Everywhere you look Christmas trees and decorations are springing up - it started even in November!!! I think its a sign of the times, people are looking for some joy and colour in a world which feels very hard and austere at the moment... and its true - life for a lot of people is hard, and I worked for many years in a social welfare setting that often sent me home appreciative of what I had - especially at Christmas time. The television is still full of adverts for luxurious presents and supermarkets showing tables groaning with food - totally unrealistic even in a good year - but this year, while every bit of press scaremongers us into thinking the world is ending- we will all die of hypothermia or starvation - we are still encouraged to buy buy buy.. and celebrate this festive season with greed and gluttony - it feels obscene - yes this is a rant - and I am well aware that many - too many- people are in fuel poverty and food prices have escalated beyond commonly acceptable levels - and I want to go out there and riot but nothing changes.. I don't know what the answer is or what to do about it.
This video go kart is doing the rounds and its real - its a tear jerker, sad, but I know real families living like this and not just at Christmas - we are a fortunate family - we have each other and are canny - we are not too materialistic, but we still told the grandchildren that Santa was finding presents expensive this year and goodness me what must the heating bills be like at the north pole - and for that reason this video broke my heart... but well done Sam Teale for bringing a real side of Christmas on show. I'm pretty sure we all have people we wish could sit round the Christmas dinner table with us - worse still its hard to believe that in a first world country some people cant afford a Christmas dinner - let alone presents....
So, on a lighter note although I never start Christmas too early I have decided to be a bit less bah humbug and embrace a little bit of Christmas cheer - starting with a visit to the Neapolitan Nativity at Auckland Castle. It was a good start - even Dr Fred who is bah humbug all through Christmas without fail - was impressed. Displayed in the soon to be Faith Museum next to the castle this giant 4'5m x 2.5m tableau showcases the Adoration complete with trimmings, cherubs, animals, troubadours, inn keepers markets, and general life in 18 century Naples/ Bethlehem. It is absolutely fabulous. Made up of over 400 figures, animals and objects it depicts town and life scenes in incredible detail. Each piece is hand made from wire, hemp, straw, and clay - all hand painted beautifully.
From the toothless hag sat trying to warm herself, the children dancing in the inn to the chap hidden in the wine cellar its a glorious riot of colour and energy. There are fine ladies and gentlemen, musicians, hunters, street sellers - food, rocks, cacti, and much much more. In the middle of all of this explosion of life sits the heavenly family - Baby Jesus in a manger and mum and dad surrounded by the wise men and shepherds who visited this new born king.
You don't have to be a believer to enjoy this story and the fantastic art portraying it - it really is worth a visit. I have spent at least an hour just finding amazing details to look at. There are only a few such enormous Nativities in the world and we are lucky to have one right on our doorstep in Bishop Auckland.
Then we went to look a the 'O Little Town of Bishop Auckland' lots of local buildings cleverly made out of gingerbread on display in the Auckland Tower - a really nice idea put together in a interesting unusual way. We finished our visit with a ginger bread man and mulled apple juice and headed home to a cosy fire and some Christmas card writing - Christmas is on its way - a time I hope for joy and fun - laughter and friends - and while I know this will not be possible for everybody I'd like to think that most people will find a way to maybe leave the worst of the world behind for a few hours...
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