CHRISTMAS!!!!

Christmas is nearly here. How wonderful. The weather is abysmal, people are running round town like lunatics trying to do their shopping, Santa is in his grotto, mince pies and festive tunes are making there rounds. And we are all anticipating stuffing ourselves with Christmas dinner, to the point of morbid obsesity only to 'exercise' it off in the New Year. Oh, wait, there is something I've forgotten. Jesus. Yeah, that's it. We have to remember what the 'true' meaning of Christmas is. It's all about Him, supposedly. "I'm not religious/ follow another religion", you say? Just sit in a dimmed corner of the sitting room and read the xmas bumper issue of this week's Heat. It is actually a gospel.  Thus, reading it will make you more in touch with Christianity then you ever were before. In this week's issue, Torso of the Week is Steve Jones, Jordan's out on the lash in LA and there's an interview with TOWIE's Lauren Goodger about spliting with Mark. You see, GOSPEL.

In all seriousness, though, I do love Christmas. I like the fact that everyone can find some kind of meaning from it, even if it's not religious, and how that changes over time. Particularly, I remember the Christmas when my mother returned after 6 weeks in America. Upon her arrival, yes I was happy to see her, but I wanted those presents: Polly Pockets, Barbies and a baby (doll). When I opened them, it was a fleeting acknowledgement that they were acceptable, an 'OH WOW' and a move onto the next gift. Like a conveyor belt. I had no soul (or rather, I was too young to attach a real meaning to Christmas.). My sister really was more grateful (she being the older sibling). She got given a 'Olympic' tracksuit, you know, like the American team wore? It had the colours of the flag and 'USA' stitched onto it. Expressing her gratitude through terrible whooping cough or 'whoopers' as me and her termed it, she loved everything about the outfit, even if it was XXXXL large, because it was something given to her by mother (She understood that Santa was not real, by this stage, or at least I hope she did.). I don't know what's happened to it, I think we still do have it or it has been incinerated. Either way,  she eventually realised that, even though it was given to her by mum/Santa, she could not wear it out in public without Social Services being alerted.

Still, this Christmas was all about the presents for me and most significantly, not being thankful for them. We whacked on a mix-tape of Christmas tunes. We thought we'd go with the whole Christianity thing, notably 'Gaudete', a sacred 16th Century Christmas carol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=447ZTXdDODQ


As you get older, I do think it becomes more about family. The gifts are not as important as spending time with loved ones. Now, it's just really nice to be together. Eventhough, this year, it will be just me, dad and my sister with the mother away. This won't deter us from laughing, watching old family videos and, most of all, enjoy eachother's company.

I'm very much looking forward to it all. And yes, we will have that copy of Heat by our side, not to be used in any religious circumstances, but purely for celebrity news and entertainment.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Steph xxxxx