantomime. The children love it, but at the social club, old people fall asleep. An actor’s life.
(For Arthur)
December 5th
December 5, 2023 § Leave a comment
When they decorate the tree, Billy, 5, drops the glass ballerina.
“It’s fine,” says Granny. It belonged to her mother, but it’s only stuff.
December 4th
December 5, 2023 § 1 Comment
Sam’s secret Santa is Diane from logistics. He barely knows her so buys some hand-cream. He pays more than £10 and feels a failure.
December 3rd
December 3, 2023 § Leave a comment
The priest reminds them, “Advent is the season of waiting.”
With no appointment for his hip replacement, Joe is only too familiar with waiting.
December 2nd
December 2, 2023 § Leave a comment
Two families panicking about baby formula. Becca, in Watford, because it’s unaffordable; Muhanad, in Gaza, because he can’t fine any for his motherless baby.
December 1st 2023
December 2, 2023 § Leave a comment
Maya, 22, opens December 1st on her Advent calendar. It’s childish, but her mum always sends one. The first chocolate, the start of Christmas.