December 2007                                 

“Bah! Humbug!” some might say as they view the shiny brightness of the shops, streets, everywhere and anywhere at this time of year.  It is easy to develop cynicism when out shopping and battling against the masses who are piling up their trolleys in supermarkets; especially if one is old enough to remember wartime Christmases when items of food and luxury were hard to encounter for most of us, or when food rationing indicated a need for imagination and invention to tempt the appetite.

However, cynicism soon evaporates when Christmas is viewed through a child’s eyes.  Despite all the advertising and the expectations that are thrust on youngsters through the media, the delight in a child’s eyes, a little beaming face, can bring home to us forgotten joys of yesteryear when a simple gift was all that we hoped for – and occasionally received.

I remember well the excitement and delight when finding a book and a doll – 2 presents! – on a Christmas Day many, many years ago.  Now, 65 years later I can appreciate the struggle and the possible deprivation suffered by my Mum (Dad was in the RAF, in Italy as I remember it!) to provide simple presents for my sister and myself.  The wonder of the lights on our tiny tree springs to mind when viewing the wondrous sight in St. Georges during the Festival of Christmas Trees. 

Our Little Dragons displayed great concentration last week as they constructed their snowmen for LD’s tree in anticipation of the Festival.  The hardest part for most of the little ones was that they had to leave their snowman behind, hanging on the tree.  It’s all part of the fun to take home the week’s creation to show those at home. 

Actually, to see the progress and development of ‘small’ skills such as cutting, colouring, pasting and sticking things in the right place, is one of the perks of being a Senior Dragon.  To take part in that development is good for one’s soul and really does help to combat cynicism – which brings me nicely back to my introduction – Humbug! 

Now, humbugs used to be my favourite sweets! - however, perhaps that is a tale for another time, another place.

Seasons Greetings to all and every good wish for the New Year from all at Dragon’s Den.

Val Butterworth