The Yule Blog

Every year the wife and I alternate spending Christmas between my family and hers. Unfortunately it's not really a fair exchange as my family live in London — The Greatest City In The World – while hers are in a small, rural North Carolina town that isn't so much in the middle of nowhere, more like the remote outskirts of nowhere. You know those movies where the hip and sophisticated couple from the big city get stranded in some nothing-happening small town where they don't have a Starbucks and have never heard of Sushi but learn important life lessons about the honest values of simple country folk? Well, it's a bit like that except the only lesson we'll probably be learning is that Barack Obama is a Muslim socialist out to destroy America.
But, apart from the whiff of right-wing craziness, they're nice people and I'm looking forward to going because the great thing about being somewhere where there's nothing to do is, well, doing nothing. I've had at stressful time at work lately and a week spent just sitting back in their Laz-y-Boy recliner and reading books, watching movies, doing a bit of writing, and taking lots of naps will be better than Zen meditation for clearing my head of all the bullshit. If we can avoid talking politics it should be a very nice week, especially if the wife's black-sheep-of-the-family cousin shows up with some of his homemade moonshine.
I won't be back until the New Year so have a good holiday everyone, hope Father Christmas brings you everything you want.
Download: Father Christmas - The Kinks (mp3)


10 Comments:
Happy Christmas! Thanks for your blog this year.
Ordinarily at Christmas I go down to the Welsh Valleys to spend time with family. Your description of North Carolina doesn't sound too far off! Only a little more evolved....
Good for you in being asked back Lee, you are clearly a model of tact and kindness where I'd have started something off after my first half bottle of vin rouge, never to return.
Merry Christmas to you and yours and keep on keepin' on x
Have a great Christmas!
I don't want to sound pedantic but I'm sure that last Christmas you found London "the Greatest City in the World" - a place you no longer recognised or liked? Is Christmas making you feel a bit nostalgic? I've just been for a trip down Oxford Street and London is looking sad this Christmas. Nearly every bookstore on Charing Cross Road (except Foyles) has closed, and plenty of other businesses are empty or closed. It does feel like the party is over.
Shame.
It still is, even when I don't like it that much sometimes. I was born there so no matter how much I like, say, New York, London will always have that.
lee, thanks so much for all the posts this year, i've through;y enjoyed reading your trips into the not so dark corners of yours (and my) memory
all the best
steve, melbourne - the greatest city in the world
Have a safe and wonderful Christmas break, Lee.
If London is not the greatest city in the world, I don't know what is...
Oh England my lionheart
Peter Pan steals the kids in Kensington Park. You read me Shakespeare on the rolling Thames...
Brilliant!
I've always found you can forgive them the craziness because they're just so nice. So much nicer than anyone here!!!! Anyway, Blues to extend their lead and you to explain soccer to your in-laws in the down time, should fill it up. Happy Christmas!
Have a good one Lee. Thanks for giving us all so much joy this past 12 months
Gor blimey guvnor
Bet you can here Fulham Broadway from that creaking porch.
Since I didn't wish you Happy Christmas, Lee, Happy New Year! x
Post a Comment
<< Home