Seasonal distortion

‘Tis the holiday season. One of the few real holy days of the year if you believe in such things. It is also a strange time of year.

Not only do you get the need to enjoy yourself and a sense of faux camaraderie shoved in your face but you are bombarded with things you neither need or want to buy. The shops are full of temptation, toys, baubles and party food. The shelves of the supermarket are stuffed with turkey and ham, all of the things you need to make your Christmas dinner go down well.

I’m not sure how much we can eat on the day though it seems we will all be sitting down to a table of sixteen settings, laden with all the manna from heaven. Let’s face it, it’s all too much. After all, it is only like Sunday dinner.

The strange thing about this time of year however, is that it is difficult to buy stuff that isn’t to do with Christmas. If you just want something ordinary to eat you’ll be hard pushed. All of the usual foodstuffs have been set aside to make way for the gluttony that ensues. It is the only game in town yet many people neither want to or can enter into the spirit.

Once again we find that this Christmas is overshadowed by COVID. For the third year in a row there is a pall of uncertainty hanging over us. Will my family get home in time? Will we still be able to meet? Will the restaurants and theatres be open? 

For me the gloss has gone off. I don’t know if it is just an age thing but this year Christmas doesn’t feel the same. Usually there is excitement in the air, for once people try to be pleasant to each other and there is a buzz of anticipation. This year, I am just going through the motions.

Anyway, I must get to the shops to buy some more food.