'Under A Week To Go!'

Not long until the big day now! The weather is 'suitably un-festive' though (as usual) and its teeming down with rain again this morning. My cold is also hanging on longer than those 'friends & relatives' that come to stay at Christmas each year and has now gone on to my chest! (lol)

The smiley, Kate Rosie from 'Teddy Tinkers' in London Rd

OTHER THAN THAT (lol) I have been enjoying the run up to Christmas Day and attended a Christmas Barbeque Party thrown by the very FABULOUS, Kate Rosie from 'Teddy Tinkers'. As you might expect in mid December we had LOVELY weather and Kate said the burgers were lovely (if you could catch them) and the sausages divine (as long as you could lift your snorkel out of the way enough to take a bite).

So it rained then?

Oh yes! Just a tad! But it didn't dampen the Christmas spirit and everyone had a great time. I got three 'very dubious considering my single status' presents on the night as well. Three boxes of 'lucky dip presents' had been put together and we all had to choose one at random times during the evening. The three boxes were entitled 'Boys', 'Girls' and 'Not Sure' and I (without consciously thinking) picked my first gift from the 'Not Sure' box. Well! I got a small metal SHEEP for my pains made by Kate's hubbie, Alex!

The irony of these gifts will not be lost on the universe!

Now, most of you who know me will have burst out laughing at this - you rotten swines! (lol) The next 'random gift' I got turned out to be 11,000 of toy pirate money! You can buy a LOT of metal SHEEP with that, oh yes! (lol) Thankfully, the final gift I received was a simple biro with a football on the top - nothing 'double entendre' about that you might say but I would point out that potentially all three gifts involve playing with balls! (lol)

Oh dear, that REALLY is a GRIM joke, isn't it? By gum, you can soon tell reading this blog how far 'stuck up my own era' I am, can't you? My one defence being that if you can't have a bit of fun and 'let your hair down' (FAT CHANCE OF THAT!) at Christmas then when can you?

Talking of people 'having a bit of fun' I saw a chap in the street the other day wearing a suit made to look like Christmas wrapping paper! Bright red it was and he had a 'sparkly' sequinned red hat on as well. The suit was quite well made as well - not a 'home-made' job and he told me when I stopped him to say "well done and Happy Christmas" that there is a company now selling them on the Internet.

GREAT to see a few PRO Christmas things coming from the digital age and i really hope more people will decide to buy one to wear 'for a laugh' at Christmas! I would have asked him for a photo but he was with a lady and she was a 'vulnerable adult' and so I didn't think it appropriate. He must be a 'good lad' I reckon as he probably works in the care industry - Santa won't forget him on December the 25th, I'm sure of that!

I did my bit later that day to 'spread the insanity of Christmas' when with my friend, Stephanie in the Hanushka Coffee House in George Street (Hastings Old Town). Sitting there wearing my Christmas jumper that makes me look as if I am wearing a Santa suit I asked Stephanie whether she was 'suitably humiliated to be seen with me in public yet or not?' Stephanie (who knows me of old) grinned and denied that she was - so to make sure of it I opened my shoulder bag and pulled out a large Elf hat with a bell on the end and sat there wearing that as well! To say that I got a few "Oh, GOD PLEEEESSSE' looks from the 'miserable git community' was an understatement but quite a few people who were in the shop already or who walked in and spotted me thought it was fun!

I LOVE spreading a bit of good cheer and insanity at this time of year and for every person who thinks its 'pathetic for a man of my age' there are two (or more) who smile. Smiles are what we need more than ever in the world at the moment and so I shall continue to be as 'daft as a brush' in public places at Christmastime no matter what!

Love Tony xxx

'The Twelve Days Of Christmas'

'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' is a traditional song that warms the heart of both young and old. With its simple lyrics it is one of those songs that is fun to sing with all the family at Christmas. You don't have to be a great singer to take part and if you have a bit of imagination you can even 'adapt' the song to suit your own personal subject.

This is exactly what Shorelink Community Writers decided to do a few years back for part of their Christmas show. The video from the performance has long been a source of amusement within Shorelink because some of those who had taken part in rehearsals couldn't make it on the day and so the remaining 'players' had to make do and fill in here and there. Well, as you can see from this video, we were all doing a sterling job until about half way through the song and then all hell started to break loose!

I'm sorry that the quality of the video is so poor but the film was shot on a proper video camera and the footage needs to be converted into another format before I can load it into my Mac and edit it. This has just not happened  up until now and so I simply played it on my laptop and filmed it from there. The picture isn't great but you can see and hear whats going on and thats good enough for something that I hope will give you a festive laugh (or three)...

It is blowing a gale and peeing with rain here AGAIN so I venture that watching silly videos like this is going to be as near as I get to enjoying myself at present!

'Crazy Granny Christmas Jumpers'

I will admit that you do have to be a bit crazy to want to buy a jumper that will transform your appearance instantly into that of an elf or Saint Nicholas himself but if (like me) the spirit of Chevy Chase's 'National Lampoons' sparky character lives inside you you should!

Last year I discovered http://www.crazygrannyclothing.com/ and bought myself the red santa claus design with black belt and white cuffs for a treat. 

Feeling pretty down at facing ANOTHER Christmas out of work and with seemingly no hope of ever returning to a job I feel I could do well and enjoy I needed a pick-me-up. Well, I can tell you that while these jumpers are not cheap at £39.99 each they are great quality and are a HUGE amount of fun for their owners. 
You could not buy a better conversation starter if you tried! They make people smile as soon as they see you wearing one so people talk to you without you having to lift a finger. O.K. they are always going to bring out the 'Ebeneezer Scrooge' in some and you are going to have to suffer a few sighs from those who think you infantile but by God, if you can't let off a bit of childish steam at Christmas when can you!
I think those who know me well have now become virtually un-shockable with all the Christmas antics I have performed over the years so the effect of a new jumper from crazy granny for me this year probably won't be of much surprise but its not too late for YOU to get the jump on your colleagues for this years office party!

Getting into the Christmas spirit is often about dropping your inhibitions and being prepared to have a laugh. When you do, you will find that your infectious sense of freedom and fun is infectious and it won't be long before other people are joining in with the festive spirit YOU have created. LIfe is pretty tough and fairly grim a lot of the time at the moment so if ever there was a better time to buy a crazy granny crimbo jumper, stick a daft hat on your head and arm yourself with one of Ken Dodd's tickling sticks ( nowadays expect approx 6 months in Wandsworth for every person you creep up on and tickle to death) and go forth into the world I can't think of one?

Sanity has LONG been over-rated and I am living proof that a bit of nutter with your mince pies can work wonders!

So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself off to Crazy Granny now and get festive!!!!

I'll see you in Wandsworth in Feb....

HO! HO ! HO!