Sung to the tune of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
I can’t eat a lot at Christmas ’cause my jaw it just can’t knead I can’t chew on all the goodies spread out here in front of me I just want something to slurp something soft to gulp and burp All I want for Christmas is stew
I can’t eat a lot at Christmas ’cause my jaw it just can’t knead I can’t chew on all the goodies spread out here in front of me I can’t chew upon the turkey even if its pride of place Santa Claus won’t make me happy with a drumstick for my face I just want something to slurp something soft to gulp and burp Make my wish come true All I want for Christmas is stew casserole maybe
I won’t ask for much this Christmas I don’t even wish for snow I’m just gonna keep on waiting for something that’s been cooked slow I won’t make a list and send it to the restaurant for a pick I won’t even stay awake to for deliveries from my mouse click
‘Cause I just want it here tonight Holding on to me so tight stretching out my belly tight What more can I do ’cause all I want for Christmas is stew Ooh gravy
All the food is steaming So brightly everywhere So tasty everywhere And the mound of fruitcake’s scent fills the air And spiced beef is steaming Lobster, ham and pickled herring
Santa won’t you bring me the one I really need Won’t you please bring my gravy to me…
This is all I’m asking for I just want to slurp my gravy Sitting right for one course more Oh I just want you for my own More than you could ever know Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is… stew
All I want for Christmas is stew… gravy (repeat and fade)
Its not very often I have to thank comment spam for something, but in this case its giving you this picture.
This year has been hectic, and a few days ago I dumped the contents of my camera’s memory card on to a stick before bringing it with me out in the cold. For the record I was worried about corruption in the frost, naturally the camera never got used.
Anyway, I got a change to glance through the pictures taken since September. And I discovered the later shots taken as part of a photowalk in Cork. Not the ones from the start of the walk, but only the later ones.
I was convinced that I had lost them. Then I had to go in to my comment spam, only to discover a comment on one of my photos from the walk. Turns out I had uploaded them, but left some of the later ones on the memory card.
I still have three months of photographs to process, but I haven’t lost anything. Except my mind of course.
2009 has been a year of mess and hassle. I’m hoping for improvements in 2010. But thanks to early morning traffic mysteriously vanishing off the roads on the run up to Christmas, there is already a small improvement; five minutes extra in bed.
T’is the season of Christmas parties. OK, this year, subdued Christmas parties, but the “be careful on the road” message still applies.
Twenty years ago, the transport accident commission of Australia created its first television safety campaign. The video below is an edit of 20 years of campaigns. Be warned if you thought that the “The Faster the Speed, the Bigger the Mess” advert for the Republic and Northern Ireland was bad, 20 years worth will have you in tears.
She was woken up by frenzied banging at the front door to her bungalow. Half asleep the elderly lady swung around in the bed, instinctively grabbing her cane by the bed as she put her feet to the floor in search of her slippers.
Instead she found over foot and a half of water.
My aunt was evacuated from her Ballinasloe house, later to be submerged under four and a half feet of water, by boat with only her cane, glasses, nightie, dressing gown and an overcoat grabbed from the hook near the door by one of her boat bound rescuers.
Thankfully she isn’t exactly homeless as her daughter lives on higher ground near-by, but most of her possessions are gone.
Yes folks, this is about the floods.
Today FM and The Ray Foley Show have launched an appeal to the public to give what they can or in the case that you can’t give, do what you can to help these families.
It doesn’t have to be money, we’re all strapped these days, the SVP are calling for practical contributions. Lets face it, some people are going to splurge on new clothes and shoes on the run up and the aftermath of Christmas. Well take this chance to go through your wardrobe and donate anything that doesn’t fit, suit you or you haven’t worn for over two years without a very good reason. (Yes, a Munster shirt signed by the entire team does count as a good reason Ant).
If you have time to give or a skill that could be useful in the aftermath for example builders, carpenters, van/truck drivers if there was a list it would go on, then there’s a website Offers of Help and everything is appreciated.
There are also a bunch of fundraiser activities taking place around the country. Tonight (December 7) in Cork’s Silversprings Conference Centre is the Raising Cork Quiz is in aid of the Cork Flood Victims – with all proceeds going to the SVP Cork Flood Victims Fund. It starts at 8pm with George Hook offering his services as quizmaster. A table of four costs €80.
If you can’t attend (I’ve heard that registration may be full) then you can make donations directly to
St. Vincent de Paul Cork Flood Victims Fund.
AIB 66 South Mall Sort Code:936383 Account No:47092772
Alternatively, contributions to the SVP Annual Appeal, that includes the Irish Flood victims, can be made by calling 01 8386990 or one of the Regional Offices. Or log on to www.svp.ie and click on “Donate Now” or send a cheque to PO Box 1234 Dublin 1.
Many organisations are providing support for the SVP on a national level including a range of newspapers and radio programmes. Arnotts has selected the SVP as one of six charities to be supported by a €20 charity voucher to given to customers with every purchase over €100 on a key shopping day, 8th December. This voucher can then be used to donate to a charity of their choice.
Byrne’s World of Wonder toy stores, the pregnancy and parenting resource website Eumom.ie, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland and ESB Customer Supply are also heavily involved in the fund-raising campaign.
Another major initiative is the SVP Giving Tree campaign which is a big success in companies, homes and stores throughout the country. The Giving Tree campaign asks people to buy a gift for someone who may not get one otherwise this Christmas, to be distributed by SVP volunteers. Giving Trees will be positioned in all cinemas showing ‘A Christmas Carol’ throughout Ireland. National Irish Bank staff across the country are taking up the Giving Tree and buying gifts for those who need it most. SVP is National Irish Bank’s Charity Partner in 2009.
The Irish Muslim community has announced it is to conduct a nationwide collection at the State’s mosques in aid of those affected by the recent floods. Mosques involved in the collection with include those in Clonskeagh, Co Dublin; Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo; and Cork and Galway. The Irish Muslim Flood Relief Committee can be contacted on 01 6729038.
Last week, the Irish Red Cross estimated it has raised over €300,000 so far for its flood relief operations. Donations can be made online at www.redcross.ie or by calling 1850 50 70 70. There are approximately 6000 members of the Irish Red Cross who are all volunteers serving in local communities in every county in Ireland. The Irish Red Cross is responding to floods in Ireland, in fulfilment of its role as an auxiliary to the state.
