tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458001180440620982024-03-19T03:50:03.426+00:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-76864505120037637342008-12-26T00:01:00.001+00:002008-12-26T12:33:41.594+00:00Boxing Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieunjFiYMwdzV7udGjrZkUJm74B98pvdYxhTTGE2ftaIe3q9SLcxqEfXerYAiD6yZBbKQe7Lv8tDUpT3pyCPaCZAuBrachHnJH57Tr3VTwqpstly4Hv7Wu5H5AL1qgjEMgWFtrBJYNYCqr/s1600-h/box+with+red+ribbon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284075770113438354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieunjFiYMwdzV7udGjrZkUJm74B98pvdYxhTTGE2ftaIe3q9SLcxqEfXerYAiD6yZBbKQe7Lv8tDUpT3pyCPaCZAuBrachHnJH57Tr3VTwqpstly4Hv7Wu5H5AL1qgjEMgWFtrBJYNYCqr/s400/box+with+red+ribbon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><em>"Boxing Day dates back to past centuries when it was the custom for the wealthy to give gifts to employees or to people in a lower social class, most especially to household servants and other service personne. As with Christmas itself, some elements of Boxing Day are also likely related to, and ultimately derived from, the ancient Roman Saturnalia, which also had elements of gift giving and social role reversal."</em></div><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-33633297433656008202008-12-25T00:01:00.000+00:002008-12-25T00:01:00.217+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8b7Np_2TgLFekyZhglI0enHOwNj6nJXj8ZrLa-V1WpkXgRhkyHLS7NL9yriWDsq7RwuKq-sqXlBkTioslgj5fv4GkVrR9YP9xNMD9w6jtG3uVKWxV0OzmRxFR9sbV-KFE_RfLSuBGbEE/s1600-h/xmas+nap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273688595070609218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 337px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8b7Np_2TgLFekyZhglI0enHOwNj6nJXj8ZrLa-V1WpkXgRhkyHLS7NL9yriWDsq7RwuKq-sqXlBkTioslgj5fv4GkVrR9YP9xNMD9w6jtG3uVKWxV0OzmRxFR9sbV-KFE_RfLSuBGbEE/s400/xmas+nap.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-28659175915053938492008-12-24T00:01:00.000+00:002008-12-23T23:54:58.478+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQoarp_YDpeuNtQ0fXgpJD0BxqtGHZVwaEoK1Rx7HsP6R5hrZ3QvDoqpwrUyo_Qdw1QaUI08rLU1aJbFpCMmHeVNKJ-kreyL4XYF8fzRS4kk2OLqDZH972j8YMhG2wDKd-gZL4GzRJE2t/s1600-h/xmas+decs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273688987902582642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQoarp_YDpeuNtQ0fXgpJD0BxqtGHZVwaEoK1Rx7HsP6R5hrZ3QvDoqpwrUyo_Qdw1QaUI08rLU1aJbFpCMmHeVNKJ-kreyL4XYF8fzRS4kk2OLqDZH972j8YMhG2wDKd-gZL4GzRJE2t/s400/xmas+decs.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFj4D11Wmn4"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>ps:</strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus!</span></em></span></a><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">as sung by THE RONETTES<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Bs8vZ7qJE&feature=related"><span style="color:#ff0000;">with a little bit of this<br />from Aled<br />then and now. . .(!)</span></a></span></em></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-70926675751672645282008-12-23T00:01:00.004+00:002008-12-23T00:22:26.539+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsByZwJycyRTHg6Fqz_4CPjuIakdLzZ4cdtrEPxd-uJSDWvPINJGLrcxZVgzSlCGirk0-hep3FLiU4uEmBMzQvG69nnLQmnza_GS-UNR8HH5Mpz1vlsiPSVx6SQdv8MfMUuJtTxdsWVK2/s1600-h/candles3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282738847180205682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 397px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsByZwJycyRTHg6Fqz_4CPjuIakdLzZ4cdtrEPxd-uJSDWvPINJGLrcxZVgzSlCGirk0-hep3FLiU4uEmBMzQvG69nnLQmnza_GS-UNR8HH5Mpz1vlsiPSVx6SQdv8MfMUuJtTxdsWVK2/s400/candles3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3uPrJR7IY&feature=related"><span style="color:#ff0000;">it's another silent night</span></a></em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282740002458356002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVD8m_4tmynxo-zWdkN9SFDwJ8XZBF6GexYp1NUTiLBDQlEPooSCbLt8apf69ojmDrKNfwLE787V6QVPoJdV77UaoQBulaevikf7naYPLnu15SGJgCoyY64M6dqMTahcXMHsYoxsMN4BL/s400/snowy+river.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>sleep in heavenly peace<br /><br />X</strong></em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-92216614793201002242008-12-22T00:01:00.005+00:002008-12-22T02:49:19.657+00:00<div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Santa Baby, just slip a sable under the tree<br />For me<br />Been an awful good girl<br />Santa Baby,<br />So hurry down the chimney tonight<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282374687505083970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 397px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyNtdYBCm9jzmWNhyphenhyphenz997B_RGZWkn7EAeF2vNBT9SE5FfcugmyhsMcfD4XuzgpKI63oXhRL_-l1jwHXs-AFjaSx39a1ZqZI9hJSxv6c468nKPMpOc-huuC-hOB36tl-vEGpx0OHOXfZXy/s400/xmas+trendy.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue<br />I'll wait up for you, dear<br />Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight<br /><br />Think of all the fun I've missed<br />Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed<br /><br />Next year I could be just as good<br />If you'll check out my Christmas list<br /><br /></span></em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282370973329023666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr0x_BVb6mWdsxtGBB4iglF8In0oq7bE3EpPNMndUaqAx7ZyGP-gEmb54t0ZgzKCNap8D6kbMpgDQYMcHj9wEYbNp_apV-Yr4lv0RhCl0sW1fNs120oPPYuEfo465VAHVHxiAEI65iuhZ/s400/rockwell+christmas+4.jpg" border="0" /> <em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Santa Baby, I want a yacht<br />And really that's not<br />A lot<br />Been an angel all year<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282440605325221138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-qWoEtSUpEKM8v64nssBpcGs3VpbpMNARwwA9iRlPAJ6MQhvz8nzh8nwXMyqrlPH1GitfTZZu9MO3cGCzWPiW4ZrvpChg7SwsH_4MfthoNPjs1TB74cLfurUFCj0J-bwr_4Udb6nVqoQ/s400/angel+sleeping.jpg" border="0" /><br />Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight<br /><br /><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Santa honey,<br />One little thing I really need, the deed<br />To a platinum mine<br />Santa Baby,<br />So hurry down the chimney tonight<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282369695867243570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GeAk387c8biiJC3WrFy-WP1dkURkVKodaLqCye_K5_cm2la_qgXthh8Ey91EKbDD6okO6eiX_UUtKnySqSdeYNtle0dOJAy29b96kti4WUTkCjxVAZc5hROYZDn0JMlZDOx4G0zG0v1U/s400/Rockwell_Santa.jpg" border="0" /><br />Santa cutie,<br />Fill my stocking with a duplex<br /><br /></span></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282376660958332610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwEYKzW-ieRuJ4XbOoF4FaPHgZd2FOHI7vXqRkKOkw6_fVpJJokfZAoMfNa-NllsFnO7E393Agn-xG4FICgV2wnQlrRWcFkXFgO-hpkcua18c2gH1KBUI_N-MVUEe0qUY-P3Z5McIqO7V/s400/christmas+stocking.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">And checks, sign your 'x' on the line<br />Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight<br /></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Come and trim my Christmas tree<br /><br /></span></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282375777981962050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiRaDiDSdT4AnNDmzs4ynEj8WVQkYHGjgXw71sHLLeOnH5ECLpKDeEfvLzPDU6hV8cpLm0lxMPnkDh6YfIMItmlRTMb4jdejoOcj5CshNgOMglQxm3RHI2L82SiQRnX-0Zyy4t4wGtIWX/s400/christmas+tree.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>With some decorations bought at Tiffany's</em></span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282375212449745090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWAMCf_imv8N-HEWFaQ9waCu8j8aP9VFj2YJ1WfVzrQCzqdKFL3jRCllEuDMxM7jiZw8wMyop9vkbbPaA0uXm9W_vbYVaZS55F-2SrgjcLdX4bB6a4BsIf89TtBxJ1D2IZLIgmQuMcA5c/s400/Tiffany+Box.png" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I really do believe in you<br />Let's see if you believe in me!<br /><br />Santa Baby,<br />Forgot to mention one little thing, a ring<br />I don't mean on the phone<br /><strong>(but that works, sometimes!)</strong><br />Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight<br />Hurry down the chimney tonight<br />Hurry...Tonight<br /></span></em><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>as sung by<br /></strong></span></em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOMmSbxB_Sg"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><em><strong>EARTHA KITT</strong></em></span></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-56747855643568138122008-12-21T00:01:00.003+00:002008-12-21T00:58:05.389+00:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenACmjdr8jL2PL9FfYMske2P3BUapJ630R-6ZLv2fsmgjPIlT1L9dVWuoZtP9j72pLVXNjUYeiV0dyUKuOI6GXLCJyKMh0qISGORDrXZb7QiR0Rv4Yt_ypd9MU2f42MQiBdWLU9aDwfLs/s1600-h/reindeer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281986436984063714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenACmjdr8jL2PL9FfYMske2P3BUapJ630R-6ZLv2fsmgjPIlT1L9dVWuoZtP9j72pLVXNjUYeiV0dyUKuOI6GXLCJyKMh0qISGORDrXZb7QiR0Rv4Yt_ypd9MU2f42MQiBdWLU9aDwfLs/s400/reindeer.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong> you know<br /></strong><em><strong>Dasher and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen;<br />Comet and Cupid, and Donner and Blitzen?<br /></strong></em><br /><em>well, did you know:</em><br /><br /><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">“The famous Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer started life as a poem created by an American advertising executive called Robert May. He was requested to produce a poem that could be given away to children by the Santa Claus employed by Department Stores at Christmas! Working as an Advertising Executive, Robert May had a natural flair with words and was able to compose the Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer poem which was specifically designed to appeal to children. This marketing ploy was a massive success and approximately 2.5 million Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer poems were given away in the first year of its publication! In 1949 the singer Gene Autry recorded a musical version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer composed by Johnny Marks."<br /></span></em></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />so, now you know. . .</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">let's all sing!<br /></span></strong><br />"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pISgVQOj_QM"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>rudolph the red nosed reindeer. . .</em></span></a>"</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-21769855912729775642008-12-20T00:01:00.000+00:002008-12-19T22:40:46.158+00:00<div align="center">on snow. . .<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1G8VtnN9Xb-5Fg-RHkzgzuc9noD9ndvkgTTrrrYMblnDjcxFVtyzxSgP_qoHMw-Udxara4HRX17xuET88vcuscL-tVpfZF6e73D8qC7AjV6lVM4RSKxKVbfQ3PtCPNwrq8yrOed8vGX4/s1600-h/snowing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281632615376337666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1G8VtnN9Xb-5Fg-RHkzgzuc9noD9ndvkgTTrrrYMblnDjcxFVtyzxSgP_qoHMw-Udxara4HRX17xuET88vcuscL-tVpfZF6e73D8qC7AjV6lVM4RSKxKVbfQ3PtCPNwrq8yrOed8vGX4/s400/snowing.jpg" border="0" /></a>. . .men. . .<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281632037267237602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHZpF8Jv-4PiZyjP-OeB2fJm1VEmSkPxMXAXd5w24YXIg5euQNalf4VNEgVnpgYfZHWzFy6Kq20IAdT1dlZyvLwPxDdZdzPOXo89x466UdEt5wXXgwVI4pQ8n_BaBcuSGoT-h4vo13ia1/s400/snowman+quilt.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0wgj26-Xv6ClGvwGAsSIRtVFnz_31P53uh8HHDXva9gH70ZY1nHs3_rqou4-hZ0o0P4zdmAH5-biiZ7VFawes_b-K5G0bt3dpYg7bEUhhGZlAmB9RJJfwlTeZOjqYZLOKfGzxVDPqpg6/s1600-h/snowman+balloon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281632484479342098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0wgj26-Xv6ClGvwGAsSIRtVFnz_31P53uh8HHDXva9gH70ZY1nHs3_rqou4-hZ0o0P4zdmAH5-biiZ7VFawes_b-K5G0bt3dpYg7bEUhhGZlAmB9RJJfwlTeZOjqYZLOKfGzxVDPqpg6/s400/snowman+balloon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTp_ca3MWPU2wPNjZ2fw3UVvF5FxArhRGP0BWOoG-uW0VoG3q4pIyVUUkYiKvxUKTUptQNinJ60Ajx1XHmVMhZHSUTgZpgpENOllDeyXDTuK9rfNplkkJjyWviorvDvMkGxP6TKmP6Gcc/s1600-h/Snowman+evil.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281632332992147218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTp_ca3MWPU2wPNjZ2fw3UVvF5FxArhRGP0BWOoG-uW0VoG3q4pIyVUUkYiKvxUKTUptQNinJ60Ajx1XHmVMhZHSUTgZpgpENOllDeyXDTuK9rfNplkkJjyWviorvDvMkGxP6TKmP6Gcc/s400/Snowman+evil.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGlYmsNSbZa5G8PagkXHnH0_opCg9l5Rb9MgUsrSjjJyno8KdxCTnFKPj1vrG0PRNbrwngS3dSHr5RNKfTvA73ksvuQzO5sWa2PXYbRU80boJVWH211HFGGvT9r1B3wve_tXz0tY0rVsz/s1600-h/snowman+japanese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281632199658433426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGlYmsNSbZa5G8PagkXHnH0_opCg9l5Rb9MgUsrSjjJyno8KdxCTnFKPj1vrG0PRNbrwngS3dSHr5RNKfTvA73ksvuQzO5sWa2PXYbRU80boJVWH211HFGGvT9r1B3wve_tXz0tY0rVsz/s400/snowman+japanese.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA4IWgGVF3it0NTGotRbUoistpE2Wkw0TEjWeLpzaO3qv8um2g6FEeEfJeSy3R8FBDO3CTM8Ua9iTEuuO3EVTtyIfbJrNARG680GQeflOtpma7yYV2Iu9rHtnrNTJZxPBQO_SI-eVSfEp/s1600-h/snowman+soldiers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281631845313594370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA4IWgGVF3it0NTGotRbUoistpE2Wkw0TEjWeLpzaO3qv8um2g6FEeEfJeSy3R8FBDO3CTM8Ua9iTEuuO3EVTtyIfbJrNARG680GQeflOtpma7yYV2Iu9rHtnrNTJZxPBQO_SI-eVSfEp/s400/snowman+soldiers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>. . .and an angel<br /></strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281632899074185282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSN45Jxr0D0HOooU7fo1U5gnhSdWolfFMtGLndlFmSc8jR1guwChQILGaEP6ouVBg1MZBOfIwntAfXwEu9i2KsC9Ica29cYRinyBf9DgDQ682Vq-TwpLRY9N-RnOG7qLjHzkdkxH6xKAo/s400/Snow+angel2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em>Oh the weather outside is frightful<br />But the fire is so delightful<br />And since we've no place to go<br />Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow<br /><br />It doesn't show signs of stopping<br />And I've brought some corn for popping<br />The lights are turned way down low<br />Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow<br /><br />When we finally kiss goodnight<br />How I hate going out in the storm<br />But if you really hold me tight<br />All the way home I'll be warm<br /><br />The fire is slowly dying<br />And my dear we're still goodbye-ing<br />As long as you love me so<br />Let it snow, let it snow, let it<br />As long you love me so<br />Let it snow, Let it Snow, Let it snow<br /></em><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8BH4M9V1N8"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em><strong>Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow<br />Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow</strong></em></span></a></div></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-24611679075780774912008-12-19T00:01:00.003+00:002008-12-21T22:53:53.684+00:00"would you like that gift wrapped?"<div align="center">"yes. . ."<br />"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuhdWVe00wE"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>lovely. . .</strong></span></em></a>"</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281032941098349730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC7q7gZqAERerOhsdOjqZTHdmb7qEI75PTAw8bZhDtJkQ2NZS105l3iEPqY5DXEXuYO0u-seekgYFlqf5FkMJ7oMjr8ZuxZVqP94-O4anRsz5nRDNeVPF8mhheXzXBwc5mgxzB4IKGCg0/s400/holly+sprig.jpg" border="0" /><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-79589196448408319472008-12-18T00:01:00.003+00:002008-12-21T22:55:01.519+00:00<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">It was Christmas Eve, babe<br />In the drunk tank<br />An old man said to me,<br />"Won't see another one"<br />And then he sang a song<br />The rare old mountain dew<br />I turned my face away<br />And dreamed about you<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280848738946000162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdw-k8VSpx84x-eHVxkjn66Y20pdOgSQaj_jFPPa-evuk00wGjKF3xfEXSd-VByerYQjaX2sn2fFH8ZVbeu3voe-KTHUAT_9fQzCf0UKWBQ9_qYLAd94wZx8w2h8s8fIcDN112M_mfsQnb/s400/xmas+nyc2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Got on a lucky one<br />Came in eighteen to one<br />I've got a feeling<br />This year's for me and you<br />So Happy Christmas<br />I love you, baby<br />I can see a better time<br />When all our dreams come true </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280848617041625506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccx1n-LoI4XovXovxaw2KjAzHe7r0GBi4x-ysCj_1qe7c1BM64jhma1UjZUS7cRfQYQ9QVbGmTyV-vx2hWqIluPoDfQSRkwvHtyQedMPhP4aw-VEewUEQxB2Sw0islzwKE9Jofj-NPA0d/s400/xmas+nyc.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">They've got cars big as bars<br />They've got rivers of gold<br />But the wind goes right through you<br />It's no place for the old<br />When you first took my hand<br />On a cold Christmas Eve<br />You promised me<br />Broadway was waiting for me<br />You were handsome<br />You were pretty<br />Queen of New York City<br />When the band finished playing<br />They howled out for more<br />Sinatra was swinging<br />All the drunks they were singing<br />We kissed on a corner<br />Then danced through the night </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280848446342285554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3sO0ehoW1Tq9jUpniv51GhTSbvOLf_YssdH-WFEz6_G0iqh1Rs_cQ4kC020A2C-PaBFoTo_mLCrtyZypJ1_Z-Lcy01MbiIxDyv_1usE43egJgEhnfcKCpM7gH4F3YuteTmJQriIoM4Me/s400/xmas+nyc3.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The boys of the NYPD choir<br />Were singing Galway Bay<br />And the bells were ringing out<br />For Christmas Day<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280848275883557266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcDhUqlKc8lCYVb3yHgSZhW-R-K-G2NsZ1GNZQ4iO-ge4MDWE_R9mshHxVEZ919XL2VjHonZBz3Tz3VJ2zRVCYPAseCyIC-NzAIUpdC8szwqGyp4EKwhF5TUsKBbAeFktES5efSA7gtHG/s400/xmas+nyc4.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">You're a bum<br />You're a punk<br />You're an old slut on junk<br />Lying there, almost dead on a drip in that bed<br />You scumbag, you maggot<br />You cheap lousy faggot<br />Happy Christmas your arse<br />I pray God it's our last </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280848151126146946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 328px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yLxlK5NSoqj4yhvCMCYHx6BPWL-WtHwyoQleRH_ytwtoDH3VzazS_oVSvLwshIQqRwhsoKySA8_lv-2j51VWx_ihj1G7yfgVt8DYnZ_hvoxB-NmiUz21vtsKkB9_VFa4kvLJrDODGG9F/s400/xmas+nyc5.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The boys of the NYPD choir<br />Were singing Galway Bay<br />And the bells were ringing out<br />For Christmas Day </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280850567958150642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWN0TJrIDr3gwvxDDShXv3T19Hj5aaJtwN86dbhbPrL2LzU9w8K8-MOUFl-Ite9bhEhCr8b0VAJv4E1IEE2P9_TRMMRZTjJKsLnHR32nBdTpKMIxNM10XnXc0jVmRK3UOr_HyGTdMAFmS/s400/xmas+nyc6.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">I could have been someone<br />Well so could anyone<br />You took my dreams from me<br />When I first found you<br />I kept them with me babe<br />I put them with my own<br />Can't make it all alone<br />I've built my dreams around you </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280850378376399762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrxD15YdeabUZ6OADcARaVFrCm1lY5JiefsZf4ToddU0RvjPndWMShQydsyAHZK0ERg0tMjey2_Es-jMnyYhxAV4di5KITglWSTT29iJMTZWO1_7DITSsQaX4Lzu319pMo2Eyp72Qmtmy/s400/xmas+nyc8.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The boys of the NYPD choir<br />Were singing Galway Bay<br />And the bells were ringing out<br />For Christmas Day</span></em><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280847923028007122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlNFl9cpGgm8x-KkR9ZMK1RnbeKEEt1DN2By-8y5WfI5ZFsMOU7sPhqb_n6Wjb5LIQ_jcS5XQKAldX13vvEJuRfiLcZnOnQd1CrINg2g-xCaUqp6YCL6gwduRpEmHy_Xc01emnnOxk37M/s400/nypd+pipeband.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff3aoSyYOVs&feature=related"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">my favourite Christmas song ever</span></em></strong></a></div><br /><div align="center"><em>(not carol, <strong>song</strong>)<br /><br />and my favourite city. . .<br /><br />and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig3EjNlKP5M&feature=related"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>here</strong></span></a> is the song sung by <strong>Katie Meluha</strong><br />(rather than Kirsty MacColl)<br />altho the front man from <strong>The Pogues</strong> is a little worse for wear<br />in this rendition. . .<br /><br />(and there's actually not an NYPD choir,<br />so you have the pipe band instead)</em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-28190535899986884952008-12-17T00:01:00.001+00:002008-12-17T00:01:00.570+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLDiqAijBpAeBHEJ60szNevMw2VzBke66QK03DV9RGCi33dOvw_qAKqBCeIBYFtCLtRQL83RnDHlOQbuxG4lemCYbIlBLt4V6DVE-0Uu_96O37AOqku3QDB6Zhwtn__Bl7bOvRr85hhYZ/s1600-h/bethlehem.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280403482022976946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLDiqAijBpAeBHEJ60szNevMw2VzBke66QK03DV9RGCi33dOvw_qAKqBCeIBYFtCLtRQL83RnDHlOQbuxG4lemCYbIlBLt4V6DVE-0Uu_96O37AOqku3QDB6Zhwtn__Bl7bOvRr85hhYZ/s400/bethlehem.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><div align="center">I used to love singing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-Aa5FCqaew&feature=related"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em><strong>this </strong></em></span></a>when I was a child<br />and I still do. . .<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">enjoy!</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-3050527334683235212008-12-16T00:01:00.002+00:002008-12-16T07:46:01.698+00:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDqs-Cp9jnoRnvfeM5eKFnrVXcjdml1eTlgSKlQFkoRnoZJIx_rlp9d0ZEuKUS7N56J_WUXa75IO_BdyDAMfqh8kvXE_Mb1kpHoBOxxVxB4Xldyf_DDc23ORXD1ayblSUq3x6fA69zrvn/s1600-h/cracker+pulling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280145701343303282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDqs-Cp9jnoRnvfeM5eKFnrVXcjdml1eTlgSKlQFkoRnoZJIx_rlp9d0ZEuKUS7N56J_WUXa75IO_BdyDAMfqh8kvXE_Mb1kpHoBOxxVxB4Xldyf_DDc23ORXD1ayblSUq3x6fA69zrvn/s400/cracker+pulling.jpg" border="0" /></a> crackers are odd -<br />the silly paper hat, the silly joke,<br />the silly motto, the silly toy. . .<br />but we pull them,<br /><strong>we <em>love</em> the <span style="font-size:180%;"><em>BANG</em>!<br /></span></strong>and we enjoy them all the same</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgVZMKBr4CVoPFUCXTbDycIi26Co69w_TwECr1UO_NNrcsJti39oweEYdI6-7TQ_aCcFvhQRyqlyK0xJbEQ6v9aVusu5UYJwmRcqhasCEw1mX-W5JwLSQw_g0mSY35h7LBxmqz45TRfcZ/s1600-h/crackers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280145429620855970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 367px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgVZMKBr4CVoPFUCXTbDycIi26Co69w_TwECr1UO_NNrcsJti39oweEYdI6-7TQ_aCcFvhQRyqlyK0xJbEQ6v9aVusu5UYJwmRcqhasCEw1mX-W5JwLSQw_g0mSY35h7LBxmqz45TRfcZ/s400/crackers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280145295378447842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4INF_IfBDyWIGpUfBqgijAWKDCEDv5RICaE56Wkn7UTEnu7uOM9GchnA2KMSRUo-vLZShdtsrIINijLQ5oQqm82wGQa4mwi1qwVQlUtrkQOaS2S5TLM6RgFl1sKiFzPoDO5VUM0RNOzM/s400/cracker+2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYp_iIYXXPEymnnF2dVBlTrmVB5bvpG44f7TG_9aaBkqWY_60c5EBqC1zzrnZMEwpGkUPetxKvA7RTq4wBK7R1ZwgHZ9hbZkfw58Er6ZKyw4e52_5ho33sWXe55LGTEh7znzqrBda1GttM/s1600-h/cracker+rainbow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280145045368079842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYp_iIYXXPEymnnF2dVBlTrmVB5bvpG44f7TG_9aaBkqWY_60c5EBqC1zzrnZMEwpGkUPetxKvA7RTq4wBK7R1ZwgHZ9hbZkfw58Er6ZKyw4e52_5ho33sWXe55LGTEh7znzqrBda1GttM/s400/cracker+rainbow.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280145221494696242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnY5coFW5L0qivnHVOpxEEzEeO0FHxwEdKu3DOOcXlBcEfis3f0O3N1GWxDQGkyt_A-aqRQc5kvBA607LBoGEX3O8Xh4cv7n5nKpHHEKMkKFweqo6voUPS-U5VtsmuiKp1Ggkjv2CECz0/s400/crackers+4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBvUJgOYLoS9uG7iL8MTivgU5E0y2stRAlH5c-NVhZENw4NtSgSpIj8xsxy-wyRKMAS8ZqWAcmuT9DM9swcTSQ2FNvdjeTPB275DZpRuIbz3HcTjWvk9arh-kttu5PdtH1ueSyz7QVB4-/s1600-h/crackers+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280144615668724226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBvUJgOYLoS9uG7iL8MTivgU5E0y2stRAlH5c-NVhZENw4NtSgSpIj8xsxy-wyRKMAS8ZqWAcmuT9DM9swcTSQ2FNvdjeTPB275DZpRuIbz3HcTjWvk9arh-kttu5PdtH1ueSyz7QVB4-/s400/crackers+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy8isOGnVZDrxdm24uVQ1n69GjQpw-j42JkbyDcYu0Uy169ioLm2y7wqBy_mOgFf4ObY2ftInA1tuy7wxsB02QjDWjt4pKPszSPkR8lyO-oHljcnMD-SASc5iNOUNpRs7hDdJOedF4_AM/s1600-h/cracker..jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280144362853783874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy8isOGnVZDrxdm24uVQ1n69GjQpw-j42JkbyDcYu0Uy169ioLm2y7wqBy_mOgFf4ObY2ftInA1tuy7wxsB02QjDWjt4pKPszSPkR8lyO-oHljcnMD-SASc5iNOUNpRs7hDdJOedF4_AM/s400/cracker..jpg" border="0" /></a><br />crackers were invented by a guy called Tom Smith <a href="http://www.absolutelycrackers.com/historynew.html"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>(find the history here)</strong></span> </a>and I'm glad for that - they are so silly and trite, but it is quite wonderful to have crackers at Christmas. . .<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280148238372344498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhRQSi4YtqL-vLkOFpBZoeo-DFkCc_1BgyoA1tNgY_c57Wt1RqtYN3Ccjg5c7MrPtkc6tO6EMHPhzKx7I_fn428G-Jybh_YCuPVy299GSk1s9RNlLRdcSuKaIPPtO62pi3Khez_5AN034/s400/cracker+wallace.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>. . .and I like them with cheese too </div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-78004242630020429062008-12-15T00:01:00.002+00:002008-12-21T22:54:31.769+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r6VIBMZPBL3CNDQg-qQ5j1cl8J0vl823idgUaAdfpuc7o3_fcP3XivnpaZEMlqdXJDzpULrMBn0h1JsvKl5wn9tDeidWxRKqLWPzdLV95xy0YohdGniUydrzO6o7FCMH-pw6v2KEq5U5/s1600-h/xmas+lights.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278093153690575570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r6VIBMZPBL3CNDQg-qQ5j1cl8J0vl823idgUaAdfpuc7o3_fcP3XivnpaZEMlqdXJDzpULrMBn0h1JsvKl5wn9tDeidWxRKqLWPzdLV95xy0YohdGniUydrzO6o7FCMH-pw6v2KEq5U5/s400/xmas+lights.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVSmT4nNEkQ&feature=related"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">I don't want a lot for Christmas</span></em></a><span style="color:#ff0000;">. . .</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-63608851729868486572008-12-14T00:01:00.003+00:002008-12-13T16:23:46.082+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5oOuKaUEYPMq28WgkE69xASvowjuyBA03jxk0o6HV1M3mi-HRC36lyrHizxQU-DDB56efDcnF_XCdfRoJoodAmbadDQjgGuVGyzOACpp2EilIutp_-j5mmVy1iz3FDilc1O5TodLJX_V/s1600-h/silent+night.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279310081504315938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5oOuKaUEYPMq28WgkE69xASvowjuyBA03jxk0o6HV1M3mi-HRC36lyrHizxQU-DDB56efDcnF_XCdfRoJoodAmbadDQjgGuVGyzOACpp2EilIutp_-j5mmVy1iz3FDilc1O5TodLJX_V/s400/silent+night.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">silent night</span></em></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87q5dmW6zDg"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">as sung by<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Ms O'CONNOR</span></strong></em></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">that was so beautiful,<br />I don't need to add<br />anything really<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />(but I have to!)<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>*whispers*<br /></strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />I was brought up listening to my mother's records of the Vienna Boys' Choir. . .<br />so "pop" versions of carols never quite <em>do it</em> for me<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">(</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwyNnHgKMkg"><span style="color:#ff0000;">however much I admire Aled)<br /></span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4puLybRGSAw&feature=related"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">here's a more traditional version</span></strong></a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-4802853811761414202008-12-13T00:01:00.001+00:002008-12-13T09:39:51.440+00:00<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvfwDeFGYHY_pUQ0s-mXGE2tsLec0f89bomRf41nIhVkgLVgifa9lxuohU07AdqgnpJ1ZhMwOt_OOxJ4aP3F-g8EgktajW-jFIzuvnnl-rkKiz2ysZaU_EXukcrAcZDEEE_TL74j7pLoi/s1600-h/xmas+money.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278482762993288066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvfwDeFGYHY_pUQ0s-mXGE2tsLec0f89bomRf41nIhVkgLVgifa9lxuohU07AdqgnpJ1ZhMwOt_OOxJ4aP3F-g8EgktajW-jFIzuvnnl-rkKiz2ysZaU_EXukcrAcZDEEE_TL74j7pLoi/s400/xmas+money.jpg" border="0" /></a>Christmas for me has always included foil covered chocolate money. . .</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">. <div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXpgFkNz8o3QlLtiSEdfI35CMO9pgbblF4VLsDAr4B1XT_qtz7MdCUziOLqXw0i0SIsRnfcsyO6IQ3zlFtrmRkkvob4jZOI82HrlDrf4MjyW2K44o-JdNAAgYHk2xG5zeE-U_bEHQhsgz/s1600-h/xmas+Chocolate+money+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278484388498215266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXpgFkNz8o3QlLtiSEdfI35CMO9pgbblF4VLsDAr4B1XT_qtz7MdCUziOLqXw0i0SIsRnfcsyO6IQ3zlFtrmRkkvob4jZOI82HrlDrf4MjyW2K44o-JdNAAgYHk2xG5zeE-U_bEHQhsgz/s400/xmas+Chocolate+money+2.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">. . . a few coins in the toe of my childhood Christmas stocking (usually my largest sock); a bag each in the toe of my children's Christmas stockings (always beautifully handmade by moi, out of lovely seasonal fabrics with ric rac and sparkles and and and and) and some more hung on the tree in the deepest darkest middlest parts; I often undergo a chocolate money quest - hunting down the different varieties each year so there was a good selection. . .<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278483625677925074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ElFQn64d9Xxx9aMqh4jj-pI1Hd9Ql1ofZAON6En-WVN5gfgspwV9e44_AFwt1UL8L8y4BF9J48luiE5s-JaYj6zscZzHUHG88-eulR5VEzk8x-L2niU0ndVLI3cB2j6uRREVR93N7mXd/s400/xmas+Chocolate+money.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">. . .this year I've sourced a seletion of varying sizes of individual coins, bags of Imperial coins, bags of "new" money, and - for the first time - Euros (the bags of which also contain small slabs of chocolate notes) (inflation, eh). . .<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">a little history:</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><br /><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"Chocolate money, chocolate coins, consists of small disks of </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">chocolate</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> moulded into the shape of </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">coins</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">, and wrapped in gold or </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">silver foil</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> for added effect. It has no value as </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">currency</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">, but is sometimes used as "play money" by children as well as being consumed as a snack. Chocolate coins were likely invented to be a substitute for </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Hanukkah gelt</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> or rededication money</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> and are often used in place of real money in </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">dreidel</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> games. For use by observant Jews, Hanukkah Gelt should be certified Kosher."</span></em></div><div align="center"><br />so, for anyone who would like <em><strong>this</strong></em> calendar<br />to contain some chocolate -<em> here it is. . .<br /></em><br /><em>. . .</em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ZZY9Fwd8k&NR=1"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>chocolate</em></span></strong></a><em>. . .<br /></em><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">(-:</span></strong> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-85800089926792948012008-12-12T00:01:00.002+00:002008-12-11T23:11:58.179+00:00the 12 days of Christmas<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">not that anyone's counting. . .</span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278560473696688818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGsLZGajWaoELY3L2P4T_j7dZzhoVoHg-ZhdWMIoq7wq4rVuUeeeBpSaspuI_Mldew13vnWmC5wCDx-CAoGVAukqL0Z7eaYe5iOxTcxt27UCx_qo499Uv-QBCoRvFlTftyAVFrdykM6wn/s400/12+days+of+xmas.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDBMzGq1vhs&feature=related"><span style="color:#ff0000;">on the first day of Christmas<br />my true love gave to me. . .<br /></span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br /><strong>a little history:</strong></div><span style="color:#ffffff;">...</span><br /><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide), are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day through the morning of Epiphany(January 6). The associated evenings of the twelve days begin on the evening before the specified day. Thus, the first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6.<br /><br />"Over the centuries, differing churches and sects of Christianity have changed the actual traditions, time frame, and their interpretations. St. Stephen's Day, for example, is December 26 in the Western Church and December 27 in the Eastern Church. December 26 is </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Boxing Day</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> in the United Kingdom and some of its former colonies; December 28 is Childermas or the Feast of the Innocents. Currently, the twelve days and nights are celebrated in widely varying ways around the world. For example, some give gifts only on Christmas night, some only on Twelfth Night, and some each of the 12 nights.</span></em></div><p align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"In the Middle Ages, this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season. Twelfth Night itself was forever solidified in popular culture when William Shakespeare used it as setting for one of his most famous stage plays - <strong>Twelfth Night</strong>.<br /><br />"Some of these traditions were adapted from the older pagan customs, including the </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Roman</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Saturnalia. Some also have an echo in modern day pantomime where traditionally authority is mocked and the principal male lead is played by a woman, while the leading older female character, or 'Dame', is played by a man."</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em><br /></p><div align="center"><strong>and a little something else:</strong></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em><br /></strong><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"<strong>1 True Love</strong> refers to God<br /><strong>2 Turtle Doves</strong> refers to the Old and New Testaments<br /><strong>3 French Hens</strong> refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the theological virtues<br /><strong>4 Calling Birds</strong> refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists<br /><strong>5 Golden Rings</strong> refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace<br /><strong>6 Geese A-laying</strong> refers to the six days of creation<br /><strong>7 Swans A-swimming</strong> refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments<br /><strong>8 Maids A-milking</strong> refers to the eight beatitudes<br /><strong>9 Ladies Dancing</strong> refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit<br /><strong>10 Lords A-leaping</strong> refers to the ten commandments<br /><strong>11 Pipers Piping</strong> refers to the eleven faithful apostles<br /><strong>12 Drummers Drumming</strong> refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed"</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />so there we have it<br /><em>- apparently -</em><br />and I thought it was<br />just another Christmas song!</strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-6270172804732810472008-12-11T00:01:00.008+00:002008-12-21T22:54:18.022+00:00ho ho ho<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3xg0RZTha8UfVK7U2IbXIQ6xtKNrS4UGnIbbDsOlqfIoWFU3jKlVpMn99Q19WxepvQZBqO6zcPE5pGWHMpxhYa0Zq0o6uuSFxFyGdisUaXmpKKgXIo-jlOkcvyYupn4ed1YbM1Kzs77t/s1600-h/rockwell+christmas+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278090233470309314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3xg0RZTha8UfVK7U2IbXIQ6xtKNrS4UGnIbbDsOlqfIoWFU3jKlVpMn99Q19WxepvQZBqO6zcPE5pGWHMpxhYa0Zq0o6uuSFxFyGdisUaXmpKKgXIo-jlOkcvyYupn4ed1YbM1Kzs77t/s400/rockwell+christmas+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://h40059.www4.hp.com/amazing-things/?jumpid=em_R135__uk_en/hho/ipg/dm/allstandalone-9dec08/amazingthings-mainimageletter"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">I got this in an email,<br /></span></strong></a><em>I hope it works for you!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />and in the meantime. . .<br />"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC9o4oYMIqI&feature=related"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!</span></a></em></div><div align="center"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC9o4oYMIqI&feature=related"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">next year all our toubles will be out of sight. . .</span></a>"</em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-58838477463254211312008-12-10T00:01:00.003+00:002008-12-10T00:42:23.177+00:00snow<span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">for the uninitiated</span><br /></span><div align="center"><em><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277874865410733826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 305px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nE_GKmRr4c1LrvioNyW9ofvw43JXF_fLES89e-xePf_25zbVeitZKav2Q6tovWcvjOM6Fz-sAdRXcgrDlM8mIlLY6OXr2lbQrhwhM5zogK81uHd7bPjLFKtdJzm6XeTZpEzzTMl7KTh_/s400/snowflake+morphology.jpg" border="0" /><br />and the snowman. . .</em></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277340387853427970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7cPxyQV9vUWZaTkZptK_6P2uqVZWVna1ndRZ3JtjGdReLofbQ1rrHYnvoSooK9CTxQQUJ-Ozq7iWn-x10tvBLaGUyEJ0nurEiHG7O0lad3HfQ2UJ98d6NLTd7X1uRE5rCwP-fhtChsGU/s400/the+snowman.bmp" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><br /><em>. . .</em><strong>the <em>one</em> and</strong> <em><strong>only</strong> <strong>snowman!</strong></em> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em>(made entirely out of </em><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn16170-snowflakes/"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>this stuff )<br /></em></span></strong></a><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277340273211669474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqh8QmD_Z3ZoF30Ycf39maTFLSjqRV1uhs-o_HXreVDBKoYNdbGtq9LI5fgqBnYU2WGdfmSKitrDj2gDrYc66CPN3lOLPnQTehBFv3ke2LFM4ejppZwltgWyD4pt83_GDhiFc4ApXzOIG/s400/the+snowman+2.bmp" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">RAYMOND BRIGGS</span></strong><br /></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR1Ln-ctn5E"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">not as sung by</span> </em></a><em>ALED JONES</em></span></strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-78917371904446877912008-12-09T00:01:00.003+00:002008-12-11T23:13:31.888+00:00<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTJ97HnqOlsc-1SvBflopQ-LcHq1YbY8yW622VfPVIKLFSwbwp5J5KLJchqziRFIYSoZ7hV8WUSiNTJJcMrKcURSTit4umvjfXhBB0aRIKbt-DZT-_TkR0l_x4VRiAT2Pec6H5RGvm-FQ/s1600-h/mistletoe+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276042650969259826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 384px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 255px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTJ97HnqOlsc-1SvBflopQ-LcHq1YbY8yW622VfPVIKLFSwbwp5J5KLJchqziRFIYSoZ7hV8WUSiNTJJcMrKcURSTit4umvjfXhBB0aRIKbt-DZT-_TkR0l_x4VRiAT2Pec6H5RGvm-FQ/s400/mistletoe+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Mistletoe (viscum album) </strong></span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><div align="justify"></strong><br />The evergreen mistletoe plant with its succulent white berries is a parasite most commonly found growing on apple trees but also on other deciduous trees such as hawthorn and rowan. The word mistletoe comes from the Old English words "mistel" and "tang" – meaning "dung" and "twig" – because people had noticed that mistletoe grew on trees where there were plenty of bird droppings.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276042554343446914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEIlTMQCaYK91C2SCBofF9fEsA4aUk54-_rv6UljMhoMjjrIk7i5rlFp-7xv8MWeWp72m0j0vo_fGsX0Bcim78y_ATAAuhHq1a9dzFlfwbg2lStgOMz2pxWXgQte16TFkwpmZtM_a7hDp/s400/mistletoe+growing.jpg" border="0" /><br />Mistletoe was recognized by the Druids as a magical plant. According to tradition they would only cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle and made sure it never touched the ground by placing a white cloth under the tree to catch the magic prunings. Oak trees also featured in Druidic ceremonies and when a mistletoe plant was found growing in an oak it was thought to have especially strong magical powers. Unfortunately we now have no idea what the druids thought the mistletoe plant was capable of.<br /><br />Mistletoe’s traditional magical properties include the ability to drive away witches, get rid of fleas in your bed and prevent faeries from stealing your children. Norse legends also celebrated mistletoe as a plant that brings love into a household. The story goes that the goddess Freya had a baby boy called Balder whom she loved deeply. She became obsessed by his safety and made all the plants and animals in the world swear they would never harm him. Unfortunately she forgot to ask the mistletoe. Only one god, named Loki, noticed the omission and he stored the information away for the future. As Baldur grew older the gods were amused by the way missiles thrown at Baldur would swerve away and miss him. It became a game to throw things at the growing lad and watch them fall harmlessly to the ground.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></em><br /></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">One god was not amused by the boy’s popularity. Loki was jealous and looked around for a way to do the boy harm. He carved a spear tip from the mistletoe plant and mounted it on a stout ash stave then placed the spear in the hands of Baldur’s blind brother Hadr and encouraged him to throw the spear at Baldur. Hadr at first refused to throw the spear saying that he had no wish to throw anything at Baldur whom he loved dearly. Loki wore him down with his persistence and eventually the blind lad threw the spear which struck Baldur and killed him instantly. Freya was horrified and commanded that the world would turn to winter and stay that way for ever. She only relented when the other gods brought Baldur back to life.<br /><br />The mistletoe was then banished to grow only in high places away from the meddling hands of dangerous fools like Loki. Freya then commanded that henceforth it would always bring love rather than death to the world and that people passing underneath the plant should embrace.<br /><br />It became a custom in the middle ages for soldiers seeking a truce to meet under a sprig of mistletoe to discuss terms.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276042473820842706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOt79U2vLKdb-GzRAVcuKSU9P2bYjXXihwZB64YOjkwYZhuzBErH4-1hG-0zTKfkmvZJKPEkXJ8HFkpOCWlhWrf2lQfY1kryVH0LAxu_iDFR5lS8d9Gy1lN2USqq6RstwviwV_FtJ9956/s400/mistletoe.jpg" border="0" /><br />The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is much later in origin and has some strange quirks that need to be observed if you want to get the best from your sprig of mistletoe. It is important that the first kiss under the mistletoe is not between a man and his wife. Traditionally the first kiss should always be between people with different hair colour and like holly and ivy, in some places it is considered unlucky to bring mistletoe into the house before Christmas Eve. Perhaps the most important rule is that each time a kiss is taken under the mistletoe a berry should be picked from the sprig. When all the berries are gone then the kissing has to stop. Shame!</span></em> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br />.<br /></span></em> <span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkPr_iXsTO8"><span style="color:#ff0000;">on seasonal</span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">kissing</span></a></span></em></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-27133724414690001232008-12-08T00:01:00.005+00:002008-12-11T16:02:21.442+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaFgirkrhc0ReyzFbyUo6r49qzuzo9igq1b8tpOH5IZIBaVGw0BJFecGyVZeMaMZsLrAyf7Zkn0rbjmFjmFCOe2a7uzCtW4z7NNEhhtdzkc_fwA_JUuwuCvjTUAmyHiic10Zo3kBIpyz_/s1600-h/drummers.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277563897174452178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 326px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaFgirkrhc0ReyzFbyUo6r49qzuzo9igq1b8tpOH5IZIBaVGw0BJFecGyVZeMaMZsLrAyf7Zkn0rbjmFjmFCOe2a7uzCtW4z7NNEhhtdzkc_fwA_JUuwuCvjTUAmyHiic10Zo3kBIpyz_/s400/drummers.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=scqDH-Afe-k"><span style="color:#ff0000;">the little drummer boys</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">. . .</span></a></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong><em>or</em></strong></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMhSjDqvRs&feature=related"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">. . .these two</span></em></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#336666;">(yeah, I know, that's only four - <strong>not 12</strong>,<br />but we're not doing<em> that</em> countdown)<br /><em>(not yet, <strong>anyhow</strong>)</em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">(-:</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-11710751577920367372008-12-07T00:01:00.004+00:002008-12-07T00:01:00.508+00:00<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmcTtBq94Na01SjL0q_pQrqz3aHo8sXygSIrYoLH-W_u7IkWSyv-yRQbSA1e_b_wJU2sLyUDIIOcB1pIXKIJYMuYQe9YyYS5Yj3Q3BxuobBDd2HPyle5yB8ocNtk87fX8XBMVEctocN_e/s1600-h/holly+and+ivy+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275960806429744610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 349px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmcTtBq94Na01SjL0q_pQrqz3aHo8sXygSIrYoLH-W_u7IkWSyv-yRQbSA1e_b_wJU2sLyUDIIOcB1pIXKIJYMuYQe9YyYS5Yj3Q3BxuobBDd2HPyle5yB8ocNtk87fX8XBMVEctocN_e/s400/holly+and+ivy+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTZUPh17CFc"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><em><strong>the holy and the ivy</strong></em></span></a></div><br /><div align="center">a more beautiful version I haven't <span style="font-size:85%;">EVER</span> heard. . .</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275960716472777138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTC6RSvblOG3N9PbsS14xtWhbum-kkROUWVNqI9ByV5iahaMRhYvgKGUzKLRxyCb2GFFOwpo_HJ8wWf0uZ-xfYRxhGM518V-9hbok8NzhR1UPAw14etxKtlQxLeAeYw-owgyYdURmQhPQa/s400/Holly+and+Ivy+wreath.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>a little history:<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Holly (ilex aquifolium)<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276040181835024738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyR9aErUN6EFy9y5VaOOA3i-irXO7YhOhXv3RMbosJfbbvsyZfil3PK3JgYGDIjodPV8KJqZ4g2VEIMSR5l5LfPpOrTLFKHbC3SnyxUFERxtlX6PkaHcSx8_UPPCQvXDarhHctsLONbTE/s400/holly+2.jpg" border="0" /><br />Holly (the word "holly" originates from the Old English word "hollin") has been used as a festive decoration since earliest times and is ritually symbolic for almost all pagan religions. Unlike most other plants and trees, the holly tree is at its most spectacular in mid-winter with brilliant red berries and glossy green leaves. It is hardly surprising that our pagan ancestors regarded it as magical.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />Traditions surrounding the holly abound. It was said that a walking stick made from holly would protect the person who carries it from any wild animal. A holly tree on your property was believed to ward off witches and to be the place where faeries and elves lived. A syrup made from holly allegedly cures coughs. A sprig of holly on a bedpost assures one of pleasant dreams. Early Christians adopted the holly with enthusiasm and it became symbolic of the ‘crown of thorns’ worn by Jesus on his way to be crucified. A very early tradition suggests that the holly originally had yellow berries until they were stained red with Jesus’s blood.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />Holly was traditionally seen as a ‘male’ plant – perhaps because it is so prickly! This tradition was not universally accepted. Because holly has both very prickly leaves and softer leaves it was believed by some people that both sexes were represented in the same plant and it all depended on which sort of leaves were used to decorate the house as to who was going to be in charge for the coming year. </span></em></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><div align="center"><em><strong>Ivy (hedera helix)<br /></strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276040303272745794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3CvDfxTSJvEbpfOShkewMhz8HlaNNcRMhFeCJkRSX2k-hVEA7WPq01ApY7pPcT4q0wlH5ym42U7-uFSLloYKzJRGdYHANaLFHwSoIltR1cCCOucPiDdiMogwMssaTwiBzbfHMnq7o0DV/s400/Ivy.jpg" border="0" />The traditions associated with ivy date back into pre-history when it was seen as a ‘female’ plant. Bacchus, the Roman god of drinking, is always depicted with a wreath of ivy as it was said to ward off drunkenness. Not a particularly good omen for the festive season perhaps.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />Ivy has a number of traditions associated with it including the ability to predict the future and cause domestic strife. It was said that people should drop an ivy leaf in a glass of water on New Year’s Eve and leave it until Twelfth Night. If it stays fresh and green then a good year will follow but look out if any black spots appear as these foretell bad luck.<br /><br /></em></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><div align="center"></em><strong><em>Holly </em>and<em> Ivy</em></strong><em> </em></div><em><div align="justify"><br />Since holly and ivy were believed to represent men and women, it was said that whichever was brought into the house first would dictate who rules the residence. . .</em></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-88267314816004054962008-12-06T00:01:00.006+00:002008-12-06T00:01:01.117+00:00<div align="center"> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm driving home for Christmas<br />Oh, I can't wait to see those faces<br />I'm driving home for Christmas<br />Well I'm moving down that line<br />And its been so long but I will be there<br />I sing this song to pass the time away<br />Driving in my car, driving home for Christmas<br />It's gonna take some time but I'll get there<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274850170172474898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTAHIeI9TdbUADut5m9ExtP4-96q-Zc_E7Q27SHpmRBFWQNvujmluOhoUnYe3kuiWjkJcYpvZlvMemDKlydWoitqcXLn6Bf-T62jms2q-Nx4Zu9UFaDWDXm_OgYre7SEWJ-cbbfusrX5X/s400/snow+traffic.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Top to toe in tailbacks, oh I got red lights on the run<br />But soon there'll be a freeway - get my feet on holy ground </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274850286596204386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFX-mqHRuzJ_xHnlEo3NGjQH4UaZaDSHezfZI-KDaQxkrOkM_oV0LD11ESxqVI0ppTlDB0DgaYf4AEK6OrEqYN3GMjSTztQtGdReyaz5f5R4nBi2MkWyJ_rTk8BrRu_htVvJInDW8bNtJ/s400/driving+home+for+christmas+2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">So I sing for you, though you can't hear me<br />When I get through and feel you near me<br />I am driving home for Christmas<br />Driving home for Christmas, with a thousand memories<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274850497633908642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO0yWlj6RrbnhVAyUd9Vj6mIoToJg2OGy0D5qOLuslvG2wQ3_QeKRyFN349BfwiCoDXswqL_pzybnQ5PtNc63yD0OGXzCswAQTXj5fT7vnlelzbrIEoPMkC4EtU3VqJG8iBtjeJbFC9ha/s400/driving+home+for+christmas.jpg" border="0" /><br />I take a look at the driver next to me<br />He's just the same, just the same<br />With a thousand memories. . .<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span></em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THcbQyFtCqg"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><em>CHRIS REA</em></span></strong></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-14581941906120464182008-12-05T00:01:00.000+00:002008-12-05T00:01:01.010+00:00icicles<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">are beautiful. . .</span></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274440145366362578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9DbR8x5Vp7tKaNChiFEAt1Ig7ow6HV8fzdipvuK23xDp0_yv0xFV7HIeP2SKm3zWc9_AZ_GH6vCozA7rHW30WUZePAan49MthvNg_pKz-YpsuTtA1-R8lO1GLDuVT4XL7AvaZoqJRKl1/s400/icicles.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">and look at them -<br />toys, just waiting to be played with!<br /></span></strong><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274440053746094514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs3CzCUblseFKw7_9R3_hk_k-CIYsKGAXR-6xgkyDP5GFn1PSq9P6Mlr6_IAskFMhdojga5OLAAOeIKVxJhmJguBw3YJ9xZPwU9syI4vPwRLnTOyBBv9S2QIVzfoSQKn6hrYK_mLznMwa/s400/icicles+2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br />since 1984 I've loved the work of<br />land artist <strong>ANDY GOLDSWORTHY</strong>. . .</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274439544585170850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk6-8nHWk4UWKwHd8a_cw4ZKehQJNDfrFFydb3egjtJDhPfiKrTJ0YMstCAROp4gQ-IoqV-TQgeszXjjBmpmsZdJKqwEm5Jla3QTLePdYXKJHfK-NAvH2KJ8rv2jj-_xGASL1wXMWoNjg/s400/goldsworthy+icicles+4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGloehrXNt3_zZeiOLWA5UoZbODRhLOQiV-Ln94PWFDeWN7HJ0FFeZ5l1HFrtG73fVjmgGzCPcjcafAD0G66X-iMgYFuLjXstiMACHOmgb-NRbyPRZ9BKuPUAtfRf2kMOR9uMIa_EsZ_-t/s1600-h/goldsworthy+icicles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274439974920604994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGloehrXNt3_zZeiOLWA5UoZbODRhLOQiV-Ln94PWFDeWN7HJ0FFeZ5l1HFrtG73fVjmgGzCPcjcafAD0G66X-iMgYFuLjXstiMACHOmgb-NRbyPRZ9BKuPUAtfRf2kMOR9uMIa_EsZ_-t/s400/goldsworthy+icicles.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Her-XZGA_e_gIHVa1ULU7ngD70wymMSAb54dHqGUePaX30s4gDGpJQf2lQGB5r7nEgeZZjLMTAv4qkbst2Dzi29H1w-g4MsolUu9wPTCHnTV4k2J9HrT5KCyNb6AItmm6q8z20I1UFDN/s1600-h/goldsworthy+icicles+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274439756260697650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 395px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Her-XZGA_e_gIHVa1ULU7ngD70wymMSAb54dHqGUePaX30s4gDGpJQf2lQGB5r7nEgeZZjLMTAv4qkbst2Dzi29H1w-g4MsolUu9wPTCHnTV4k2J9HrT5KCyNb6AItmm6q8z20I1UFDN/s400/goldsworthy+icicles+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8k38zryDJudDE_Xdreul_t8dqttfdpnOnlalBrQu2xtrzhyphenhyphenhA_9y8KyCRNiG5_hhtRI8Dy8O05Xi4xnHXoQA-bUb-Ozt0wbwhJIi3S1q5HnY3i2uSHSStDfNuv8g1YZVkYUhc1P0Kdzp/s1600-h/goldsworthy+icicles+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274439631661523906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8k38zryDJudDE_Xdreul_t8dqttfdpnOnlalBrQu2xtrzhyphenhyphenhA_9y8KyCRNiG5_hhtRI8Dy8O05Xi4xnHXoQA-bUb-Ozt0wbwhJIi3S1q5HnY3i2uSHSStDfNuv8g1YZVkYUhc1P0Kdzp/s400/goldsworthy+icicles+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-33269070921058520402008-12-04T00:01:00.002+00:002008-12-05T07:55:06.439+00:00wonder<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274433812598574770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 332px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcrFpos2Mt6lmml1XhRDKMZjLN2ClqgqT0W2lMyGYZwbLzikuhMHWy-IIpVL-QoNKnkfjyxzK_thy2rYkS8OvZYMjAMBS88WevLTuM4NrBsrzkTAGKJxyPO2bQcSsRyEmgvbT_0QiofTC/s400/sleighbells.jpg" border="0" />In the lane, snow is glistening<br />A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274432917146850738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVNIjnpETOqWDXt9SdWB7awZF5e9-qT9VQXD1njqecmLachCYmfn0u0ccEkKjGSTFgRW3RlTUWHANLlfah_st1vBEoPqFR0Ah_QTHOp9Ef0LWDchDtpCqNNHYkGuPKSqPUUk1BKhdNWS1/s400/snow+in+the+forest.jpg" border="0" /><br />Walking in a winter wonderland.<br /><br />Gone away is the bluebird,<br />Here to stay is a new bird<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274433355146666514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uduuL_Yw3DTzsefvR9naIKQJL95vnhw1_0ah0TV8fQW682emT4MtavQa9aOsh8BlYAHZ9ftu1UBNU19edvXAr9RV-ByYl35lWbceG1NewMLwY7U9TAnhyphenhyphenPeXBD5-KqAuLo_nFwZwXVBE/s400/robin+2.jpg" border="0" />He sings a love song,<br />As we go along,<br />Walking in a winter wonderland.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274434721455354802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5atnK65iynzIq5xMfzpUqOvzfi5X51MA0JwxYsMxwtBYAbbuwjb8mSW4yZr04uE04aBpwr4rhWc_drMEVpKlcELt9Lrfpkfsgf0S9VMGExxzq8CW0t8bXJNhKSbihmbM3Fe0DfsJn3i7t/s400/snow+in+the+meadow.jpg" border="0" />In the meadow we can build a snowman,<br />Then pretend that he is Parson Brown,<br />He'll say, "are you married?"<br />We'll say, "no man! but you can do the job<br />When you're in town. . ."<br /><br />Later on, we'll conspire,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274435798283005762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 279px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6dpgoiXLtvR1XidP3CXa8BwmziEH9QcMgmEDlgrNB3BLiPo4pBym2-cmbhLwrZpHqxPGZsCsdCG7XT5trPkwS4XLhWaaHwZUZmpKaLvCw4_EwSoT86BxqpSZvNjinqBOi-aHs5MMy0tg/s400/fire+in+grate.jpg" border="0" /><br />As we dream by the fire<br />To face unafraid the plans that we've made,<br />Walking in a winter wonderland.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274433557693983074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINZIVpKMoe1y0JKV7pL8K6HVVlTiiPap24FdCwECgngv4hZHID1EX0jre9CD0YS94_QFyP4F9cLuPXyysYC7eH86wfOxYus9FWX6gPpB928pjeJX3anb3N_bqdEl6w-iK3TnAdyRbCBbL/s400/snow+in+the+forest+2.bmp" border="0" />In the meadow we can build a snowman,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274434423399290162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 346px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhjerbtn2LFL8-qGu4qfGmJdfzQCa0SIFiuAsFMb1ZxPydGWyjN_35Cx3lScH4h0nt3i8Bi9FutnKWtoBs81IGXcZ5qWII2nc6PN30j-1ZzhjcORAhdAyuHgJQ33u51HCw9ITtbrJiJ1g/s400/snowman.jpg" border="0" />And pretend that he's a circus clown<br />We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,<br />Until the other kids knock him down.<br /><br />When it snows, ain't it thrilling,<br />Though your nose gets a chilling<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274435398097100178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkQWUE2rEihJI4L5j3GeBO68u1ly-YDcKZmHQzeoOLpp8-j45XmxxDX4ROLsvaLrAxelTN_48TintW7YnZiR3h1-NmW_msR4c8Y-FPeXG8yx13r6kHcoFBQZsQWPUMKjLT3DorPnd3vJv/s400/snow.jpg" border="0" /><br />We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,<br />Walking in a winter wonderland.</span></em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-59746330256122223512008-12-03T00:01:00.003+00:002008-12-05T07:58:18.239+00:00candy canes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23buakPtlA-vZZ6P9SpevzZG9o0X-kUffHKvpnHGpTFarVRALnFQ7LUfxyPOIVvo8WZWRLTJfqoAbngB13lGfT9iF9pOJ8x8dowlkz1o8JOJZ89GbvaToJdPunuLB3OYmZE462KBscIHF/s1600-h/candy-canes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274075943631138914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23buakPtlA-vZZ6P9SpevzZG9o0X-kUffHKvpnHGpTFarVRALnFQ7LUfxyPOIVvo8WZWRLTJfqoAbngB13lGfT9iF9pOJ8x8dowlkz1o8JOJZ89GbvaToJdPunuLB3OYmZE462KBscIHF/s400/candy-canes.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E5WqegfuyE"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>it's beginning to look<br />a lot like Christmas!</em></span></a><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"The history of candy canes goes back to the 17th century, when candy-makers across Europe were already producing hard sugar sticks, a popular treat at the time. Unlike their modern counterparts, however, these candy cane predecessors were completely straight and all-white in color. Then, in 1670, the choirmaster of Germany's Cologne Cathedral introduced a new twist to the sweet sugar sticks. He intended to hand the candy out to children to keep them quiet during the church's lengthy Christmas ceremony, and to commemorate the occasion he had the sticks bent at one end to resemble shepherds' crooks. Thus was born the familiar hook-shaped appearance of today's candy canes.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />"Following the choirmaster's innovation, bent sugar stick treats became a popular holiday confection throughout Europe. The first documented reference of candy canes in the United States goes back to 1847, when a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard decorated his Christmas tree by hanging the treats from its branches. Friends and family members were delighted by Imgard's idea, and they rushed home to adorn their own Christmas evergreens with candy canes. This tradition quickly spread across the country, making candy canes a staple of Christmas celebrations in the United States. But these plain white canes still lacked the colorful designs seen in today's versions. No one is sure exactly when the customary red stripes were introduced, but it was somewhere around the turn of the century. Christmas cards produced before 1900 show plain white canes, while striped ones appear on many cards printed almost immediately thereafter. Additionally, the popular peppermint-flavored variation also emerged around the same time as the striped patterns."</span></em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800118044062098.post-31177904482066462642008-12-02T00:01:00.002+00:002008-12-05T07:56:12.318+00:00robins (or not, as the case may be)<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOXnM4nS5XHBdrqmzGDWBhvgyvGwzZhmItOA8Xtj_Kqf1Fgs0ZtkIrK_aF_ixA7KIuRmOCA5s1wNjLI4BYVBne6aXpkk2scJKMAGfGpDVwSzDMOIyO2TwD6EdvYPzaraOb-MkTOmELxaO/s1600-h/xmas+Not+A+Robin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274066088759321762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOXnM4nS5XHBdrqmzGDWBhvgyvGwzZhmItOA8Xtj_Kqf1Fgs0ZtkIrK_aF_ixA7KIuRmOCA5s1wNjLI4BYVBne6aXpkk2scJKMAGfGpDVwSzDMOIyO2TwD6EdvYPzaraOb-MkTOmELxaO/s400/xmas+Not+A+Robin.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />this is:<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></strong><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LGmpYckNWXoVV1KymvSW9G4DpkU4svDc5PZra5BPpEmv_Hww08PrhI460QI5N4Kz2gsmqDMX10Ci6EJjFRrTfi4b4MJC3vq9fFBe2HdK6m8xVJHImCJpdIua6QpFZstWjJpsioOqKaJd/s1600-h/xmas%2520robin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274065958550017538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 144px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LGmpYckNWXoVV1KymvSW9G4DpkU4svDc5PZra5BPpEmv_Hww08PrhI460QI5N4Kz2gsmqDMX10Ci6EJjFRrTfi4b4MJC3vq9fFBe2HdK6m8xVJHImCJpdIua6QpFZstWjJpsioOqKaJd/s400/xmas%2520robin.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"The north wind doth blow,<br />And we shall have snow,<br />And what will the robin do then,<br />Poor thing?<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />"He'll sit in a barn,<br />To keep himself warm,<br />And hide his head under his wing,<br />Poor thing."<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>ANON</strong></em> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ho ho ho!</div>I, Like The Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423569600315825506noreply@blogger.com7