Nollaig Shona, Nadolig Llawen, Joyeux Noël, Fröhliche Weihnachten and as we say in Scotland Merry Christmas!
Yes, yes, yes, there are only a few days left, until the Big Man dressed in red, creeps down your chimney in the middle of the night, wanders around your house, whilst you are asleep, eats your food, deposits a few presents and then leaves! Now if you think about that, logically, that’s weird and unsettling. But, “Hey Ho!” it is Christmas time and this is the only time of the year when our houses are open season for a stranger to simply waltz in.
I hope that all your letters have been sent and posted on time, by snail mail. Reaching those wee elves, who work tirelessly, 24-hours-a-day, making millions of toys, in time for a delivery deadline date of 25th December.
It is by all accounts, an impossible task, but so was The Donald winning the US Presidential elections and we all know what happened there!
2016 was a great year for news and stories. It has also been a sad year, with so many wonderful people, stars and friends passing away.
Politically, the year I think, can be defined by the death of opinion polls. The pollsters getting it unbelievably wrong in the Irish, UK and US elections and as for the Brexit predictions – well I imagine that those guys will be working in Santa’s sweatshop next year. Just what were they doing when they were “canvassing the opinion of the people?” Either everyone was being two-faced or they were making it all up!
In Waterford, we had our very own Neville Chamberlain moment, of September 1938 and the euphoria of waving an A4 letter, when returning from that Munich meeting. Our newly appointed Minister was also saying there would be “peace of our time”, as we were told that, “I will deliver, with bells and whistles, 24-hour cardio care for UHW, despite the need for a specialist report!” Then along came Herity and in July, delivered something completely different. Now where in the annals of history have we read that before?
Keeping the WWII theme, the escalating boundary dispute, between the Councils of Waterford and Kilkenny, has seen thousands of column inches written, particularly in the last week. The pens for hire have had a field day liking the “land grab” to Mr A. Hilter invading Poland! Now, I am no
I still believe that we have missed a huge opportunity, to build our own wall, by using the rubble from the flour mills, as in “The Great Escape”. Using the people of Waterford to carry the rubble, across the bridge, in their trousers and dump, strategically, along the proposed new border frontier line. Alas, we have missed the chance and now await on yet another report on the future of Waterford, again, completely out of our hands.
My quote of the year has to be from Mr Des O’Keeffe, partner of the sadly departed and yet never to be forgotten Billy McCarthy. During Billy’s funeral eulogy, Des stated, “I even whispered in his (Billy’s) ear that Donald Trump had won the US election, in the hope that the fright would wake him up!!!” With all the pressure associated in delivering a tribute to the one you love, we were all amazed, that in addition to the fortitude and strength Des showed, he could also share such a humorous and intimate moment. All in attendance knew that Billy would have appreciated the sentiment.
On a personal note, I do hope that over the past year you have enjoyed my wee column, as much as I have enjoyed writing for you.
So, as we move ever nearer to the morning of 25th December and that mad one hour of tearing open presents, I wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas and of course a Happy Hogmanay.
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