Good Twin / Evil Twin ?

I have two sons.

My favourite one talks to me pleasantly, is funny, makes himself a cup of tea and is occasionally helpful around the house.

The other one spends much of his time on the internet, playing electronic games or watching TV. He is intolerant of those around him, rude when spoken to, does little for himself and even less for anyone else.

They were born on the same day yet they are not twins.

'Good Twin' is a mature 20-something and 'Evil Twin' is a self-centred teen, 10 years his junior. Except that these ages are misleading.

An Only Child.

As a pre-schooler, my son was happy, cuddly, inquisitive, creative, chatty, always giggling. Primary school was a culture shock as he realised that the whole world did not revolve around him. However, he was mostly happy.

Senior school was a disaster and gave birth to Evil Twin.

My son is approaching 19, his 'Evil' self is exactly 5 years younger than his real age and his 'Good' self exactly 5 years older.

Good Twin re-emerged after a single term at university and is battling Evil Twin. I hope Good Twin wins.

Mum

White Christmas Collection Highlights

From the film Holiday Inn:



Link to duet with Rosemary Clooney (from the same film)

Bing Crosby sang duets with many artists, including Frank Sinatra:



& around 70 years later, with Michael Bublé!



Bublé has taken on this role of White Christmas duets. Disappointing not to find a video of the Shania Twain duet but here's the audio only version:



Also, the Kellie Pickler version was dreadful but a duet with Kelly Rowland is good.



...which brings us to the end of the White Christmas Collection Highlights.
Hope you enjoyed it.

BeeBop!

December - the recurring theme of Christmas

Trying hard not to be so 'humbug' about the whole Christmas thing, I've put up some decorations and a very nice tree AND splashed out on a couple of garden lights. It all looks quite nice... but there's no magic.

Starting with Christmas Cards - I dislike waste and, to me, that is exactly what Christmas cards represent. Whilst I genuinely appreciate the warmth of the greeting, the card itself presents a problem. To not waste the effort that went into the design and printing, in the past I used old cards to create new cards or gift tags for the following year, the surplus of which I donated to the village school who sold them cheaply at Christmas Fairs. Brilliantly, I have found somebody else who will use cards in this way so all cards are now recycled with very little effort from me.

Bah... Humbug!

Writing cards is a major effort, though, as I have lost my ability to write legibly. During the past 3 or 4 years, I've managed to send some cards to people I know. No plan, no list, just writing a few cards in response to those that trickled through the door. By mid-December, there's more of a deluge and, unable to keep up, I give up so only about 40% of the Happy Xmases have been reciprocated. That's assuming that Royal Mail employees can decipher the address scrawled on the envelope.

It's only a few days to Christmas and I haven't purchased a single present. Nor have I any inclination to do so but it's expected and, to be honest, the heavily decorated tree looks lonely without any wrapped gifts beneath it. However, the gift tokens that we'll be buying for our many nephews and nieces (because that's what they want) won't do the tree justice. Gift tokens - no wonder there's no magic... oh my god, I'm going to stop now. I've depressed myself into humbug mode after all... this wasn't the direction I meant to go with this post but, well, hey ho ho!

Em.Nester

CHRISTMAS Party Planning

This post was submitted on behalf of online party supplies wholesaler Novelties Direct of Watford, Hertfordshire.

Planning a last-minute party for Christmas or New Year?!Here are some tips...

Start with a Party Pack for the appropriate number of people plus a few more. For a small company celebration or family gathering, there are Party Packs for up to 10 people with various themes: gold, silver, rainbow, Monte Carlo, 'Tux Nite', '42nd Street' and more.  For more people, buy more packs or check out larger party packs for up to 25 people and save money with party packs for up to 100 guests.

You'll need some party decorations, of course: balloons, tinsel, wall hangings, danglers, glitzy table centre-pieces and perhaps a life-size, free-standing 6ft cardboard cut-out Santa?

Don't forget the Christmas Crackers! A variety of options available including a pack of 100 Christmas Crackers for under £30 inc. vat. Wow!

If you are organising a kids' party (for any age up to 109) you may want some inexpensive novelties or stocking fillers. And, finally, who is the most important guest at a Christmas Party? Provide your Father Christmas with a lovely red outfit (luxury Santa Suit / budget Santa Suit) and look at other dressing up ideas, depending on your party theme: 'Miss Santa', Children's Santa Suit, Children's Elf costume, Christmas tree costume, various other Christmas dressing up outfits and accessories.

Have a great party, a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

www.novelties-direct.co.uk

Book Reviews 2013

I downloaded a number of books this summer, including some classics. The ones I have read most recently are still in my memory and will be briefly reviewed here:

• Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
• Rushed - Brian Harmon
• Officer Jones - Derek Ciccone
• The Travel Auction - Mark Green

I had the Treasure Island book as a child but couldn't get into it. As an adult, I enjoyed reading it. Possibly some of the hero's feats are dubious but a good story and a happy ending puts this on my recommended book list. (UK)

The humorous telephone banter in Rushed kept me company during my journey with the main character, who was on a mystery quest that came to him in a recurring dream. The story itself was mostly interesting, as were most of the other characters who were introduced in the story-telling. Personally, I thought that the mystery should have been left as such at the end of the book because I felt that the explanation was a let-down. However, the 'hero' is worth getting to know and I would recommend this book as a worthy read - you may even like the ending. (USA)

A well-written novel about a TV news journalist who travels to the world's trouble spots and decides to cover one more job... after which he returns to his home town and the story focuses on Officer Jones, an exemplary cop with a perfect military and police background, apparently. It's a good investigative journalist story with a bit of a love interest. Formulaic, perhaps, but don't let that put you off, it's a good read and the characters in the book are so well described that they become people you feel you know. I wouldn't be surprised to see this as a TV mini-series. (USA)

The Travel Auction by Mark Green is a breath of fresh air. It's boy meets girl with a difference. I felt like a privileged friend to both as they shared their travel experiences and thoughts throughout the book. Amazingly, no - brilliantly - there was no gratuitous sex throughout the book, which some authors feel compelled to use in lieu of confident story-telling (I'm not saying that there's no sex). It has humour, drama and plot set in a travellers' guide to South America. I loved this book and thoroughly recommend it. According to the author's website, the paperback version may be available now/soon - a great stocking filler! (UK)

A Tale of 3 Hot Water Bottles

1. Waking up in the middle of the night, soaking wet, is a bit of a shock. First thought: Did I wet myself? A hot water bottle is very comforting if you live in an old house with draughty windows and no heating but beware of old hot water bottles with perished rubber.

2. How can a hot water bottle be so hot that it sets the curtains on fire? If someone has a mental health problem, this seems quite reasonable to them. Naively, I tried to calm our elderly neighbour, reasoning that the heat would burst the hot water bottle and the water would put out the fire. Next problem: "Flood! We're going to drown..."

3. If you're trying to keep heating costs down, putting a HWB in bed while you get ready to join it is a good idea. However, ensure that you replace the stopper correctly and, just in case, move the bottle and feel the sheet before you leap into bed. Last night, I had to strip the bed and leave the mattress to dry overnight, spending the remaining hours in the spare room. Still tired... Zzzzzzz

♪ ♫ Don't Let Me Down vs Don't Let Me Down ♪ ♫

About 5 years after The Beatles released Don't Let Me Down, Bad Company released a song with the same title - the 'Don't Let Me Down' chorus bit is quite similar too. Both are good but judge for yourselves:

Don't Let me Down

The Beatles (1969)

Bad Company (1974)

Beebopalula