Jan; As long as the only snowballs they throw at you are of the Tunnocks variety! (It's a Scottish thing....) I think my jaded attitude comes from decades working with Sunday School kids and young Boys' Brigade members. They start talking about Christmas round about August, and by the time December comes round it used to lose its' sparkle! Of course I celebrate the real meaning of Christmas; I usually take part in a few services, and conduct one or two at local retirement homes when the Minister's busy. And the one thing I really DON'T want is a white Christmas! Snow and ice don't go with a long cane - especially in a rural area where roads and pavements are rough anyway. Three years back, the white stuff started falling here in the first week of December, and was still on the pavements at the end of January. Give me a nice, dry - or wet - winter any day. Just not a white one! -----Original Message----- From: Jan - Email Address: j.jk.downes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent On: 11/09/2012 19:08 Sent To: chat guide - Email Address: guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [guide.chat] James Hi James, I agree!! but I suspect that there will be an out cry so batten down the hatches and keep quiet. I agree with you,I hate all the hype that revolves around Christmas,wish it was just simple,and without all the neon light's and the hardship that it brings. I think that it would be good to enjoy Christmas Eve,and if one is lucky then enjoy a family time together,but not forced upon us. I have probably made it worse,and now there will be all sorts thrown at me,including snowballs!!! Jan. ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2437/5262 - Release Date: 09/11/12