Christmas with Friends and the not so Friendly

Hi Everyone

We have been fortunate to have had a number of American road trips as independent travellers to New England, California, North and South Carolina, and Colorado, Arizona and Utah. In addition, we have special, long term friends in New England, California and Michigan. On every visit, we have experienced on a daily basis friendship, courtesy, and we have met many wonderful people. I think that if we went back to America tomorrow, we would find the same great welcome. For many who have not had the opportunity to visit that great country, there are now negative opinions of the country due to gun crime and, of course, the actions of theTrump administration. Unfortunately, our perception of America has changed. Trump is seen as a man who criticises the UK and Europe, is not giving full support to a democratic nation illegally invaded by a liar and a bully, and now appears to want to keep out people who have made adverse comments about him on social media over the last five years. Even though I am sure that any tourists would have a great time if they chose to holiday there, I do hope that they will vote with their feet to show Trump we have a voice and influence to kick him where it hurts. Of course, he has a right to criticise the UK and Europe, but surely even he has enough intelligence to know that it should be carried out in private rather than feeding Putin’s ambition to drive a wedge between America and Europe. Putin repeated again this week that he will only end the war on his terms. That has been the situation for the last three years. Perhaps Trump does not have the intelligence to understand that after all. As I said a few weeks ago, as I am now approaching middle age, I will not be flying to either America or Russia for a holiday, but in any event, one would not let me in while the other would, but would arrest me when I arrived there. Happy Christmas to them both.

As the song goes “It’s Beginning to look like Christmas”. I have been singing it for the last two weeks as I ride with the real Santa around our local area on his sleigh. As far as I can see, it has been beginning to look like Christmas since the middle of September, with every gift shop, garden centre and store filled with acres of glitter. Now, as the great day approaches, all those shops are still filled with acres of glitter. What I want to know is where does all the unsold glitter go when it is cleared out in January. No doubt it will be stored away at great expense to reappear next September, unless Christmas is extended to August next year, with at least a 5% increase in price. Happy Christmas.

At Christmas in the Fruit, Vegetable, Flower, Game and Lolly shop, the hooks all along the front of the shop we He doesn’t re filled with chickens, turkeys, pheasants and ducks with the customers then having to pluck and dress them at home. As children, we all knew what they were, as they had feathers and a beak and, in many cases, we helped to pluck the feathers. I think it would be interesting to know how many children today would give the right answer if they were asked if their Christmas chicken or turkey originally had feathers and a beak. 

To all my long time Rubbish readers - thank you, to anyone who has just found this Rubbish - thank you and to you all, have a great Christmas celebration with family and friends. 

Just a thought:

Why does Trump have his Christmas dinner on a plastic plate? He doesn’t get on with China.

What’s the difference between a chicken and a turkey? Some chickens actually get to celebrate Christmas.

My friend shot his first turkey this week. Everyone ran out of the supermarket in panic.

Brian