Bah Humbug - It's December again! 18 days to go!

Wednesday, 7th December. What? I've just missed a whole week of December? And still, no Christmas cards written. This is rather embarrassing, as I have not even made new ones this year. So, I shall have to climb up into my cupboard-that-holds-things-I-seldom-need,-but-need-anyway, and extract the box of Christmas stuff.

Too bad, if I send the same card design to someone for a second year. At least it demonstrates consistency on my part, and a modicum of austerity - along the lines of no new designs, no extra monetary outlay, using up stock from already written-off capital.

So, the choice is ...

Christmas letters:

Complete with an alphabet of rhyme - what more could you want for Christmas?

The Twelve Veg of Christmas:

That one comes complete with a veggie rhyme, set to a well-known Christmas Song. What could be healthier than that?

Eric and Bert, in the snow:

And not a volcanic eruption in sight ... sort of ...

Or an angel looking cute:

I fear, though, family reprisals, if I send them any of these again.

Bah flipping Humbug, now I shall have to go out and purchase cards ....

Of course, it is a tad late now, but maybe for next year. All the cards are available on my Etsy store.

Bah Humbug! It's December, again - 13 more days to go

Christmas Fetes

It is that time of the year, when out come the strip of motherhood and apple pie Christmas bunting. Well, not exactly, but there's bunting with a Christmas flavour - although not that I have tried eating any.

This year got off in full swing - a wobbly table in the outdoor canteen area of Nexus International School. Not a fan in sight, and no breeze either. So, after shoving a folded piece of card under one leg - gosh that reminded me of exams at school, and covering the plain white table with Christmas-looking table cloths, we covered it with books, cards and goodies to fill Christmas stockings.

They came in their droves. But I think they drove their money to the $1 stall and the book stall that happily announced it was selling "Adult Books" 5 for $2. It made me wonder how they'd got that past the school screening process??

And, finally, a couple more verses of:

DOWN THE CHIMNEY ©

 

Dad lit the logs sat in the grate,

And told us all to wait.

The chimney smoked and then it coughed

An ‘ouch’ came from aloft.

Dad stuck his head up in the chute,

And uttered a loud hoot,

‘I do believe old Santa’s stuck,’

My brother said, ‘What luck.’

Bah, bah Humbug!

Bah Humbug. It's December again - 18 Days until Christmas

Bah Humbug, it's 7th December and Sunday. And I woke up really early, well really early for a weekend, 6.05am. After forty minutes of trying to get back to sleep, I decided coffee was the order of the morning.

I have often wondered why coffee gives you a buzz and a few other things. So, in keeping with both of my sons' homework subjects, I decided to look it up on the periodic table.

Mmmm. Cobalt.

Cobalt as in blue? blue as in blue Xmas lights?

And this is another set that has decided that random crazy flashing and fading is better than always on. 

I decided against trying to change the setting for fear of getting another one of those lovely little tingling zaps through my fingers. 

I suppose rather like coffee.

Next, Fluorine.

A highly toxic and flammable yellow gas.

Coffee isn't yellow, it is normally dark brown and if you manage to extract a good espresso then it comes with a light brown foamy crema - which I suppose could be likened to yellow.

I have to admit that I have not tried igniting the crema, and too much coffee can lead to explosive situations for some.

And finally, Iron.

Not the type of iron that you use to smooth wrinkles out of clothes, the element type. It has the number 26, which if you add the two digits together makes 8, which is a lucky number in Asia, and if you twist it on its side, it makes the infinity symbol:
∞
Infinite amounts of iron - coupled with the fact that it is probably the most common element, means that it is everywhere, even in us. Our bodies need iron to function. 

Ha! Tony Stark, we are all iron men - so don't think you are so special.

To recap: Cobalt is a chemical element in the earth's crust and is found only combined with other elements - so it has to go with Fluorine and Iron. Fluorine is explosive and toxic, but that is just an a digression. Iron is the most common element and our bodies need it to function properly. 

Ergo, the earth must be made of coffee and we should all drink it.

Likewise, it is small wonder volcanoes explode. Unless of course you are a Viking called Eric who has a pet dragon called Bert.
(what a good lead in for a plug for my book:

Available on LimeyLimericks on Etsy:

What has this got to do with Christmas? 

Absolutely nothing really, unless of course you were hoping for a coffee machine for Christmas, and then it has everything to do with the season of goodwill and giving gifts.

BAH HUMBUG