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If we were happy with what we had, why would we want change? Why would we need more? I saw an article ticking readers off for wishing people a happy new year.

The explanation was simple economics – if you want people to buy what you are selling, make them unhappy with what they have. They won’t buy a new phone, a new laptop, watch this TV show, until you’re preaching don’t Don’t DON’T be left behind, out of touch, out of the loop

Photoshop pictures to make them worry about their physical flaws, and watch your sales of anti-aging moisturiser soar, your body trainers and diet experts hop, your plastic surgeons nip and tuck, your dentists grin whitely. Even tattoo parlours are busier than they’ve ever been because not to have a tattoo is OMG just dead.

Guilt, discontent and fear are the greatest salesmen on earth. Make people aware of abuse to others, to animals, to the environment, and the money pours in. Make them worry about immigration, and the votes pour in to those politicians saying they can stop it.

To be happy with our non-upgraded existence, comfortable with our messy human selves, content with the way our lives are unfolding, would be very good for our health and wellbeing but would not suit politics or business at all.

Sod it, I’m still trying for a happy 2019 and in the face of political correctness, wishing you one too.

Lots of choices, but hear me out on this...

Work hard all year and relax on the last day.
Be a go-getter and start off the new year running.

_or_

Work hard to finish off the year and be a slacker on the first day.

_or_

Slack off on the last day of the year and slack off on the first day of the new year.



Some of my neighbors celebrated the new year by playing music until 4am.

Had no destination
No cargo
Free passage to hundreds of lost souls
Never sailed
Nothing happened
Except people constantly join the voyage but no one ever disembarks
Even in death they walk around the decks peering in portholes, moaning and seeking solitude and acceptance. ..


....



.....




.............

I would argue in so many ways it cannot.


....even if the single parent was home 24/7 to provide a parental figure in the child's life when it was needed.

....even with two parents in the home...quality parental guidance seems to be fairly rare

....if no quality guidance

....equals questionable future paths


I have recently talked with so many people who just have outright hate in them...I feel bad for them...but, it is all they know.

Like I heard recently with George H. W.'s funeral, "Hate corrodes the container it is carried in."

If only these people could have a better way of dealing with their negative emotions.

..anyway...just a thought.

On Dec 23rd one of my Chinese pupils did his internet class on the move in a Beijing supermarket with Jingle Bells playing audibly in the background (surreal, but hey, he likes his English classes THAT MUCH). Although I don’t usually ask, because I know most of my pupils aren’t Christian, I did ask today how his Christmas had been. Awful, he said, his teacher had not only given them all extra homework, they had an exam as well. His mother told him Christmas is now illegal and their celebration was extremely private. Then he wanted me to tell him about my turkey and Christmas pudding, um, didn’t have either of those but on the bright side, I didn’t have any exams . . .

So I looked it up and yup, China, which probably provided most of the presents we all exchanged, cracked down on Christmas this year. But – but – Jingle bells?

With a cynicism well ahead of his age (he’s 10) he said it was just to make more money . . .

The Guardian confirmed in some cities citizens were ordered not to celebrate the holiday. In Langfang all Christmas decorations had to be taken down, and shops were forbidden to sell Christmas-themed goods. In Changsha, schools were directed not to celebrate ‘western festivals’. Although citizens are allowed to practice Christianity, as one of the 5 religions officially recognized by the atheist government, they can only do so inside the designated premises. It isn’t about attacking Christianity, though, as much as about promoting traditional Chinese culture. In Beijing shopping centres were still decorated on Christmas Eve and the holiday is a shopping event with sales and Santa Claus available for photo events.

So Santa has a life and following of his own which has nothing to do with religion – but China is now resisting even Santa.

Rizla? I did look to see if you had blogged about this first before I posted this blog . . . I'm not criticising China's attitude, btw. I just found it (a) ironic that the country that provided so many gifts and decorations doesn't approve of the festival and (b) odd that the orders only came out after shop decorations had already been put up. Mind you, in some places, that means October or November

Struggling to squeeze in breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, supper and a small cup of hot cocoa before bed. #ShortestDay

It's days till Christmas. I don't know about others, but like Elvis Presley, one (and I) can feel the change in peoples lives and in the atmosphere this Christmas season. Why can't everyday be like this: where people love one another and do good gestures? If everyday be this way, this world will be a better place.

So, whether you are a Christian or not, whether you believe in Christmas or not, take time out to perform a good deed: to someone other than your friends, relatives or family members. but to someone who CANNOT pay you back.

Merry Christmas to all.

Remember when we were being told the world would end on December 21, 2012? .



I'm glad it didn't. The last 6 years have been much more interesting than I expected when I was resigned to just possibly dying horribly in 2012.

I received this email from the Secretary of my walking group this morning:

Hi Ramblers
Please see message below from Nigel. 
 
“Owing to severe weather warnings for the weekend it is advisable for safety reasons, both travel and walking, and with much regret the walk tomorrow has been cancelled.  Nigel.”
 
If you were planning to wear your funny hat, please feel free to wear it to next Sunday’s walk instead.
Regards
Sue.



This means that the decision not to go on the funny hat walk has been taken out of my hands, which I find disappointing. Not only that, now all the other Ramblers will never know that I wasn't going.

I can't help feeling sorry for those who bought a funny hat especially for the occasion.

Can we be serious a minute?

Aye that'll be right

But no, seriously. If you are going somewhere they speak a different language, what are the most useful phrases to try to learn beforehand? (like - "where is the (whatever) and please point as I don't speak your language")

Weirdest phrase I ever saw in a phrase book was "please open the window". It was weird because it was in the airplane section of the book. I would have thought "stop trying to open the window or I will call the stewardess " would have been more useful.