Blog Archives - FordeFables

December 31st, 2014.

31/12/2014

Thought for today:
As this year ends and the new year begins tomorrow, I look back happily upon the year that has just passed and am exceedingly grateful for all the new friends that I have made along with those who I've retained and a few old friends that I've been reacquainted with.

Tonight, me and Sheila will be attending the New Year Eve's Dance at St. Mary's Rock and Roll Club in Batley. We used to go rock and rolling weekly when we first met, but having been largely confined to the house over the past nine months while I've been having chemotherapy, we have been unable to meet up with our friends at St Marys, so it is an occasion that we are greatly looking foreward to.

I don't know how well my old legs will stand up to the beat tonight, but having been born in the Chinese year of the Horse, I intend to step out onto the floor for at least a few dances. Happy New Year everyone xxx" William Forde: December 31st, 2014.

December 30th, 2014.

30/12/2014

Thought for today:
"If people knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, my skills would not seem so wonderful at all. If they could but see me perform my tasks over and over again until my soul is satisfied, they would know that without the constant practice of my art that I would never be called artisan of my trade. Each display of any accomplishment I have is merely the production of maintained enthusiasm and earnest endeavour.

While there is undoubtedly unique skills in the performance and accomplishments of everyone, nothing succeeds better than hard work and practise, practise, practise." William Forde: December 30th, 2014

December 29th, 2014.

29/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Life and history has this curious habit of repeating itself and there is no better example where this is more apparent than in one's family structure and experience as a child.

For instance; take a concerned mother hen or father cockerel. Such good parental models will not only lead their own offspring to become 'good eggs' in their own right, but will almost certainly guarantee that when their time comes for their hatched to run their own hutch and rule the roost, they too shall become the most understanding of parents.

Such young chicks will surely grow up of independent mind and will refuse to accept any thing other than a 'free range' existence. They will have been taught how to scratch an existence from the most barren of grounds and yet, share with their neighbour whatever sparse pickings are there to be had! Such strong-minded birds don't travel through life constantly concerned with the pecking order they hold or are constantly worried when their neck is on the line. No! They enjoy each precious moment life affords them. It is from such farmyards and lowly back gardens and hen huts that is born the good and the great among us." William Forde: December 29th, 2014.

December 28th, 2014.

28/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Do you know what my New Year resolution is for the year 2015; I'm determined to laugh more. So there you have it. I'm game for a laugh if you are, Buster!" William Forde: December 28th, 2014.

December 27th, 2014

27/12/2014

Thought for today:
"It is said that no thing wears as well as old love. I do believe that old love wears best and is a blessing to behold in all its enduring splendour. When man and wife can travel through life and approach their death still holding hands and still holding on to those values that they set out with all those years ago, they have achieved all that is attainable through mutual affection and faithful attendance to each other's needs.

Such a journey can only be made in love and sustained through thick and thin by the expressed love of each other, a constancy of purpose, a thirst for living a good life, trust of their partner's judgement in all things and faith in their capacity to deal truthfully and sensitively with all their partner's needs and desires. Last, but by no means least, having a care never to step on their partner's dreams" William Forde: December 27th, 2014.

December 26th, 2014

26/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Ten years ago today, the world witnessed one of the greatest natural disasters of all time when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake created a devastating Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. In less than 24 hours over eighteen countries were affected and over 1.7 million people were left homeless and 250,000 people were left dead.

Families lost brothers, sisters, parents, children, cousins; generations wiped out before many had time to realise what was happening to them. Nobody who saw the images of despair upon the faces of the bereaved survivors can ever forget that look of utter loss which has captured their minds and bodies for the remainder of time. Many survivors experienced a sense of purpose thereafter which shaped their attitude and lives to such an extent that numerous charitable instutions were created in the memory of their deceased and loved ones which helped to rebuild vast areas and produce new employment for the indiginous population.

The world instantly responded to the people's plight with aid, materials, medical needs and people-power when they first saw such images on their television screens. The mere fact that it was Boxing Day, coupled with the awareness that they watched from the comfort of their family rooms as they celebrated Christmas added a poignancy to the occasion that was undeniable.

Let us spend a few moments today in reflective thought and prayer for all of those families affected by this disater ten years ago as we hold on that little bit tighter to the loved ones we are blessed to be in the presence of today." William Forde: December 26th, 2014.

December 25th, 2014.

25/12/2014

Thought for today:
"On this the most holy of days, me and Sheila wish all our family, neighbours and face book friends a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

I approach the end of 2014 as happy and as contented a person as I began it. Having been born in the year of the Horse in the Chinese calander, I am able to say that my wife has kept me well fed and warmly stabled this past year. She has been and shall always remain the greatest of treasures I have discovered in my life. I'm so glad now that she closed the stable door and harnessed me to her affections when we first met before I trotted into familiar gait and bolted!

Today is a good day to share your happiness with others and to thank the Lord for all the good things in life that surrounds us. It is after all that day of the year which is capable of melting the hardest of hearts and fulfilling the promise of the Christmas star. I recall one Christmas as a young child growing up the eldest of seven in a materially poor family. It was snowing deep outside and the only pair of footwear I possessed was holed in the sole, which mum had placed a piece of stiff card inside to stop the damp coming through (seemingly a common practice used by all families in need during the war years).

As I looked at my shoddy shoes I momentarily felt sorry for myself and shed a tear. Mum saw me cry and she said, 'Cheer up Billy and thank God that we are all safe and well as a family.' Then she reminded me that as a child in Southern Ireland she had occasionally gone without the benefit of sound footwear on many occasions as the eldest child in her large family. Then she said,' I cried when I had no shoes, but never knew how lucky I was until I met a man with no feet!'

God bless you Mum and Dad for your wise guidance and all of the Forde and Fanning family who now occupy a place that requires no shoes. Merry Christmas and all my love." William Forde: December 25th, 2014.

December 23rd, 2014.

24/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Tread ever so lightly over the innocence of young children, for once you allow the cynicism of adults to creep into their minds, you rob them of all childhood dreams. The moon is no longer edible and lollipops don't grow on trees anymore. There is no Santa Claus to creep down their chimney on Christmas morn nor sound of sleigh bells and reindeer in the snowy skies. Alice can no longer be found down the rabbit hole and the Easter bunny no longer roams the family house and leaves its delicious eggs hidden there for little hands to find. Tread ever so lightly and crush not the daisy chains of their youth, for that is the powerhouse of all adult imagination yet to come. Steal not their Christmas dreams while they are still young and innocent enough to enjoy them.

However, in your child's Christmas experiences, stay real enough to keep the story of the birth of Jesus at its centre, for without Christ there can be no Christmas. Both Jesus and Father Christmas are necessary for the child to feel the full force of the festive occasion; Santa's presents and the presence of Christ. Happy Christmas everyone xxx" William Forde:December 23rd, 2014.

December 22nd, 2014

22/12/2014

Thought for today:
"I go into hospital for my pre-Christmas blood transfusion today, so you can expect me dancing out at the end of the day. There is only one thing to do now before Christmas finally arrives and that is to get your happy on! So, put to one side any worries you may have been focusing on, start counting your blessings instead of your pennies and rejoice that Chrismas is here again.

And if you take my advice, you will use any spare time that you get over the festive season allowing yourself to laugh more spontaneously as well as learning to jump in puddles for no other reason than the sheer hell of it! I'm willing to bet that all those people whose legs are too bad to be able to jump today would willingly Christen any puddle were they able to jump. Merry Christmas everyone xxx" William Forde: December 22nd, 2014.

December 21st, 2014.

21/12/2014

Thought for today:
"The unfortunate truth in worldly comparisons is that the larger part of our world goes hungry while the smaller part of it eats far too much! If one just person ruled the world, then a fairer redistribution of global wealth, materials and minerals would undoubtedly take place.

However, as we all know, one person shall never rule the world and justice for all is nought but a pipe dream. We do however possess the power to reign over the way that we use whatever wealth we have access to, and though I've said it before and will never apologise for saying it; as little as a single £10 donation to charity this year can result in you saving half a dozen lives by helping to provide access to clean water.

We are all born different by nature, but we were never born to exist so differently in the quality of life we live! Merry Christmas everyone xxx" William Forde: December 21st, 2014.

December 20th, 2014.

20/12/2014

Thought for today:
"As my hobby is history and antiquities, I have surrounded myself with a number of strange and valuable things over the years. Like many television viewers, I am a regular watcher of 'The Antique Road Show' and the many other similar programmes which daily pervade our screens. If however the house was to catch fire and I could only save one set of objects, it would be a breakfast set of 'The Snowman' which I bought for my children when they were very young and which I proudly retain in my china cabinet. The set would only come out at Christmas and the children would love to eat their breakfast from it. Each would take it in turn to wind up the musical figure of 'The Snowman' and there would never be a Christmas evening when we didn't sit in front of the television to watch 'The Snowman'. However old I become, I do not think I shall ever hear a more haunting yet uplifting tune than 'I'm walking in the Air' and I still watch it whenever I can. Happy Christmas everyone. xxx" William Forde: December 20th, 2014.http://youtu.be/xb-pX7sIjFY

December 20th, 2014.

20/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Along with millions of other viewers, I frequently watch the television cook Mary Berry and am amazed by the seeming effortless she puts into creating her marvellous food treats. Two things puzzle me the most though. The first is how she is so slim as she always appears to be sampling her delicious wares and the second is that constant smile which never seems to leave her soft yet lived-in face, however big a pile of washing up and table tidying her armpits are up to?

The thing I most like about her however, is the fact that she obviously enjoys cooking for her family, the next door neighbour, everyone else and Uncle Tom Cobbley it would seem. Never once have I discerned a spot of inner resentment sneak out about being in the kitchen preparing for all manner of occasions, both routine and celebratory while her dear husband has been in the lounge downing a port with the rest of the family while he entertained the visitors in fits of laughter and fun all round.

Things obviously work like clockwork in the Berry household because everyone knows their place and Mary has happily found hers in the kitchen. Please don't get me wrong now ladies, as I'm all for chaps having a bash at the cooking if the apron fits, but however much you try to to dress it up, there is no denying that men have always been more able poaching the bird instead of roasting it!

By the way, did you hear the one about the two lady cooks chatting away as they got the Christmas dinner ready? One cook was a staunch Roman Catholic and the other an agnostic. The two were discussing the meaning of the Christmas message and eventually the exasperated agnostic cook threw her apron down in disbelief and said, 'Get away with it, woman! I am prepared to accept the possibility of the virgin birth, but as to there being three wise men...... pull the other cracker.You'll be telling me next that men are as smart as women, Santa comes down the chimney and pigs wear wooly coats!' Merry Christmas everyone xxx" December 20th, 2017.

December 19th, 2014

19/12/2014

Thought for today:
"While watching the television over the past couple of weeks I have seen numerous programmes dealing with the issues of mounting debt, long-term unemployment among the young, old folk dying from cold in winter months due to lack of warmth, large families living in sub-standard private-rental properties, middle-class families getting evicted after the loss of the breadwinner's job, businesses going bankrupt and working-class households needing to regularly visit food banks in order to eat at all. All in all, I have seen and listened to the lives of too many people trying to live life on the dole day by day and it has sickened me.

While watching the above programmes, I admit there have been too many occasions when I have instinctively allowed certain value judgements of mine to creep into my mind. As I've watched, I noticed sixty-inch plasma television sets in the corner of the sitting room with the house occupants watching Sky and liberally drinking alcohol out of one of their hands that never seems to hold anything other than a can of beer all day long whilst placing yet another stubbed cigarette into an already overfilled ashtray with the other hand. As they go about their daily lives in constant struggle, often the woman will be pregnant with another child while they complain about their children having to eat beans and toast again for the fifth evening this week.

At this juncture of automatic moral judgement, I needed to remind myself of my twenty five years in the Probation Service working with the homeless, the alcoholic, the drug user, the heavily indebted, the feckless parent and the unemployed person who hadn't held a paid job for many years. I found that most were adults, who as a child never had any Christmas presents of their own and who saw it as their parental duty to make sure that their children didn't have to suffer similar experiences so they overcompensated. I rarely came across a man or woman with a drink or drug addiction who was not using their addiction to blank out their mind from the cruel experiences of their past. I never met a homeless person who didn't miss the absence of a roof over their head as much as they missed their family; nor did I ever come across a long-term dole-dependent benefit-claimant who had either the work-skill base that was necessary to get a job or the personal wherewithall and family structural support to keep one!

All that aside, there are far too many people in our society today, whom despite all their genuine efforts to support themselves find themselves at the bottom of a pile which shows no light at all at the end of their tunnel. For them I feel truly sorry and would willingly pay more tax on my pension to see their positions and prospects improved.

While watching such programmes, which I did find somewhat depressing yet necessary to view in order to remind myself about the sad plight of others who are less fortunate than I, it didn't escape me that I watched from a comfortable, warm and secure environment that is mortgage-free, having heartedly eaten my fill earlier that evening. Indeed, I know that while watching one such programme recently, that I was preparing to send out almost one hundred Christmas cards by second-class delivery the next day (54 pence postage stamp each). With the total cost of cards and postage, I know that this Christmas custom of mine exceeded the amount of money that one person from the television screens might have to live on for the coming week and I have to admit that such knowledge did not sit easily with my conscience and I felt morally obliged to ensure that I give an equivalent amount to charitable causes over Christmas.

The most telling comparison with their lives and mine however, resulted in me making a remark to my brother that essentially summarised my view as I saw it. We had recently been discussing the wide divisions within our society; economic chasms so wide that they are often close enough to touch across the street or even in one's neighbouring property. This conversation followed a discussion about my recent six-month chemotherapy course for a terminal illness I have and my brother naturally asked how I was faring. My reply was I fear, a sad indictment of our supposedly compassionate society.

I thought about many of the sad situations I had recently seen on my television screen and replied, ' I'm doing okay, Patrick. Indeed, compared to many of the poor folk we've just been talking about, I would have to say that because the quality of life has always mattered more than the longevity of it, I prefer to be dying in my world than having to live daily in theirs.'"William Forde: December 19th, 2014.

December 17th, 2014.

17/12/2014

Thought for today:
"I bet there is many a nagged husband who would dearly love it if their better half gave her tongue a rest. A recent study in America showed overwhelmingly that women talked more than men and suggested that this was because they genuinely believed that they had more than men to talk about. Another study showed that the reason women talked twice as much as their men folk during the course of a day was because they had to keep repeating themselves!

My personal favourite piece of research however comes from one old timer aged 103 years old who lives out in Haworth Heath in the heart of Bronte land. This man concluded that from all the women he had ever met in his life, he was of the clear view that women most certainly talked more than men, but said much less. Now, that's what I call a clear consensus lads!" William Forde: December 17th, 2014.

December 17th, 2014.

17/12/2014

Thought for today:
"It would be unthinkable to allow this morning to pass without mention of the savage and barbaric act of the Pakistani Taliban yesterday when they entered a school in Pakistan and slaughtered one hundred and thirty two children and nine members of staff simply because they were the children of their enemy and in the misguided notion of appearing as 'Islamic warriors.' My heart goes out to all the bereaved families whose future Christmas times of the year shall remain forever blighted in sad memory.

Whoever we are, wherever we come from and whatever circumstances we are born into, our past can weigh down heavy on us and we all have a load to bear as we travel through life. We cannot travel from one place to another under such circumstances without leaving our footprints of the road we have taken. No country in either east or west of the globe, whether it be denoted as 'civilised' or 'third world' exists without the presence of one person's life appearing to count for either more or less than that of another. No man or woman ever comes to each other without the encumbrance of some personal baggage, and there is no piece of china porcelain that has been handled so many times that remains flawless. It is impossible to give one man a child and another your heart and in time forget that either was ever a part of you just as it remains contrary to nature to be born under one flag and to give allegience to another.

Having been made in human form, we learn best through the mistakes we make and we love, hurt and feel most through the emotions we express. We are no more than mere carriers of life's experiences; mere donkeys travelling the road to our Jerusalem in the hope that we someday arrive." William Forde: December 17th, 2014.

December 16th, 2014.

16/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Spread your roots deep and far and your tree of life shall happily grow among all others. Sprinkle your seed of tolerant thought across God's woodland so that it may thrive and flourish in friendly soil. Supplement your soil with wholesome nourishment and neighbourly nuitrients and your community shall not discriminate between one branch of human race and another.

The tree of your everyday experiences will provide you with a balanced lifestyle of both good and bad experiences. On some days you will be well fed and on others you may thirst. Only through the communal sharing of all nutrients by the trees of the forest can all trees continue to live in harmony. So it is with the minerals of the world. Take more than you need from the world's resources to preserve your daily life and your action will be indirectly responsible for the death of another. You may not see another woodland tree wither and die or indeed hear it fall at the other side of the forest, but know well that wither and fall it will when you don't do what is right and just!" William Forde: December 16th, 2014.

December 15th, 2014.

15/12/2014

Thought for today:
"I don't know about you, but I love Christmas. I always have and always will. I'm so happy, I could jump for joy if only my old legs would allow me. I put up the Christmas tree two weeks ago and spent the best part of an afternoon decking it out with trimmings and baubles as I happily listened to a record of Christmas songs playing out loudly in the background. Naturally, the Christmas melody included Bing singing, 'I'm Dreaming of a White Chrismas' and my all-time favourite, 'Driving Home for Christmas' by Chris Rea.

For me Christmas never begins until I have put up a real live Christmas tree and have sung along with Chris Rea. Then when December 15th comes around (The anniversary of the first time I met up with Sheila), I am always reminded that my Christmas has finally arrived. I then look forward to meeting up with all my brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and all their children every Christmas Eve afternoon in some pub that is geographically central to us all. It is the one day during the course of the year when we all make a special effort to meet up with our partners and children. It is a day when we recall humorous situations about growing up together and recounting memories of our deceased parents.

After a light tea and a sampling of mince pies on the evening of the 24th, we prepare for the true meaning and purpose of Christmas. I cannot think of any person more fitting to be placed at the center of Christmas than Christ himself or of nicer place to be at the end of Christmas Eve than at Midnight Mass singing 'Silent Night' with the ones you love. And who can doubt that next to a mother seeing her first child born, that the greatest of all happiness is found in the innocent faces of the very young for whom Father Christmas remains a very real part of the Christmas celebration as they open their presents on Christmas morning around the tree.

I can't imagine ever wanting to spend Christmas away from home or having Christmas dinner around any other table than one's own and in the presence of one's family. To me the thought has always been alien and yet, my work with bereaved people over the years along with couples experiencing marital and financial problems and homeless people has led me to understand how difficult a time of year Christmas can be for many people.

I know that Christmas can be a pain in the butt for many women who are always the ones who seem to be saddled with much of the stress that is often visited upon the chief cook and bottle washer, while we chaps on the other hand are invariably left to the nicer tasks of the feastive season. This year however, I intend to ensure that we eat out a few times after Boxing Day and to stock up on my wife's favourite chocolates. I intend to start today with taking her out to lunch. Happy Christmas everyone. Must get back to Chris Rea." William Forde: December 15th, 2014.
http://youtu.be/THcbQyFtCqg

December 14th, 2014.

14/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Deeprak Chopra advises us to be happy for no reason as is a child. He reminds us that people who are happy for a specific reason are on precarious ground as that reason can be taken from them.

Far better to be happy for the pleasure of the moment and by being so you will always find happiness where happiness is to be found." William Forde: December 14th, 2014.

December 13th, 2014.

13/12/2014

Thought for today:
"If only once you have seen the anguish of a young animal whose mother has died, you would know their distress and grief to be real and would never again doubt that animals have feelings that hurt every bit as much as yours and mine. Believe me when I tell you that 'Elephants cry too.'

This thought once moved me so much that I wrote a children's story called 'Elephants CryToo' which the film actress and friend Virginia Mackenna praised. The story is available in e-book format from www.smashwords.com for the nominal price of $1.60 or can be purchased in a hard copy book containing four animal stories entitled, 'Bes' from www.lulu.com or amazon.com for the price of £6.99. " William Forde:December 13th, 2014.

December 12th, 2014.

12/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Have you ever wondered if there is a heaven or an after life for our treasured pets? I know that all cat, dog and animal lovers would dearly love to know that there was and that this knowledge alone would make their deaths more bearable.

To have one's pet greet you upon arrival home, jump on your lap in playful mood, snuggle up on the rug by one's feet or purr in prayer at the foot of one's bed is heaven itself. Surely it is in the lap of the Gods to grant the wish of all pet lovers? Who knows, perhaps St Francis himself will intercede on the behalf of all creatures who depart this life." William Forde: December 12th, 2014.

December 11th, 2014.

12/12/2014

Thought for today:
"If we did all the things we are capable of doing we would truly astound ourselves. We would then know that we are truly a marvel of the Almighty's creation; a unique individual whose personal offerings to the world can rival the works of Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Beethoven and all the other greats we can think of.

We may not be able to write as eloquently as Shakespeare, but we can right the wrongs that come our way. We may not have the artistic skills of Michaelangelo to make the Mona Lisa smile so gracefully, but our endevours to paint the living room of our elderly neighbour who cannot afford to pay a professional will light up her face like no other before her. As for the skills required to pen music and create one's own symphonies, far far better I say to conduct oneself as a respectful lady and gentleman among the people you daily meet!

If only we could free ourselves from the constraints of our neighbour's baseness and the more uncertain and skeptical sections of society? if only we could follow our own desires without a communal conscience that is stirred by fear; only then could we find our true selves and become the truly good person we were meant to be.

When we find ourselves unwrapped from all materialism, lacking all desire for power and prestige and unstirred by the flatery and admiration of others, only then shall we freely offer peace to the war-torn, bid welcome to the refugee, hand out soup to the hungry, give a roof to the homeless, clothe the threadbare, employ the idle, heal the ill and provide hope to the despairing. For whenever we do these things for our neighbour, we do them also for our own long-term benefit. Whenever we do all we can possibly do, only then can we truly know that we have done all that can be done!

I once recall the words of a person in church who was asking the congregation for a financial contribution towards some worthy cause. He then posed the question, 'But how much do I give, you may ask?' His answer was, ' Whatever amount you take from your purse represents the extent of your generosity and the true token of your compassion, but I tell you that only when it starts to hurt can you know that it is enough.' " William Forde: December 11th, 2014.

December 10th, 2014.

10/12/2014

Thought for today:
"Devoting more time to 'becoming interested in other people' is guaranteed to make you more friends in two months than you could otherwise achieve in twenty years by trying to 'get other people interested in you.'

The world is but a looking glass that gives back to every person who cares to gaze into it, the reflection of their own face and the desire of their own hearts. So be a good friend this Christmas; especially to elderly neighbours, young children and good causes. Forget what you give and always remember that you shall receive back much more in return. " William Forde: December 10th, 2014.

December 9th, 2014.

9/12/2014

Thought for today:
"There are none so wise among us who can separate thought from action or none so powerless that they are unable to move closer the prospect of possibility to probability. This power lies in the mind of us all, waiting only to be tapped and harnessed for the betterment of all our deeds.

Believe it or not, we all engage in self-talk constantly and there is nobody who we find easier to convince than oneself! If you want to be the captain of your own fate and the master of your action, you must first shape your thoughts and determine your words in congruent blend.

Think positive and you will feel positive and are likely to do things positively. Conversely, think negative and you will feel negative and are more likely to do things negatively. Thinking is what you make it. There is nothing that is good or bad in this world; nothing that is possible or impossible, that thinking it so will not make it so.

At the birth of every thought lies the powerhouse for future action. Think that 'I might' and you might. Think that 'I will' and you will. However, think that 'I shall' and it shall be done!" William Forde: December 9th, 2014.

December 8th, 2014.

8/12/2014

Thought for today:
"However wise you are and whichever way you choose to look at it, truth remains truth and deceit stays as deceit! All of the flattery and the falsification at one's persuasion and disposal won't alter one jot what actually is and isn't! The rose shall forever smell fragrant and the crap foul, and sweet truth shall out at every opportunity." William Forde: December 8th, 2014.

December 7th, 2014.

7/12/2014

Thought for today:
"There must be many of you out there who like me had to perennially suffer the traditional Christmas present from Aunty Dot of a nice woollie to keep you warm throughout the cold winter months ahead when you were growing up.

You know the one I mean; usually three or four sizes too large for your feeble body. Indeed; you'd probably be able to fit it today had you not dumped it in the bin or like my Aunt Alice was prone to do when she received unwelcomed knitted garments, unravelled the wool and made a jumper as someone else's present for a future Christmas.

It was this image that got me thinking the other day about the presents that we all receive from time to time that we neither need, like or want and which we often send off to the charity shop after all the Christmas visitors have been and gone for another twelve months or return to M&S and get a money refund instead with which to buy a bottle of wine. Or are you one of those clever ones among us, who waste not want not and who refuse to look a gift horse in the mouth without examining its teeth and prospects for recycling. Come on now, admit it. How many times have you unwrapped a present that was given to you, only to find yourself re-wrapping it to give to someone else, and feeling resourceful for having done so?

There is I think, a wicked side to all of us that we frequently give vent to and I fear that even Christmas cannot always prevent escaping." William Forde: December 7th, 2014.