Christmas Eve

My poem for Christmas

 

Will Santa come for me?

May you all feel the excitement of Christmas.

 

WILL SANTA COME TONIGHT?

“Will Santa come? Will Santa come tonight?”

“He might. He might.

If you are good, he might.”

“Can I stay up and see?”

“No. He will not come for you or me

if we do not sleep . He’s too busy to meet us all.”

“And will he come for us?

If you go to sleep – he does not like fuss.”

Tonight, by the lights of the tree,

there is, at last, some grown up time for me.

The cake is iced. The wine is spiced .The carrots diced.

The pudding’s steamed. The brandy butter creamed.

The turkey prepared awaits. And yes, I did clean the plates.

The tree is up, the table laid,

the cards are out , though the credit card’s unpaid!

So shall I soon with gifts a plenty

mount the stairs to deliver twenty?

Do I dare to tread the stair?

And will it creak?

And will it make a noise that upsets all those Santa ploys?

I need to know if they slumber before I arrive with my lumber.

If they are still awake what dreams will go?

Or do they know? And is their belief just all for show?

So tonight by the magic tree there is need of more time just for me.

I will wait – and struggle to keep open my eyes

And wrestle with the morality of eating Santa’s mince pies.

My adult mind is full of Christmas chores

The cooking times, and the cards through neighbours’ doors

Drinks with friends to come – but not that cheap red

Which would give me a headache as soon as I got to bed

I was once a child too excited to sleep with a torrent of thoughts about what I might be given

Hoping that it was a toy beneath the wrapping

Should I peep? –Not more socks or hankies, preferably something to be driven

So could Santa still come for me? Drowsily I dream as if I were eight

Hoping that Santa would not be late

Like every little boy there is of course a much wanted toy

So will Santa come tonight? He might, He might.

If you sleep well and if you believe

Only if you believe. And only if in your family Love fills the hours you will be spending.

It could be the true Santa on the stair

Or it could be someone from an empty chair.

So will Santa come? He will. He will.

 

59 Comments

  1. Javelin
    December 24, 2023

    The majority of voters have given Santa a list of policies that are good for the UK but none of the mainstream parties appear to have received any of them.

    1. Peter
      December 24, 2023

      Merry Christmas and and a Happy New Year.

      Hopefully a break from everyday concerns and worries.

    2. Lifelogic
      December 24, 2023

      Indeed, Ben Habib on talk radio just before 11.00am today was spot on. Ditch net zero, cut the size of government, turn the boats back, slash red tape, freedom of choice please


      1. Timaction
        December 24, 2023

        Happy Christmas Sir John.
        The boat crisis will not be solved until they turn them back at sea, return them to France after rescue or back via the tunnel or Ferry the same day. Simple problem solved. It just takes political will which we’ll only get under…… REFORM!
        When they eventually run out of the 46% money, welfare will have to be cut. I see your Government bunged them another ÂŁ300 last week on top of their gold plated welfare as cost of living payments. I’m glad we (46%) can afford it. NOT! Live within our means not give away generosity on borrowed money. Reform the broken NHS and stop foreigners use! Simples.

      2. glen cullen
        December 24, 2023

        Those were all the reasons why we voted tory in 2019

      3. Lynn Atkinson
        December 24, 2023

        But Ben Habib’s Party is going to stand giants John Redwood in the hope of returning a Lib Dem in his place. How does that further his wish list?
        The naĂŻvety in a simple thing like electoral strategy gives evidence that should Reform form a Government, they would be unable to get a single one of their proposed policies through the House.
        How many times have we to go through this before the penny drops? We need to conspire to get MORE people of John Redwoods politics and calibre into Parliament. Any bloody fool can get them out and destroy the flame of Conservatism – DOING THE ONE NATION CONSERVATIVES WORK FOR THEM.

  2. Lynn Atkinson
    December 24, 2023

    Merry Christmas Sir John, another year of holding the line. No small feat. Merry Christmas too to all who read your blog, we are all richer for it.
    God grant the deserving people of the United Kingdom, three wise men so they can enjoy the prosperity for which they are willing to work.

    1. Mary M.
      December 24, 2023

      100 +.
      My sentiments entirely, Lynn.

      Merry Christmas, Sir John, and thank you.
      Mary M.

      1. Diane
        December 24, 2023

        L + M: Mine too. Many thanks for your hard work Sir John & for an ear and a voice. Best wishes & Happy Christmas to you and to all other readers and commenters.

    2. Berkshire Alan
      December 24, 2023

      +1

      1. Kayla+Tomlinson
        December 24, 2023

        Plus 1 more. Thank you Sir John for all your good work and efforts on our behalf.

      2. Ian Wraggg
        December 24, 2023

        Merry Christmas Sir John
        Let’s hope the terrible two are given short shrift after the New Year.

    3. Bingle
      December 24, 2023

      +1

    4. glen cullen
      December 24, 2023

      Good words Lynn

    5. Ian B
      December 24, 2023

      @Lynn Atkinson +1
      Great, thank you, merry Christmas everyone

  3. Lifelogic
    December 24, 2023

    So will Santa come for junior doctors or will they all have to go overseas to get a living wage?

    Our rather juvenile health secretary, Victoria Atkins prefers to call Junior Doctors “Doctors in training”. She herself earns about 5 times what a first year doctor earns (that after they have already had and paid for at least 5 years training and many have had 20 years+). I suspect than nearly all junior doctors are brighter, know more about health care and would make far better health Secretaries than this foolish Blackpool Barrister. Or indeed the dire PPE, history, politics etc. dopes like Hunt, Steve Barclay, ThĂ©rĂšse Coffey, Steve Barclay MP, Sajid Javid, Matt Hancock, Jeremy Hunt
who have all done nothing to sort out the dire and idiotically run NHS.

    If you do the sums first year junior doctors often have negative disposable income after rent, student loans interest, commuting costs, council tax
so often have to scrounge of relatives or further borrow just to live.

    1. A-tracy
      December 24, 2023

      Are Junior Doctors not still Doctors in training to their next level of skill? What would you prefer them called? Doctor grade 1 to 7. Sometimes some of the complaints against Ministers are just too silly. Are doctors moving onto ward training when first out of university supervised for the majority of their shift? At what grade are they working solo without a team of experienced nurses and other medics?

      1. Lifelogic
        December 24, 2023

        Well in most jobs or careers you keep learning things throughout your working life but all doctros have had at least 5 years training before they earn anything. Atkins the foolish Blackpool Barrister was using the phrase to justify paying them a salary that for earlier year junior doctors in areas leaves them negative disposable income after rent on a room, student loan interest, commuting costs, council tax leaves them a negative sum for food, heat, light, fun
 it is any wonder so many leave or give up.

    2. glen cullen
      December 24, 2023

      On the first day of Christmas
      My doomster sent to me
      A windmill on fire in the sea

      On the second day of Christmas
      My doomster sent to me
      Two ULEZ zones
      And a windmill on fire in the sea

      On the third day of Christmas
      My doomster sent to me
      Three Black-Outs
      Two ULEZ Zones
      And a windmill on fire in the sea
      
.
      On the twelfth day of Christmas
      My doomster sent to me
      Twelve panels breaking
      Eleven EVs burning
      Ten lords a-troughing
      Nine nutters dancing
      Eight grifters grifting
      Seven whales not swimming
      Six runways boiling
      Five blocked roads
      Four trashed paintings
      Three black-outs
      Two ULEZ zones
      And a windmill on fire in the sea

      1. Lifelogic
        December 24, 2023

        +1

      2. forthurst
        December 24, 2023

        On every day of Xmas, the Tories sent to me
        a cargo of foreigners to save the economy

        Merry Christmas, John and his avid readers

        1. Timaction
          December 24, 2023

          …………….and immediately onto low wage welfare, free health, housing, education etc at the expense of English tax payers. Never deporting the boat people but granting them all asylum!!
          White Englishmen, here just to pay the taxes. Forget about employment no matter how good under the Tory’s non Equality Laws.

    3. forthurst
      December 24, 2023

      Junior Doctor is a job title that has always been used to describe hospital doctors who have not become Consultants.

  4. DOM
    December 24, 2023

    Merry Xmas John

    Best to your family

    Shalom from a gentile

    1. non sycophant
      December 24, 2023

      Why does Dom wish you Shalom ? Are you Jewish ?
      Has anyone ever said that the poem that pops up every tear is a bit
      cringe.
      ” with a torrent of thoughts about what I might be given ”
      was the opposite with me and poor kids
      ” what might I give ” thought we.
      ” Lumber ” is a clumsy rhyme
      None the less
      Happy Christmas
      You might get it one day.

      Reply The dream is of boyish thoughts hence not about giving.

      1. non sycophant
        December 24, 2023

        You think children don’t have dreams of giving ?
        It depends how they are raised.
        a )How can I enrich myself and be praised by my peers ?
        b) How can I help my fellow man incognito ?
        Never self aggrandising or revealing my actions ?
        Look at world religions as to who teaches A/B.
        Religious zealots after the age of 10 are weirdoes jrm
        It’s a grounding , a moral compass.

    2. Bingo
      December 24, 2023

      I get it now. I get why.
      Peace and love

      1. hefner
        December 24, 2023

        Best wishes for the festive season to all contributors here:
        May peace be with you / Shalom aleichem / Salaam aleykum .

  5. MPC
    December 24, 2023

    Thank you for all your inherent optimism and unstinting efforts this year Mr Redwood. You are an example to us all. I hope your success rate in terms of influencing Government is as large as possible in 2024.

    1. glen cullen
      December 24, 2023

      +many

  6. Donna
    December 24, 2023

    Thank you for your efforts Sir John.

    Sadly, although I hope we all have a merry Christmas the chances of a happy New Year are slim and getting slimmer with every day the wrecking-ball Westminster Uni-Party stays in power ….. and it makes no difference whether it’s the Blue-Green or Red-Green branch doing the wrecking.

  7. MFD
    December 24, 2023

    A long gone memory of early parenthood đŸ€”

    Thank you!
    Merry Christmas to you and your family Sir John.

    I’ll not say happy new year in this horrid state of the whole world!

  8. A-tracy
    December 24, 2023

    Merry Christmas John and thank you for all you do with this blog and in your wider community. I enjoy reading your thoughts in your daily diary and I hope that you do manage to switch off now for a couple of days :).

    Merry Christmas to all fellow commentators and readers too.

    1. Lifelogic
      December 24, 2023

      +1

  9. agricola
    December 24, 2023

    I wish you all you would wish yourself. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Don your chute and strap yourself tightly in, it could be a bouncy ride for all of us.

  10. Everhopeful
    December 24, 2023

    Happy Christmas!! đŸŽ„â˜ƒïž
    Though the mince pies have shrunk and the turkey weighs much less than 20lb
    (There are fewer around the table this year)
    We still put up a tree
    Though they have given away our festival with no accusations of cultural appropriation
    We still see stagecoaches calling at ancient inns for hot gin and water

    And folk playing happily in the snow, skating on the village pond.

    Maybe we will not actually be ground into the mud by our politicians?
    Happy Christmas
one and all.
    We still have HOPE
and good men like JR.

  11. Ian B
    December 24, 2023

    Sir John
    Thank you for all your hard work, Merry Christmas to you and yours

    1. glen cullen
      December 24, 2023

      concur

  12. Bloke
    December 24, 2023

    Christmas is exciting, especially for children. Most people wish goodwill to all and many assist happy lives for so many others in peace and harmony. Our government cannot help everybody yet should first try to do more for those close to them at home in our family of nations too. Best wishes to SJR and the continuing effect of his goodness.

    1. Narrow Shoulders
      December 24, 2023

      An ode to more innocent times. No more for many I am afraid.

      Thank you and merry Christmas Sir John and ALL who contribute on here for I know the true meaning of inclusivity.

  13. Bert+Young
    December 24, 2023

    Hope is always in the skies and whoever upwards turns his face knows that tomorrow may be brighter . Sentiment at Christmas is always a welcome sign and we must not put our trust on hold .
    All the best to you Sir John and your bloggers .

  14. Norman
    December 24, 2023

    ‘And we have seen and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.’ 1 John 4:14
    ‘Thanks be unto God, for his unspeakable gift,’ 2 Corinthians 9:15

  15. glen cullen
    December 24, 2023

    While I appreciate your message of Christmas joy, I detest that our PM & opposition PM feel the need to broadcast, across the nation, a Christmas message – as though they’re a benevolent monarch blessing the people (something Putin would do)
    Could you please tell the PM to stop talking to us like we’re plebs, serfs and peasants?

    1. Mickey Taking
      December 24, 2023

      But come election days we usually prove about half of us are!

  16. glen cullen
    December 24, 2023

    Christmas Eve shopping and our high-street is dead – you need to remove the business rate altogether and make parking free
    It easy to fund, stop funding foreign aid, the EU budget, the UN budget, the USA F35 fighter, USA nuclear weapons, net-zero 
and stop subsidising renewables
    Use public funds to support our public
    Merry Christmas

  17. Ian B
    December 24, 2023

    I am supposed to be resisting today, but then someone says something that ticks the right boxes.
    “The trouble has been that the community of commentators has forgotten the supply-side lessons of Lawson and Thatcher, and drifted into thinking that productivity growth is unexplainable and “exogenous”, nothing to do with government policy.
    Hence the view that tax can be raised to pay for redistribution and public services at no cost to the economy’s performance
    This view is convenient for those on the political Left, who are strongly represented in that community, but both theory and evidence contradict it, as we are now discovering with a vengeance.
    This Conservative government tells us it believes in low tax and good business incentives. Yet its record seems to reveal opposite beliefs, in line with its Labour rivals for power.”

    Then it dawns – Patrick Minford in the Telegraph

  18. Dunedin
    December 24, 2023

    Merry Christmas to you and all your readers

  19. William Long
    December 24, 2023

    Many thanks and a very happy Christmas to you and yours.

  20. Margaret
    December 24, 2023

    Happy Christmas to you,your friends and family.
    A bit less end rhyme and more internal rhyme this year but still phrases of repetition from past years.

  21. Cliff.. Wokingham.
    December 24, 2023

    Sir John,
    Thank you for your hard work at a time of life, when most of us are starting to take things easy.
    I wish you and yours, a very good Christmas and a happy new year. May you have everything you need and most of what you want.
    Next year could be a very bumpy one for many of us. Please, keep Clive Jones out of Parliament and carry on pushing your commonsense, Conservative thoughts.

  22. Mickey Taking
    December 24, 2023

    Well Sir John take heed of the Ghost of Christmas Past for “Most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.”
    Take heed of the Ghost of Christmas Present for ‘leading to his present misery and the continuation of that sin leading in the future to death’.
    Ghost of Christmas Future represents fear of the unknown future and the legacy one leaves behind. The spirit is dressed all in black and is undefinable because it illustrates how the end will be.
    Repent while there is still time, wake from the nightmare vision and cast a shining light on the future.

    1. Mickey Taking
      December 24, 2023

      Merry Christmas to you and your family, most on here are grateful for your efforts to inform, often educate and argue important issues affecting each of us who wish to live in a peaceful, law abiding society and within a country who cares about its economy.
      Thank you.

  23. John Hatfield
    December 24, 2023

    Thanks for all your hard work, John.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours.

  24. paul cuthbertson
    December 24, 2023

    Why do we relate to a MERRY Christmas. A glass of wine or other for many and they become merry but not Happy. It should be a HAPPY Christmas. In reality Christmas is quite a depressing time for many and family gathering are not necessarily good. Many spend money they do not have on “things” they would not buy for themselves for others who do not want. Shops especially load up on Christmas “tat ” and then sell it off in the new year. Christmas as such has become far too commercialised.
    Father sitting at the head of the table carving the turkey and the children sitting quietly waiting in anticipation. Then following dinner all listening in silence to the Kings speech (not this idiot) on the wireless which was powered by accumulators. Children being happy with a gift of a chocolate bar and a scarf are long gone as are the days of sitting in front of the log/coal fire, roasting chest nuts on the brass fender with a further member of the family playing the piano and family members singing and the children playing. I am glad that I experienced the Christmas of old. they were HAPPY times.

  25. Lynn Atkinson
    December 24, 2023

    Just watching the wonderful ‘Christmas Carol’. Edward Woodward lectures Scrooge about ‘meeting the excess population before demanding their extermination’.
    Let’s hope that many watch this great film this Christmas.
    I wish humility on our ‘world leaders’ including Monarchs and the CEOs of big Pharma. Perhaps they like Scrooge, are less deserving of the gift of life than the hundreds of millions of Tiny Tims – ‘Ignorance’ and ‘Want’ who spell doom for such as you!

  26. Barbara Ramskill
    December 25, 2023

    Merry Christmas Mr Redwood đŸŽ„đŸŸđŸŽ‰đŸŸ

  27. R.T.G.
    December 25, 2023

    Merry Christmas to you and yours, Sir John, and I hope your day is filled with delight.

  28. paul cutbertson
    December 25, 2023

    LA – NO sympathy for any of them. They must all be held to account. EVERY one of them.

  29. APL
    December 26, 2023

    JR: “Will Santa come for me?”

    Santa doesn’t exist.
    But the myth will serve as a pretext for Jeremy Hunt to dress up in a big red suit with a white beard, stick his hand in your pocket and steal your wallet.

    Ho ho ho!

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