CHRISTMAS. AGAIN.

5th Dec 2019

Two years ago I called it 'Chrexit', last year 'Christmiss' and this year it is 'No 'ell'. I am always keen to avoid the ghastly enforced commercial and social 'jolly' commitments surrounding the so-called 'festive' season of 'good will to all men' (no doubt considered a sexist 'unwoke' remark nowadays). Bah Humbug! Bugger it! I am going back Far East where, as most of them are not of the Christian faith, they have little idea of what Christmas is except that it is a good opportunity to have a bit of a giggle and sell lots of things to foreigners. There is always plenty of polystyrene snow with Father Christmases riding sleighs pulled by reindeer, girls in all the shops and restaurants wearing antler horns, 'We Wiss You a Merry Keesmah' playing in department stores and some elaborately decorated Christmas trees. They don't call it 'Christmas', it is always 'Merry Keesmah'. Good grief, these people have never seen snow and wouldn't know a reindeer from a rhinoceros.

I remember trying to explain to someone in Vietnam what Christmas is. By the time I had mentioned babies born of a virgin birth in a manger, Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) delivering gifts down chimneys, wise men following a star, elves at the North Pole and sodding reindeer I had not only confuser her but rather lost the plot myself.

Anyway, flying off initially to Bangkok to meet up with an amusing old French colleague and his charming Thai wife and family and then on to Việt Nam for more reunions where we will hopefully have a jolly time without much recourse to 'Merry Keesmah'. At least it is warm and the beer is cheap.

More to follow but I have covered this part of the world in tedious detail before so probably won't have much new to report. We shall see.....