This time next week… actually, by next Sunday, Christmas will be over here – we celebrate on the 24th in Switzerland. At some point late afternoon or early evening, the Christ-child brings not only the presents, but also the Christmas tree, and deposits them all in a corner of the living room while nobody’s looking. And after a family dinner, usually raclette or fondue, everyone gathers round the tree, opens their pressies, drinks the Christmas sherry (or whatever) – and that’s Christmas. None of your waiting around until 2 a.m to see if Santa’s coming, and none of your up at 5 a.m to see what he’s brought. In spite of my Scottish upbringing, I dropped Santa like a stone when I became a parent, in favour of sleep…
And the Swiss way is every bit as magical to a child.
My first book was published in early September 2013, so my writing life is now approximately three years, three months and three weeks old. Recently, I had another first – a speaking engagement that was entirely non-book, non-writing related, when I entertained the Weinfelden English Circle to the theme of A Very British Christmas. A good time was had by all, and I’ve included the Christmas cracker jokes at the end of this post.
Another first for me is the book news I’ll be sharing at the beginning of January. Think #andnowforsomethingcompletelydifferent. 🙂
And now for those jokes:
Where do snowmen go to dance?
Snow-Balls…
What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
It’s Christmas, Eve!
Who brings your cat’s Christmas presents?
Santa Paws!
What do you have in December that you don’t have in any other month?
The letter “D”…
What happens when Father Christmas gets stuck in a chimney?
He gets Santa Claustrophobia!
How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day?
Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve…
Mum, can I have a dog for Christmas?
No, Billy, you’ll have turkey like everyone else!
The blog will be back in the New Year – so I’ll wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR now. Peace and goodwill, and, as we say in Scotland, ‘Lang may yer lum reek!’ In Switzerland we say, *’Rutsch guet übere!’
I hope you manage both…
(*slip well into the New Year)
linda huber 
The more I hear about Switzerland, the more I like it. A merry Christmas to you and yours, Linda…
LikeLiked by 1 person
And to you! Switzerland is fabulous, even though at the moment we’re having a lot of distinctly unfestive fog…
LikeLiked by 1 person
so are we, it’s so Victorian in UK now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have a lovely Christmas, anyway! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too, Linda…
LikeLiked by 1 person
.As I’ve still to put up decorations might steal the Swiss idea of the tree etc appearing on Christmas Eve afternoon. This will be followed by the Icelandic tradition of swapping books. I like a pick and mix Christmas! Have a great Christmas and all best wishes for the coming year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That all sounds fabulous! I’m hoping for lots of reading-time over the holidays. We’ve always pick and mixed here – sometimes you really can have the best of both worlds. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Christmas, Linda, and wishing you joy and success in the New Year. It’s hot here in Florida – that just isn’t right at this time of year, is it?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Moira – great good luck to you too. Make 2017 your writing year! As for hot… I wouldn’t mind some of it! There’s a north wind here today that would have your nose off if you stayed out too long!
LikeLike
give up the books and write cracker jokes – you’ll make a fortune… no self respect and your friends will hate you but still…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could… if I’d written them! Not sure where these originated, but one of my most used English-teaching books is: Englisch lernen mit Witzen… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person