Winter

[Diane CBPFC]

We have had a good dump of snow this year, after the years of drought this is the best Christmas present we could wish for. Well that and a hot bean bag for my poor back from shoveling snow.

We have already watched 4 Christmas movies, new and new to me, this year. All of them with corny plots and Christmas magic and isn't that really what the season is all about?

[Roger Kettle]

That's an impressive snowfall, Diane! No sign of the white stuff here in Scotland yet but it would be nice to get at least a dusting of it over Christmas.
With everything that's been going on, it's been difficult for me to get into the festive spirit. My sister, Diamond Lil, is still in hospital with her broken hip but, fingers crossed, she may get home early next week. On the other side of the emotional scale, my son and his partner welcomed a little girl into the world last week. My second granddaughter---a gorgeous wee thing called Norah. I'm so happy for them.
It will be a quiet Christmas for us with only four adults and my first granddaughter at the table. She is now three and a half and already excited about what's to come. Quiet but nice.
Okay, I'll wish you all festive greetings nearer the time. Meanwhile, I'll get the mulled wine out and watch "It's a Wonderful Life" in an attempt to get into the spirit....

[Diane CBPFC]

Congratulations Roger. I love the name Norah - old-timey yet powerful. 

[The Peepmaster]

That's an impressive snowfall, Diane! No sign of the white stuff here in Scotland yet but it would be nice to get at least a dusting of it over Christmas.
With everything that's been going on, it's been difficult for me to get into the festive spirit. My sister, Diamond Lil, is still in hospital with her broken hip but, fingers crossed, she may get home early next week. On the other side of the emotional scale, my son and his partner welcomed a little girl into the world last week. My second granddaughter---a gorgeous wee thing called Norah. I'm so happy for them.
It will be a quiet Christmas for us with only four adults and my first granddaughter at the table. She is now three and a half and already excited about what's to come. Quiet but nice.
Okay, I'll wish you all festive greetings nearer the time. Meanwhile, I'll get the mulled wine out and watch "It's a Wonderful Life" in an attempt to get into the spirit....

Congratulations on the new arrival, Roger. You have the same number of granddaughters as me now.

Congratulations too on the win against Celtic. I think you caught them at just the right time.

The Celtic manager is called Nancy. I seem to remember a cartoon character of that name from my childhood...

[Roger Kettle]

Thanks, Peeps!
There was indeed a cartoon character called Nancy. It was an American strip and appeared in The Topper around 50 years ago when I worked for it. God, I'm old!

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Ah, yes - I remember it we-ell... She had a perforated hairstyle.

Congratulations all round on the arrival of little Norah, Roger - wonderful news! Both you and Peepsie now have twice as many granddaughters as me, though mine is a 10-year-old force of nature unrivalled by her brother and my other two (male) grandchildren put together. How these small bundles of energy can simultaneously keep you young, yet exhausted far beyond your years is one of life's greatest paradoxes.

Delighted to hear Diamond Lil may be home for Christmas. Fingers crossed!

And wot Peepsie sed re United and Celtic. Enjoyed watching that one.

[ZestyWhite]

Congratulations on the new grandadaughter Roger. Great news. Hoping Lil gets home to enjoy some of the collective family joy.

Diane, my wife has been watching many Christmas films this season, but sadly most of them are from Netflix. As a consequence, they have the same repeated plot (successful but lonely young woman who works in the city, reluctantly returns to her hometown for Christmas and falls in love with a handyman who wears a checked shirt and hands out hot chocolate at the Yuletide market) often the same cast (none of whom have ever been in anything that IMBD would rate higher than a four out of ten), and are generally less engaging than watching the constituent moisture evaporate from a patch of Dulux vinyl silk.

Give me Die Hard any day.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Christmas has never been the same for me since they stopped the annual ritual screening of the festive classic that is 'The Great Escape', starring Steve McQueen, Gordon Jackson and the late, great Angus Lennie.

Nothing like Nazis and prisoner of war camps to get you in the mood for a yuletide log.

[Diane CBPFC]

Zesty, my sister, who is 85 and therefore has earned the right to do what she likes, watches between 2 and 3 of those Hallmark movies every day in the run up to Christmas. LOL

I think I watched one this year, but as it had a well known actress, it may not have been one but same formulated plot.

I have now watched SEVEN new to me Christmas movies this year. I actually saw one worth recommending last night: FX's A Christmas Carol. It was like you have never watched another version before - almost three hours long mind.

Usually watch Die Hard - this time we watched it very early and I have a list of 3 must watches every year and a few optionals. I thought it would be interesting to see some never before watched this year but not having a high success rate of great ones lol