You may notice that this is somewhat shorter than these have been in the past. WordPress has been struggling with the number of embedded links, which means a lot of times the links are just showing as text. So I’m trying to go for something a bit shorter to see if that helps – and it should mean I’ve filtered some of the rubbish out too, win-win!
From predicting the Queen’s Speech using Markov Chains, to how to wrap presents using the least wrapping paper, it covers all elements of the festive season! It’s nice and accessible too, with lots of notes for further reading for those who want to fully geek out (the number of articles that seem to have been written on cooking a turkey seems to be insane!)
It’s not a heavy book, lots of chatter and humour makes it easy to read, and lots of diagrams too, so you really fly through the 150 pages!
From 1920 ’til 1943, Tolkien wrote letters to his four children (over an age range of 12 years), as from Father Christmas; with shaky writing from the cold, suitable North Pole stamps and postmarks, and hand-drawn illustrations to accompany them.
In the 1976, three years after he died, his daughter-in-law compiled these into a book for people to enjoy, and last year, to mark the centenary of the first letter, this edition was published.
He shares stories of things going on in the North Pole, with his companion the Polar Bear, problems every few years from goblin attacks, and these are also covered in the illustrations. He uses these some years to explain why they might not get what they expect, but always acknowledges the letters they’ve written too.
It’s a lovely warm hug to read over the Christmas period, I saw that someone said they read one letter to their kids every night over advent as a build up to Christmas Day, which I thought was quite sweet!
Welcome to #F1, newcomers. I would say it's not always like that, but it pretty much always is. As much going on off the track as on the track. What a season, great from Max, and a classy reaction from Lewis. Next season should be fairly tasty eh?
The problem we have at the mo is, whomever you support in F1, most people have lost a lot of confidence in race direction to an extent this year and that needs sorting out. #AbuDhabiGP
I love how I, an actual GP…who was involved in the initial covid vaccination programme …has to tune in at 8pm with the public to find out that apparently we are vaccinating the entire adult population with boosters by the end of the year
I mean, I hate Ryanair too, but I'm enjoying a hateful airplane company ragging on a terrible Prime Minister. Small joys where you can find them, and all that. https://t.co/Mi59dvRXhl
Heard on a train yesterday: ‘and yes, hard though it is to believe that Boris should even think about telling any of us what we should do with his track record, I would ask that you all wear a face covering on this service today.’
Dear @TheMuppets, we would like to propose a collaboration for a new Christmas Film. Basically it's 'It's A Wonderful Life' but with Muppets. We have no budget. Thank you.
❌NHS website crashes ❌No lateral flow tests available ❌Now no PCR tests available
It’s almost as if Boris Johnson made his announcement to distract from his lies without any plan or thought for the consequences. pic.twitter.com/wmaP56BZHm
Note to @metpoliceuk ask for the catering invoices – lets you know how many people were expected. Start with who signed off the expenditure & work your way down the list they will have filed on their PC in folder called 'Xmas Party' Hope that helps you clear this up #partygate
All I keep thinking is, "Why is the O big? WHY IS THE 'O' BIG?" Is it supposed to be the hole in your arm? Why is the O big? pic.twitter.com/gxqi0qKCA3
The subtext of this press conference is that we feel there is a need for more restrictions but we are willing neither politically nor economically to pay for them. The end.
When we invent time travel, it will be illegal to travel to a time before Covid, due to the risk of infecting an unprotected population. Hence no time travellers so far. They should start arriving soon.
My son keeps telling people in school we are rich- we certainly aren't me and my wife's salary is 48k combined pre tax- but then his friend came for tea and was shocked we weren't wearing coats at the table as his parents can't afford to heat the house and it made me realise
Chris Witty should announce sternly that it's now clear the number of people who despise Johnson is doubling every two days, and we have to accept it will have affected everyone by Christmas, especially anyone who's been in close contact with him.
'Twas the week before Christmas And all through the house Not a creature was stirring Because everyone was too afraid to go outside or interact with each other in case Christmas gets cancelled again
If anyone hasn’t seen any @taskmaster I urge you all to watch it. From the beginning and you WILL love it!! little @AlexHorne will agree with me. Watch it. That is all. Bye!
Who, like me, can’t wait for the day when we won’t need to vote ‘tactically’ but can vote for our first choice without worrying it will be wasted? That day will come when we finally upgrade our democracy and adopt fair votes. #ProportionalRepresentation
'Driving Home For Christmas' by Chris Rea has now charted in 16 separate years, spent over a year in the top 75, has reached a peak of number 11 three times, but has never reached the top 10. This week it is number 17. Will it finally get into the top 10 next week?
In all seriousness: At such a strange time, going into Christmas with so much hope and fear about, I feel like all four of these dancers and all six of these dances have conveyed the power and triumph of the human spirit. Well done all of them, and thank God. 👏 ❤️#Strictly
Anton has been a revelation as a judge. He brings heart, charm and a new perspective to the panel. If they don’t keep him on next year, they are mad #strictly
Rose and Giovanni winning #Strictly means that Italy have won this, Bake Off, the 100 metres, Euro 2020, the high jump (with Qatar) and the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Unvaccinated people are taking beds from other sick people, some of whom become sicker as a result. Not being vaccinated during a pandemic is an act of selfishness hiding behind the facade of individual liberty.
Given that apparently the Met police “don’t pursue crimes retrospectively”, next time a copper pulls you over and says you were speeding just say “Yeah, but I’m not any more, am I?”
Schrodinger’s Christmas party: an event which simultaneously took place in accordance with the rules and also didn’t take place as prescribed by the rules
I thought buying a flat would be a bit like playing Sims for real, but so far I've just spent a lot of hours on the phone to energy companies. I haven't drowned any of my neighbours in my swimming pool yet.
Thank you for submitting your audition for the next series of #LineofDuty but we’re looking for a character with at least one redeeming moral principle and a performance that places even just a scintilla of doubt in the audience’s mind that he might not be totally bent pic.twitter.com/3jnJL74c5f
When our Christmas services are overflowing with 20s and 30s I will believe this polling. But on the ground right now, I’m not seeing what the very optimistic polling numbers like this suggest…
To those of you complaining that last night’s caption “English monarchs” should’ve been “British monarchs”: aha no! I had already identified the first clue as Edward viii. That’s an English numbering system. Would the Scots acknowledge Edward I as king? I THINK THEY WOULD NOT!
A Christmas movie needs to have 3 things to be a Christmas movie…
1. A Christmas tree needs to be seen at some point 2. A Christmas song needs to be heard at any point (Christmas themed OST counts too) 3. Needs to be set mostly during the Christmas season
Just had a ham sandwich, a bag of Quavers, a Penguin bar and a drink of squash for my lunch. Now I feel like I need to wait for the dinner lady to check I’ve eaten it all so she’ll let me go out to the playground to play French Skipping.
Prince Harry says if you’re unhappy at work quit your job as it will be liberating. Helps if you have a £20m @netflix contract and live in a £15m mansion
The video of Allegra Stratton reveals (at least) four things: – the party took place – they knew it was illegal – they were worried it might come to light – they wanted to come up with ‘a line’ to defend it. Otherwise known as lying.
BBC Four is showing When Harry Met Sally on New Year's Eve at just the right time for midnight to ring out at the same time it does in the film, amazing work pic.twitter.com/SZAeCY8LC2
Christians, especially those currently losing their mind over restrictions: please don't lose sight of Jesus. He didn't call us to fight for our rights. He calls us only to love. It is honestly that simple.
Boris Johnson, or one of his shower of shit mates, could stamp on a puppy on live TV and I don’t know what’s worse, that he’d deny doing it, that no action would be taken for it, or that there would still be people who would try and justify the puppy stamping.
So the same government, that pissed away a sense of national unity on the first lockdown just to protect Dominic Cummings, is now pissing away any chance of a serious response to this Covid wave because of a Xmas party. Jesus wept.
Basically every time Boris Johnson has done something terrible he announces the birth of a child to try and divert attention from the latest hideous thing he’s done. No wonder he’s got so many kids.
As a Christian I must pray for politicians + all who occupy leadership positions But that doesn't mean I support the system So often my prayers are divine opposition On my knees I plead for integrity With clenched fists I resist hypocrisy Jesus, help our leaders lead us better!
After last week’s top five, here are the five that were great, but not quite great enough!
Macy’s – “Tiptoe and the Flying Machine” Yes I know it’s not a UK advert, and that’s why it was relegated to the runners up list, but the reindeer being scared to fly was an adorable story.
Amazon – “Kindness, the Greatest Gift” A lovely story of someone looking out for their neighbour, and I’m a sucker for anything with a bit of mental-health awareness, even if it *is* Amazon
M&S Food – “Percy Pig comes to life for the first time ever” I’ll be honest, while this is about Percy Pig coming to life, which was entertaining, on my first watching I was mostly excited about Dawn French
Asda – “Make Christmas Spectacular” Everywhere is an ice rink!
Morrisons – “Farmer Christmas” With zoomorphic HGVs
It’s that time of year!! With Advent Sunday this weekend, here are my top five adverts this Christmas season.
I’ve noticed that some companies take the YouTube videos back down after Christmas, leaving some of my old posts with dead links, and so this year I’ve tried to add a tiny description or comment for each one.
Celebrations – “The Lonely Bounty” This feels more like an April Fool than a Christmas advert, but if true, is brilliant – and really made me laugh.
Aldi – “Ebanana Scrooge” Two videos for this one, a teaser and then the full advert. Ever since the introduction of Kevin the Carrot, Aldi’s Christmas adverts have been so so strong, and the character of Ebanana Scrooge and his origin story this year is superb.
Lidl Strong Back To The Future vibes from this one, I particularly loved that there was the future, and then even further in the future
Coca-Cola – “Chimney” As someone who lives in a flat, I loved this way of making sure Father Christmas can still get into your home!
Tesco – “This Christmas, Nothing’s Stopping Us” This just felt uplifting and optimistic after last year!
https://twitter.com/jamespenford/status/1469966127853887491
https://twitter.com/bellamackie/status/1470049405151715335
https://twitter.com/bellamackie/status/1470075061721837571
https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson_MP/status/1470107682464055296
https://twitter.com/BootstrapCook/status/1470423828979458050
https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson_MP/status/1470446567400349697
https://twitter.com/AhirShah/status/1471167509709656074
https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson_MP/status/1471191084814553095
https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/1471171045851811853
https://twitter.com/revrosejones/status/1471071767775043584
https://twitter.com/GraceMulvey1/status/1471800525834407941
https://twitter.com/hollyshortall/status/1471866092092071939
https://twitter.com/Isitchicken/status/1471930591302103045
