The sell in starts in September and doesn't let up until 24^th Dec at 23:59. The businesses that sell us all this stuff that we buy have to make a buck and I don't blame them for using advertising to coax the weak from parting with their cash.

Hell it's a festival isn't it. Sure a festival of consumption, of self indulgence. Where has the magic gone. The thrill of waking on Christmas morning. The sheer excitement of being all together and knowing that a miracle has happened all around the world. It's gone.

It's gone for me anyway. Hijacked by the ad men, Noddy Holder & Jona Lewie. The meaning of Christmas now rests in the hands of Mobile Phone operators, Supermarkets and Electrical Goods shops.

There is a wonderful film by John Carpenter called "they live". In it the main protagonist finds a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see the "real world" . Where a bill board shows a cosmetics ad, wearing the glasses shows the real message,  "SLEEP, OBEY, CONSUME".  Whilst I don't think we have been overrun with aliens in disguise, I suspect that if the media and manufactures have their way the true message of Christmas will be lost forever.

I am not much of a religious man and the events of the past 8 months have driven a wedge even further between me and the church, but I still think Christmas is about being together with your friends and family, about renewal. It's about enjoying life for its own sake. For making it through another year.    

For me, I'll look forward to another Christmas in the hope that I'll get what I want next year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all those who (like me) like to dream also.