That´s an odd looking spiky thing daddy.  It doesn´t smell like one of the things from out of our kingdom.  It´s nice though,  what with all those shiny papery bits and bright coloured balls hanging on the ends of the stick things.

I can see my face in the ball and look – the ball´s starting to move – let me get my claws on it!       🙂

       Mr Midnight will you kindly stop messing about.  Of course the baubles are swinging from side to side – I´m trying to  put these fairy lights on the tree!

       Baubles?   Fairy lights?  Do you still believe in fairies daddy?  Are fairy lights kind of like “landing lights” for fairies?  It looks like we´re going to pawwwwty!

       Fairy lights are all part of the magic of christmas.  Some households use candles instead of fairy lights to decorate their christmas tree but with you two moping around the house,  candles are out of the question.

       Well the tree certainly looks pretty.  I like the dangly, silver shiny stuff  hanging from the stick bits.

       Your funny bright tree doesn´t smell or look like the ones out in the garden.  Does it have something to do with the fairy lights?

       No Sir Winston.  I always use an imitation Christmas tree and the fairy lights were  invented by an American guy (Mr Edison) in 1882.  I´m not sure why the lights are called “fairy lights” – possibly because from a distance, they resemble fairies dancing about.

       So you have seen a fairy then?

       Aah, I see what you mean Mr Midnight.  No I`ve never seen a fairy but I imagine them to look something like the lights on the Christmas tree.

       . . . . . . and I suppose you like imitation things because of your English upbringing?

       As oppose  to the  German Christmas tradition of using a real fir tree for a christmas tree,  my English roots seem to dictate that I use an “authentic”  imitation tree.  I always find it a shame that immediately after christmas,  loads of unwanted christmas trees are then  thrown out to be gathered by the local refuse company.  It all seems such a waste.  At least our imitation tree surffices for a few years.

        . . . . . or a few decades! Some of the prickly-sticking-out things are protruding at outlandish  angles.  The thing seems to have seen better years.  Still, I suppose that it´s original what with nobody else having such a strange, antiquated  thing in their living-room.

They have loads of fir trees here in the Black Forest.  It´s no wonder  they´re practically giving them away when people like daddy always intend to  use tat like he´s putting up.  I happen to like “tat” – it rhymes with “cat”.    🙂

       If the both of you were a bit more patient you would  find  that the branches will be properly sorted when I´ve finished decorating it.   The poor things only been out of the box for ten minutes!

       Are you  going to remove  the dust from the branches daddy?

      Yes Sir Winston.  When I get round to it.  Christmas can be rather stressy, especially with you two keeping  a careful eye on things.

     What´s this “christmassy” thing anyway?   I noticed the same fuss last year.  Humans suddenly started being nice to one another and a buzz of  magical energy filled the air.  It was great.  I think you even gave me some food out of one of those golden tins.

       Christian humans celebrate Christmas because of that famous chap having being born.  Birthdays are so nice.

       You mean that bloke who´s responsible for the terrific din everyday? You know, all that banging and clanging of metal at all hours, night and day.  We cats can´t get any shut-eye because of his goings-on.

       I´ve told you before Mr Midnight. It´s called Church bell ringing  and the person in who´s honour we celebrate  Christmas is called Jesus.

       He seems such an agreeable type.  So sympathetic.  I like the way you humans celebrate Christmas.  Roughly four weeks a year,  apart from when humans have their football world championships,  “modern” people are really nice  towards one another and are happy instead of being grumpy or  disatisfied.   At this time of year, most seem to find some peace in their hearts and allow the “magic of life” to surround them.

       I´ve noticed the same thing Sir Winston.  Collectively, humans do have it within them to achieve great things but most of the time, we tend to winge and moan about all things under the sun.

      If only it was possible to capture the energy of Christmas, or the energy surrounding football world championships, with which to use that positive energy throughout the year.  The human race could achieve  almost anything.  What a great life we would ALL lead.

For the moment, I suppose we will all have to remain content with just  four weeks a year of positive insight.

       I can´t quite fathom it.  Most of you celebrate the spirit of Christmas but the majority of you do not abide by what you celebrate.  Do you not listen to the wise wisdom of your teachings?   What´s the point in wishing for peace on earth at the end of the year when the majority of you seem to not live with peace in your hearts.

Oh yes,  the majority of humans  may believe that they have peace in their  hearts but without judging anybody,  their behavioural patterns throughout the year and daddy´s newspaper dictate a different picture. Prejudice, egoism, jealousy, materialism,  lack of tolerance and broad mindedness, greed for money and power and a disregard for basic manners to name just a few characteristics.  Even though you may not be aware, to some extent,  most of you humans seem to be  corrupted by some of these characteristics.

Doesn´t this Jesus chap  give you an added  incentive to really want to change your ways in which to give peace a real  chance?

Peace on earth can only occur when the last man  (human) on earth has found true peace in their hearts.  You will truly know when you´ve discovered that peace because it will then be impossible to disrespectfully think bad things towards others or  act selfishly.

       Wow Sir Winston,  that would be a great Christmas present wouldn´t it.  You know, the humans not just talking about peace but actually  managing to find true peace in their hearts and acting accordingly.  🙂

I´ll not give up believing that someday, this dream may happen.  Until then I think I´ll help daddy with that long, thin, silvery stuff.

       The human race is on its way boys.  The path it decides to take will be the correct path, however it turns out to be.

       Precisely, one receives what one needs.

Can I have a go at putting the star on the top of the tree?

       I would rather plonk an angel on the top of the tree.  What do you think daddy?

       After I´ve finished decorating the tinsel I suggest we place the angel on the tree top one week  and the star the following week.  Would that be OK for you two?

       Fine daddy.  A good idea.  🙂

          We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  A very special thank you to all of you who have followed our adventures in 2013.  We wish you all the very, very best in the festive season and look forward to continuing our adventures in 2014.

In Peace, Love and Respect from your Mr Fred Midnight, Sir George Francis Winston and myself.

X

(C) Copyright mags 2013