The languages of apology I can be taught

As a reader of this blog, you will have realized I'm by no means  perfect having gotten into situations that I shouldn't and a good part of what it is about is helping me change those habits of a lifetime in part by the establishment of clear rules for me to learn to live more by.

 

The other side to this is teaching me what to to put things right in real time so I assume appropriate responsibility for my own actions where in the past I've ever shrugged my shoulders or attempted to play a card - usually a disability card to exempt myself from the standards expected of others.

It helps when people hold me to account so I am as responsible as I am actually capable of disabilities aside so I learn to conform to your standards and expectations.

Christmas edition

 The pause begins here, as type this I've had my first Christmas period visit of the season with all that involves like, quick tidying up spells, plushing up the cushions and getting the tea set up ready to go.

Outside of this I won't be around much at the weekend as I'll be seeing friends before we move into Christmas week.

With that I'll wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Looks and plays

 Well I'm a little pressured for time this week as I should be away for a few days holding sparklers and doing spooky things  so I need to sort stuff out for that - more smart casual little boy of the late 70's - rather than full school uniform or anything super modern while dealing a few things arriving.

Really that's the kind of look I go for, a modern version of what I wore back then interecting with members of the public like picking up me parcels at the door.

I was looking for a better copy of this classic 1985 Xmas compilation that misses all those so-so 90's and 2000's xmas songs as my copy was a bit the worse for wear and it arrived just needing a good clean  and the record itself going in a new inner sleeve to keep it clean.

Just the Xmas hits I grew up with, actually two more than the next years cd version!, ready for the Christmas season to toss on to the turntable for a retro crimbo.

Pausing from Crimbo

Christmas comes around again and with that comes the rituals we were brought up with such as visits by people such as Aunt's often just dropping in with Christmas cards and presents ahead of the day and last minute dashing to the post box to send cards to people you'd forgotten.

Then there's things like seeing Father Christmas about all over the place and indeed here on his sleigh, the carol concerts that local schools put on that you loved being involved in yourself and that point you feel you really ought to be there.

Above all Christmas is a time for Boys to enjoy that time, look forward to new things andf feel the love and care of the the grown ups around them and for those of us who remain so to enjoy being the eternal boys we are.

*****HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM BOYS TALK*****

Christmas thoughts of sorts

 We are going full steam ahead into the Christmas period in the week that traditionally schools would begin to close down having had the Christmas parties and dinner which at least at my school was the highlight of the school dinner year when things moved from okay to actually pretty yummy all round.

We'd of also of had our school plays which got more involved as we move up the year groups probably thinking we could do more and wasn't there a budding actor in the cast to whom this might be the spur to get more involved in drama?

Probably, but when we all said Jeremy whose papa was a big wig in the Steel Industry was such a drama queen it wasn't that which was in our minds!

That's the thing about Christmas really, all those memories from the past that spring back to life and yet you're making new ones as with a few spare moments I spoke with Maurice, a family member on Monday a bit about cos obviously this year's going to be a bit different and his late wife which I briefly worked with in 1984 went just before Christmas.

He did tell me about how that Christmas was for him as a father of two children just a few years younger than myself as he made christmas for them as hard going emotionally as it was which helped with thinking around this whole thing.

A pause in the conversation for Christmas

 

Things with the weather are at least improving in some ways, trading extreme cold the likes of which I don't recall ever experiencing for more rain and strong winds here which is kind of progress I guess.

Some of the postal backlog is being got through even if bits remain unaccounted for which as well given the things you may of been expecting at christmas.

Talking of which we will be pausing here as there'sa lot of activity with card and present swapping, things to be sorted and a bit of tidying up lest we have visitors drop in.

With that I'll wish everyone a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2023.

Christmas edition

Gosh we're almost there aren't we which means we take a bit of a break over Christmas as we help out and join in the various community activities as difficult as some things remain as that eternal boy.

In the past one had to tune in you tv to act as a computer monitor which is what that boy is doing for the sharpest colour image before using a game, a precompiled program or trying to write your own.

That stare was the one I had for "syntax error" as you looked in disbelief at lines of Basic code trying to figure out what went wrong.

School is out, local high schools finished early on Friday with concerns about the new variant form of Covid and the last couple of days were just games cos you can't start anything new until next term anyway.

I am fairly confident according to a leaked memo to Mr S Claus of the North Pole a Beano annual may be on the cards even if the world has changed as has the comic from this 1956 edition.

That was something many of us get and no doubt got too but isn't in the modern world and won't be in this years I'm quite sure.

Annuals were so much and for a good number still are a part of Christmas that to pick one one up and read it takes back to our boyhoods where things were simpler.

Having got this far in my three inch grey school shorts and turn over top socks from one boy to another:

****HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE BEST FOR TWENTY TWENTY-TWO****

Finishing things off

Typical muddled up Winter week here with some strong winds, heavy showers including on Friday sleet landing on my thighs and even brilliant sunshine with temperatures up and down like a yo-yo.

The last couple of days have seen things up to about ten degrees so I've been in my three inch inside leg grey shorts walking about taking a few pictures for the other blogs between watching Jamie Johnson and listening to the latest album by the Chorister's at Kings Cathedral, Cambridge in a very Christmassy selection.

It has both traditional Christmas carols and winter songs all expertly arranged and sang.

There's just something about choirs and especially boy choristers voices that just moves me in both the singing itself technically but also the "soul" in their voices that is stronger than just the bare words sang.

I'm getting things like my cards written to be posted or hand delivered so after next week will will take a short break until after Christmas.

Christmas edition

This blog will be paused for a period after Christmas as I'll be busy helping out my family make Christmas happen and unlike in previous years in 2020 I am expected not to spending my time stuffing myself with chocolate while being online as part of making more more responsible for myself and others within my limits, helping out, doing more.

Christmas in any event our time of year, a time for me with memories of things such as school christmas parties, plays and the annual carol service not to mention the christmas post box we used to send cards to one another.

I'd watch the carol concert from King's with my parents while playing records of carols and festive songs as we decorated the Christmas Tree under which there would be on the day presents.

***Happy Christmas, Boys***

Six days to go

It is but six days away from Christmas which in same ways is a bit different in feel this year and for reasons I won't go too much into is pulling me out of it.

The week began with going into town to get some of the last minute touches to Christmas including getting some things for Mom because as I boy it's my job to help her and be obedient while I getting my things.
The town looked lovely with it's traditional black and white and brick buildings festooned with decorations galore while junior school children were going around town caroling  in groups so even if it was a cool day, it was the more enjoyable being be very traditional carrying out the old rituals.
It's those rituals that help make it magical bringing everything to life.
Daddy and I were fed up with the news especially the "Brexit" stories day after day so he kindly let me watch the Christmas Dangermouse special instead on the CBBC channel which provided a much needed lift.
The other side of the coin was Tumblr had messed up a blog of mine so I'm in appeal with them for the second time in as many days but have started some work on  replacement which be centred around vintage scouting and age regressed school uniform stuff as my main one is a group account that can't message or do asks.
Having a narrower focus may help in avoiding some of the pitfalls and as half expecting things I had transferred some series of posts to another account so there no point do a straight remake.
As well when I mentioned about the torn shorts in transferring one pair navy shorts over for roaming and cub scout like activities outdoors, I got a new pair of grey shorts to replace them by.

Pre Christmas Edition

*** MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS ***

Your regular service will resume on December 27th

Christmas edition 2016

Ever since starting this blog in the beginning of the year I had thought about doing a Christmas edition rather like as if we'd been around of each others houses and said "How  was Christmas with you?"

For me I was a bit late getting up as I had a migraine on Christmas Eve that was reluctant to  shift so I got dressed and came down for a light breakfast before messaging my Caregiver and opening my presents.

That's some of them stacked up so I wonder just what might possibly be inside of them?

The Beano was a staple comic of mine growing up even if today it's only available on download and we always had the Christmas Annual so getting that as a hardback with the stories of Gnasher, Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx and co really is a ritual I love.

 The Dandy suffered a bigger fate as it was discontinued outright but they do one off editions and a annual so I like to read new adventures of Korky the Kat and Desperate Dan of Cow Pie fame.

I love reading although with my learning disabilities I can't manage anything other than junior fiction and even then anything getting more above a reading age of 12 is hard going so mummy bought me this First edition of the new Jacqueline  Wilson novel set in Victorian England.

She also bought me the last Historical novel she wrote in a series looking very much at life in  Great Britain from a child in hospital in the early nineteen-fifties. I'll write a full review when I've read them .

I had this originally in Paperback but had been longing to find a copy with the original text in so my Brother gave me some money toward buying this used copy lacking its dust jacket as original hard backs are really quite rare and expensive.

I had some chocolate oranges, money and biscuits too from people that care about me.