• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

CHRISTMAS 2020

Status
Not open for further replies.
johnny082 said:
Missing going into four care homes this year with our Pastor to sing the usual carols. All the residents enjoyed it, and many appearing to be asleep, suddenly woke and joined in. Many of them in tears as it brought back lovely memories
Hope next year better
Click to expand...
My neighbour worked might still work in a care home. She organised keep fit then Christmas Carols. Some got mixed up and did the exercises to the Carols. Some residents realised and thought it was so funny so they all did it.
 
I still remember the name of the 2 ladies in the care home, Bevan Lodge, when I was about 12 on our class visit, that I was chosen to give 'my' presents and hand made cards to. Mrs Hall and Mrs Spurgeon. Bit what am I supposed to be doing today!
 
Smudger said:
Hi there pop pickers, This one is especially for Nico, his favourite Christmas jingle.
Click to expand...

I quite enjoyed this record it was played on the pa system at work along with other Christmas ditties every year . One particular chap couldn't stand Stop the Cavalry he used to cringe every time it came on , mind you he didn't like Christmas much . One particular record REM's Shiny Happy People I nominated as his signature tune , to be honest there wasn't a fat lot that he did like . Oh well you can't please them all
 
One memory I recall was as a kid we didn't have electric lights for the Christmas tree , what we had was decorative candle holders , multi coloured candles under the base was like a little crocodile clip to hold the candle holders on to the tree I only ever remember them being alight once although we had the holders some years after . When I think back what a mess it would have made if the tree had caught fire
 
The year would be about 1980 , Christmas Eve . I was enjoying myself in the Barton Arms Aston , "don't be late we have to test the train" the good lady had told me . I got home about 11.10pm after wishing all at the pub seasons greetings , anyway now the three kids were in bed the wife and I crept upstairs to bring the pressie's down stairs . There was only the one I was interested in so squatting on the floor I placed the big box on the floor opening the box there it was in all it's glory . The Hornby Intercity 125 making the track up seemed to take forever then the mains lead plugged into the track , switched on at the wall , carriages were placed and joined on the track twisting the knob gingerly the train started to move . Guess what it's headlight were on try reverse I thought , yes the back lights came on , it's just as well the wife nudged me else I would still be there watching the headlight going off and on . Needless to say I could not get near it Christmas Day , I might just as well be trying to drive the real one .
 
Williamstreeter said:
The year would be about 1980 , Christmas Eve . I was enjoying myself in the Barton Arms Aston , "don't be late we have to test the train" the good lady had told me . I got home about 11.10pm after wishing all at the pub seasons greetings , anyway now the three kids were in bed the wife and I crept upstairs to bring the pressie's down stairs . There was only the one I was interested in so squatting on the floor I placed the big box on the floor opening the box there it was in all it's glory . The Hornby Intercity 125 making the track up seemed to take forever then the mains lead plugged into the track , switched on at the wall , carriages were placed and joined on the track twisting the knob gingerly the train started to move . Guess what it's headlight were on try reverse I thought , yes the back lights came on , it's just as well the wife nudged me else I would still be there watching the headlight going off and on . Needless to say I could not get near it Christmas Day , I might just as well be trying to drive the real one .
Click to expand...

lovely memories john

lyn
 
mw0njm. said:
little donkey

Click to expand...
Heard this on the radio or tv, Christmas Eve 1959. Had a hot bath and sat next to my Mom on an armchair in my Pjs. I could smell the talc that she had used when drying me. Really excited about what Santa might bring. Dad had made me a model train layout in the back bedroom where he kept his fishing tackle and motorbike spares. I wondered why the door had been locked for weeks!
 
Last edited:
Williamstreeter said:
One memory I recall was as a kid we didn't have electric lights for the Christmas tree , what we had was decorative candle holders , multi coloured candles under the base was like a little crocodile clip to hold the candle holders on to the tree I only ever remember them being alight once although we had the holders some years after . When I think back what a mess it would have made if the tree had caught fire
Click to expand...

That sounds like our tree when we were kids, except we sometimes had the candles alight and one year our tree did catch on fire!! It was not a pretty sight! we must have bought a new tree after that but for the life of me I cant remember it! I only remember the one that caught fire it was like a broom handle with round brush protruding out for branches ..... I have no idea where we got it from but i was glad we got a new "normal" one :joy::rolleyes: no more candles though ...thank goodness :joy:
 
Our youngest son phoned today with an update on a charity collection that his boss had organised at work.

His boss had been asking for Christmas donations for the homeless. Not the usual sort of donations - he needed unwanted clothing and backpacks to hand them out.

We had no backpack to offer but my wife took the opportunity to clear my wardrobe. Our son did the same too. Having made a conscious effort to lose weight during lockdown he had quite a few things that no longer fitted. Of the items he donated was a hooded, fleece lined lumberjack shirt we'd bought him some years ago. Like all the other items he passed on to his boss he assumed these would go to a collection centre and that would be the last he would hear of it. However, his boss was bypassing the mainstream organisations and actually touring the streets of Birmingham looking for people who had fallen outside the system.

Imagine our son's reaction when hearing of his boss approaching someone seated on the floor outside a large supermarket being given a backpack instead of loose change. The recipient was obviously bemused and, at the same time, wary of the gesture from a total stranger. He opened it and pulled out the fleece lined shirt. He tried it on, looked back in disbelief and said, "Is this for me?". On being assured that it was, he burst into tears.

Our son has said that next year he wants to go along and will take our Grandson with him so that he can begin to understand what real hardship is!

I'm not saying that everyone is a deserving case but it is so easy these days to overlook someone who is.

Best wishes and take care over Christmas
 
Williamstreeter said:
One memory I recall was as a kid we didn't have electric lights for the Christmas tree , what we had was decorative candle holders , multi coloured candles under the base was like a little crocodile clip to hold the candle holders on to the tree I only ever remember them being alight once although we had the holders some years after . When I think back what a mess it would have made if the tree had caught fire
Click to expand...
Yes we had those, although I don't remember the candles ever been lit, it is a terrifying thought if they had been.
 
Different cultures, Nico,and it's the same here in Greece, though since our first Christmas here, we've stayed at home. But the Greeks have got used to what I like and what I don't, though Jan eats most of their stuff except for their sausage and squid/octopus, which, like me, she can't stand.

Our first Christmas here was spent with Greek friends, who had Greek relatives over from Germany. A half pig was barbecued over an open fire in the garden, and they also had turkey & beef and a massive table spread. Communication was a bit of a problem because some of the Greeks spoke a little English, others spoke only German & Greek and others just Greek. We were struggling with Greek (and still do once they get up to speed), but Jan's German is quite good, and no one spoke French, which both Jan & I can just about get away with, though vocabulary is now pretty rusty. So for some it was a case of going from English to German to Greek (or vice versa), but we got by and had a good Christmas Day.

Maurice :cool:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top