Gingerbread houses and the meaning of Christmas

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So, just a week to go to the annual plastic consumption and food gorging fest that Christmas has come to be for so many in the rather laughable titled ‘developed’ world.

People consume more food in a few days than they normally would in two weeks, we spend more money than we often really have, we buy gifts that no one really needs and give them to people who already have more than they will ever need.

We then spend January going on detoxes, diets and trips to the local tip to get rid of all the plastic from last Christmas to make space for this year’s trinket downpour.

Somewhere before this madness and over consumption, there was a meaning to Christmas for most, and to me, it has never been about religion, it is always about spending time with the people who matter and having fun, taking a break from the day-to-day, switching off, having a laugh and doing things together with family and friends.

Today, my daughter and I spent time building gingerbread houses together and laughing as the roof slid off my house. That’s what Christmas means to me.

What does Christmas mean to you?

The missing piece of the jigsaw

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Today I have been doing a 1000 piece jigsaw with family, something we haven’t done with the kids since they were little, and those jigsaws were of Engie Benjy, Jollop and Dan (and more like 10 pieces).

So the thing that struck me from this is, firstly a 1,000 piece jigsaw is extremely hard, but the missing bit of the jigsaw in life is just do the simple, fun things, with the people who matter.

Do not stress about all the other shit, that we more often than not, can not control.

This Sunday, I’ve been for a walk in the snow with the dog, visited my Mum for a cup of tea, started building a massive jigsaw with the family and as I am writing this I’m making a roast dinner for all of us.

Life is great, happiness is simple, enjoy each day.

Find all the pieces to your jigsaw before it is too late.