What do you write for Christmas 2020 – it’s been a strange year hasn’t it … all those plans I (and many others) blogged about in expectation of 2020, COVID19 has knocked many people off their feet … and then cancer truly came back in summer 2020 to knock me further off my feet!

I don’t know how many people have had conversations like this (we haven’t thankfully):

When I was in New Zealand, Lesley introduced me to an amazing multi-layered Pentatonix track, and I’m also enjoying their Christmas track:

And I quite enjoyed skipping my way through this COVID-Nativity version (I think a church youth group, and a few laughs about the UK COVID situation, alongside a pretty ‘true to the Bible’ story):

Oh, and don’t forget, that at 5.30pm Sunday 20th December, you can join Carols On the Doorstep!

Added later – this from Jimmy Fallon:

I don’t like to wish time away, especially now, but I wish you all a pleasurable Christmas, and a much better 2021 (vaccine’s a-coming!).. as a historian, I’m not big on random dates meaning huge changes (e.g. years, decades, etc), but, I guess it is a time to reflect back AND look forward:

Cancer Updates

If you’re interested in the cancer updates, they can all be found on my blog.

 

Christmas ‘featured image’: Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash; New Year: Photo by Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash

So … it’s nearly the end of 2016! Hurrah, say many of you! So, it’s time for my e-Christmas card!

For the first time this year, alongside Advent material from Brian Draper and Embrace the Middle East, I’ve decided to do a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar‘, either to go to Trussell Trust, or a local charity I’ve become aware of – Re:dish, because one of the challenges of 2016 that there has been (aside from the global/celebrity stuff), is an increasing awareness of the importance of the #rethinksanctions campaign, especially in Manchester where homelessness is so evident.

And, a fraction late, we’re off #foodbank

A photo posted by Bex Lewis (@drbexl) on Dec 2, 2016 at 12:24pm PST

Another area of concern, looking after the refugees – as in the original ‘Christmas Story‘ – is well illustrated in this video:

Also reflected in @JustinWelby’s speech on #UKValues:

You can read @JustinWelby‘s Lords speech on #UKValues here ? https://t.co/RpcQRcY6RU #SharedValues pic.twitter.com/OUPthxs47W

— Lambeth Palace ? (@lambethpalace) December 3, 2016

So, lots of prayers for those, known and unknown, in a year that has felt difficult on a global scale!

So, taking a lighter tone, just because I enjoyed this:

remembering this, of course, from the Muslim Council of Great Britain:

…. and on that note, hopefully in 2017, you’ll see publication of a book or two related to Keep Calm and Carry On, and my PhD thesis!

*Cover image source:

Happy Christmas to one and all, thought you’d enjoy this festive scene: 

I thought this stable was a little bare, so I added a donkey to it, and ‘the means‘ to help make another cow (using ££ I might otherwise have spent on cards/stamps)!

Resulting from a number of reasons (broke-ness, being abroad for several Christmas’, disliking the consumerist pressure), I limit physical Christmas cards to those I know would particularly appreciate it because not online (usually older relatives!), and my local neighbours as part of building local community … so this is my ‘digital contribution’ to your Christmas seasonal enjoyment (and if you want to read about political Christmas cards, check out Pete’s post on BigBible).

So does Christmas start with a dodgy jumper… or even a dodgy Christmas suit.. or is it all about the penguins?

Once again, I’ve joined in with #adventbookclub, and Brian Draper’s #Advent20 as for me #Christmasstarts with Christ… but what else ‘joyful’ can I find online for you – such as this wonderful nativity scene spotted on Facebook…

This #TommytheTiger take on that John Lewis advert (not forgetting the fuss about the Sainsbury’s advert):

and if you’ve got a little more time, check out The Nativity Factor entries (the one with the most views by 22nd December “wins”, although I think winning a weekend with professional film-makers would be prize enough for me!).

In case you’re wondering, I’m onto the third draft of the book proposal for turning my PhD into a book, so let’s see if we can get it out there next year, and Raising Children in a Digital Age has done really well (went to re-print after 4 months- and no, that doesn’t make me rich!):

I’m looking forward to this Christmas, although not getting overly caught up anything beforehand (aside from trying to meet deadlines), but for those of you for whom Christmas will be a difficult time this year (I’ve been there), there’s some useful advice in this article.

Mereth Veren e-Doled Eruion