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The Forum > General Discussion > Christmas - What fantastic memories do each of us have of Christmas ?

Christmas - What fantastic memories do each of us have of Christmas ?

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Well after a week of nothing but horrific headlines, we have Christmas rapidly approaching, in fact just six short days away ? It's for this reason, I got to wondering what fantastic memories do each of us have, of this very special day ?

Like most, my recollections of Christmas, particularly during my childhood, and later my formative years, were easily my fondest memories. Our family always insisted in having a real Christmas tree, and I believe it somehow added that lovely touch to that special day itself. The fresh odour of pine, that seem to permeate right throughout the front of our house was nice too.

Being kids all of us seemed to get far more presents then the adult members of the household, and as I grew up I realised my parents and grandparents sacrificed their gifts, so us kids got the lion share. And in my later life this tradition was naturally continued with our kids and grandkids.

The awful realisation that Mr Santa CLAUS was merely a myth, shattered me (initially) until I realised the existence of Santa, or not, was quite immaterial, as it was our family that counted, and my illusions of the whole concept of the meaning of Christmas, seemed once more to be restored.

Christmas 1964 I was in Malaysia, at Ft. Tapong, on the Malay/Thai border region, in primary jungle. The heat and humidity...almost unbearable ! In 1969 I was at Vung Tau, 1st. Field Hospital, South Vietnam. Thereafter as a copper, I usually worked a shift on Christmas Day, the money was exceptionally good (Double time and a half, plus a day in lieu) and generally speaking the day proved relatively quiet ? Nevertheless still I missed the family dreadfully.

Christmas has always been a special day, as 'corny' as it may sound. It means family, laughter, overeating, the Boxing Day Test, and years back, watching the Davis Cup between the USA and Oz etc. ?

I hope each and everyone of you, has a happy, joyous and truly restful Christmas Day with all your loved ones !
Posted by o sung wu, Friday, 19 December 2014 8:49:57 PM
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Oh well it seems this lighter, much happier topic I've introduced here, has not been well received ? I understand perfectly. Seeing that damnable epithet 'O SUNG WU' at the foot of the page does wear a little thin after awhile ?

Well all that remains for me to say; I hope you all, everyone of you, without exception, have a really brilliant Christmas, and a healthy, and much safer 2015 ! Thank you too, to all those kind enough to engage me, in the many and varied topics, under discussion herein. I thoroughly enjoyed them.

And not forgetting our very own, Graham YOUNG and his superb team of helpers. Best wishes to you and yours, and thank you all for providing us with this marvellous vehicle in which we can all so freely articulate our many and varied opinions herein; without fearing the many secret squirrels coming after us !
Posted by o sung wu, Monday, 22 December 2014 8:48:02 PM
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Hi o sung wu, I have one that was a bit of fun.

Many years ago as a young racing driver, I won the Australian Racing Drivers Club Christmas raffle. The prize was a 9Ft high cardboard Christmas stocking, with a mesh see through front, filled with at least a couple of hundred small mostly novelty type toys, all meant for little, 1 to 10 or so, kids.

I didn't even know anyone with kids, so I went looking for an orphanage or similar to give it to. I wanted it to be one with suitable aged kids for the stocking's contents.

I rang a few, asking about the kids they took care of, without telling them why, & a couple became suspicious of my motives. However it worked & I found Barnardo's Homes in Sydney had lots of little kids.

The manager lady was amazed at the thing. She sent me a few photo's of about 30 little kids gathered around the thing, then getting the presents.

That is what Christmas is about.

I did get letters from her for about 4 years, asking if I could give another stocking. Obviously she had no idea how much it cost to run a Brabham in the 60s.

It was the best five bob Christmas present I ever gave anyone.
Posted by Hasbeen, Monday, 22 December 2014 9:52:20 PM
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Dear O Sung Wu,

My computer has been out of commission for a couple
of days and has just now been repaired - otherwise
I would have contributed to your discussion much
earlier. Anyway, here goes:

The most moving Christmas that made quite an impact on
me was a Christmas lunch that was shared with elderly
members of a nursing home in which a relative resided.
The lunch was a traditional Christmas lunch - and very
enjoyable - however, it was the singing of Christmas
Carols after the lunch that brought a lump to my throat
and quite a few tears as I watched the looks on the faces
of the participants singing the traditional carols with
such gusto. I could only imagine the memories that they
recalled. A very moving afternoon - that left my husband
and me feeling very warm and happy.
Posted by Foxy, Tuesday, 23 December 2014 1:09:16 PM
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G'day there HASBEEN...

And I sincerely hope you and your family have a really happy Christmas, as well as a very healthy 2015 ! Actually, I thought this Topic looked like falling flat on it's proverbial face, until you at least fronted up HASBEEN ?

Never mind ? You're right I get most of my happiness too, by giving, rather than receiving. At my age, I'm fortunate enough to have no particular 'want's', therefore the delight I get is by seeing the smile and joy people have on their faces when I give them a present !

My dear wife is always a happy recipient, even if the gift I give her, is not exactly to her liking, nevertheless she still makes a fuss over it ! I could only imagine the buzz you would've received, having given that enormous Christmas stocking to those underprivileged and impoverished kids at Barnardo's Homes, in Sydney.

As you say, that's the real delight most of us get, by the very act of 'giving' rather than 'receiving'. And Christmas is precisely the right time, to exercise this personal aspiration thingo of 'giving' I reckon.

On another note - you must've been a hell of a driver to participate in competitive race driving ? The only stuff I did, as I said to you earlier, was the standard 'pursuit driver's' course at ST Ives, in Sydney ? We trained on the old Ford Falcon 5.8, V8's, with later conversions to the Cooper S. Of course competitive car racing is a whole different ball game, then the basic stuff that we did.

What type of M/V or classification or engine limitation did you compete ? I understand when you say the enormous costs associated with trying to even prepare a race car ? And without those ever important endorsements or sponsorships on board, it would severely hamper your philanthropic wishes I believe ? I'm positive it would quickly gobble up all your available resources to even keep the car at a 'race ready' standard ?

See you mate !
Posted by o sung wu, Tuesday, 23 December 2014 1:19:03 PM
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Hello there FOXY...

Gee that's fortuitous, I was about to enquire of HASBEEN as to whether he'd heard from you or not. I do hope you and your husband have been well ?

Homes for the aged ? What sad irrevocable residencies for many of our beloved elderly people ? Some shunned by their families, others simply no longer wanted by their families, while others don't have a family ? The only common denominator with most, is their enduring memories of times past ? Just looking into their faces, with their faraway gaze, one can only wonder what it is they're thinking about ?

Most of their thoughts are perhaps; precipitated by a colour, a musically sound, even an odour emanating from their kitchens, still perhaps nothing at all, who'd really know ? Yet we see them quietly staring out the window musing, blissfully unaware that we're watching - even intruding upon their most private of thoughts ?

I guess it's for this reason they sing with such alacrity, and such joyfulness, as the more traditional Christmas carols do rekindle pleasant memories of Christmas's past, when their whole family gleefully assembled together and took part in Christmas festivities.

I will admit to you FOXY, I'm very protective of the aged ! Because when I was younger, my level of patience and tolerance for the elderly was quite shameful, so much so, any unhappiness I might receive now that I'm my own mid-seventies, I richly deserve !
Posted by o sung wu, Tuesday, 23 December 2014 2:00:49 PM
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