Sure is a special feeling when you hear someone strumming on a guitar...  just a few thoughts of xmas's past , long , long ago ... dad always roasted chestnuts on a shovel (clean one ) on our open fire ... mum cooking dinner for 14 , all in a tiny kitchen, no microwave, no freezers, just a larder ... and yet every one had huge plateful... Xmas pudding with sixpence in... just one big pressie ... the old paperchains... 

One Xmas eve when I was six, mum,dad and family went out for a drink ... they came back and talked an laughed till bout 1 a.m ... mum crept up stairs with my real size  doll and a cot dad had made .. just as she was creeping out the door, I woke up .. "has father Xmas been, mummy" no came back the reply... go to sleep now ... " yes mummy, he has, I can see he's left me a dolly" up I jumped ... mum said it was about 4 a.m that I fell back to sleep clutching my doll ... mum got 2 hours sleep that night ... she never forgave me ...  ;  ))   

All stuffed after dinner ... watched black and white telly ... mum slept ... then board games till roast beef sarnies... miss you mum and dad ...  xx