The Festive Season

Bah, Humbug!!

I am a Scrooge, and I admit it.

I'm sitting in an overly stuffy pub, during an overly warm winter, surrounded by family i'm supposed to love unconditionally. But don't. As I'm sure is the case with all families, I find family events something to approach with apprehension. To cope I turn to the one ally who has stood by me for the last 20 odd years: alcohol. In my hand is the largest glass of wine I could possibly purchase without buying a bottle. And yet, it's not enough.

In the background a hospital drama is paying on a large screen tv. A dull, monotonous soap that is unfathomably able to hold the gaze of everyone in the room. Out of the corner of my eye a woman's life is oozing from the stab wounds littering her body. I can sympathise. I can slowly feel my sanity seeping from my ears.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

I've nothing against Christmas per say. As a Theist I'm all for the celebration of a proposed Deity. But as the eldest of a family of five these past few weeks have only proceeded to illustrate further the extent of which the younger generations view the festive period as nothing more than a time of presents, food and tv.

When asked

"What do you think of when I say Christmas?"

My seven year old brother responds straight away with

"Presents!"

A short while later I hear from behind the sofa

"Um actually mistletoe, holly and Christ."

Well at least we got there in the end.

Welcome to 2012.