Christmas Eve

Will Santa come for me?

May you all feel the excitement of Christmas.

( adapted for the CV 19 world from an earlier one)

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 creak? When can I take a peek?

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

If they are still awake what dreams will go? What heart might break?

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

The parties on zoom with friends we cannot meet

serving nibbles to just my bubble to eat

Drinks that might have been – 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.     

102 Comments

  1. Grey Friar
    December 24, 2020

    Lovely! Santa is on his way! With a deal that protects much (though not all) of the trading advantages of EU membership, plus of course the necessary subjection to the EU’s rules without any say in their making. Not as good as membership, but the only course open to Boris, who of course could not follow the irresponsible fantasy of “no deal” since no country can go it alone in today’s interdependent world. Hurrah for Boris for finally facing down the ERG!

    1. steve
      December 24, 2020

      “no country can go it alone in today’s interdependent world.”

      ========

      Bullshit.

      1. Grey Friar
        December 24, 2020

        OK, steve, you’re right. There’s North Korea. Great role model

        1. Edward2
          December 24, 2020

          GF
          What exactly does “go it alone” mean?
          There are over 150 nations who are not in the EU.

          1. graham1946
            December 24, 2020

            Don’t confuse him with facts.

          2. Hope
            December 24, 2020

            Happy Christmas JR.

            Just when we thought Christmas could not be made worse by your Govt. Jonshson strikes again! Like his dysfunctional misfit private life he has no regard for others or the nation.

        2. Fedupsoutherner
          December 24, 2020

          GF, so you are saying there are no other democratic nations that are sovereign states??? I think you need to think again. Many countries ‘go it alone’ and manage perfectly well without someone else telling them what to do. Why, I do believe the UK was one of them before joining the EU.

      2. Martin in Cardiff
        December 24, 2020

        We will see, that John’s party will gladly accept that a bad deal – and this is far inferior to membership of the European Union – is worlds better than No Deal.

        1. Edward2
          December 25, 2020

          It isn’t about trade.
          It is about being an independent nation.

    2. Richard1
      December 24, 2020

      We must see what it says. If you are correct that it preserves much of the current EU trading relationship while saving £12bn net pa, rising for ever, allows the U.K. to pursue an independent trade policy, protects us from participation in and liability for the current and future euro bailout schemes, allows sensible regulatory divergence as and when U.K. parliaments in future years deem that in the interest of the Country, then yes indeed, bravo for Boris.

  2. Len Peel
    December 24, 2020

    So Boris is the first Tory leader since John Major to reject the Europhobes nihillism and wrecking! Never knew he had it in him, Bravo Boris!

    1. Lifelogic
      December 24, 2020

      Well let’s see the details of the deal. I suspect it is worse than no deal.

      1. Lifelogic
        December 24, 2020

        After all the current lockdown is clearly causing far more harm than good and the Boris/Carrie insanity agenda of net zero carbon will also cause far more harm than good.

        I suspect his deal will also cause more harm to the UK than no deal.

        Such is the recent Boris record. But we shall see later today it seems.

        1. steve
          December 24, 2020

          LL

          “Such is the recent Boris record. But we shall see later today it seems. ”

          =========

          So, Macron closes the french border under the new strain covid excuse, and a french warship just happens to be in English territorial waters at the same time.

          Said vessel is not escorted out of our waters, the french reopen the border and, completely unrelated of course – comes the announcement of a deal.

          Well what a surprise !

          That dithering jellyfish pathetic useless streak of piss coward who’s in No 10 must think we’re bloody stupid.

      2. Martin in Cardiff
        December 24, 2020

        Let’s call things what they are, shall we?

        To some of those here, “No deal is better than a bad deal” means:

        “Anything which prevents the UK from withdrawing from ECHR and imposing extreme right wing mob rule, along with revanchist retrospective law is worse than no deal”

        ANY agreement with the European Union of any substance does exactly that, and so that alone is a cause for celebration.

        1. Edward2
          December 24, 2020

          I’ve seen a lot of extreme left wing mob rule this year on the streets of UK and USA.
          PS
          Why did you put your main paragraph in quotation marks?
          Who said those words?

    2. Lifelogic
      December 24, 2020

      Hardly Europhobes. I love Europe, have an Italian wife and spend much of my time their mainly in France, Italy and Switzerland. Fear of the dire EU structures yes. Not really nihillism either (a believe in nothing, maintaining that life has no meaning and rejecting all moral and religious values as well as political and social institutions) nonsense we just want real democracy based on a sensible demos. Not an anti-democratic group of very different nations rules by unelected and unaccountable and often corrupt bureaucrats. Not “wrecking” either but rebuilding and restoring what is sensible and proven to work.

      1. Lifelogic
        December 24, 2020

        There!

      2. Andy
        December 24, 2020

        From January you will not be spending so much of your time in Europe. In fact a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period.

        Brought to you be a government you think is democratic but which the vast majority of voters did not vote for.

        It turns out that your understanding of the word democracy means only people (a minority) who think like you.

        1. Martin in Cardiff
          December 24, 2020

          It’s striking, how a minority of people who just happened to be on the winning side of a non-binding, single-issue vote somehow claim that it entitles them to literally everything else that they want too.

        2. Edward2
          December 24, 2020

          We have a few sensible rules for elections Andy.
          You have to be 18 years old or above.
          You have to be a UK citizen.
          It isn’t compulsory to vote.
          We have multiple political parties to vote for.
          Unless you only allow two parties in an election then it is almost inevitable that the winning party will have less votes than votes cast for all the other parties combined.

        3. Lifelogic
          December 24, 2020

          I doubt if the EU would want to deter people from spending money in the EU. People holidaying or retiring with their own money would not be a liability for the EU but an asset spending money and paying taxes.

          If they really did put a 90 day restriction and enforce it (for the whole of the EU) I would just spend a bit more time in Switzerland or outside the EU elsewhere. Or I can get an Italian Passport it seems – due to my wife’s duel nationality. Or I could, if I could be bothered with all the Italian bureaucracy and queuing involved.

          Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland are all outside EU. Doubtless more will leave too.

          Anyway the absurd UK tax laws mean I cannot even to to the UK for more than about 90 days without paying £hundreds of thousands in tax to them (that they would waste on green lunacy, damaging shutdowns, pointless CV tests for people with no symptoms, lockdowns, corruption or similar).

        4. Lynn Atkinson
          December 24, 2020

          Andy the good news is that as a British citizen you can attain Portuguese citizenship (EU citizenship) so you can still move there!
          Merry Christmas and Goodbye 🙏🙏🙏

      3. steve
        December 24, 2020

        LL

        We get labelled as ‘phobes’ because we stand up for our country and defend our identity and hard earned right to freedom.

        It’s a standard tactic of those who hate the English.

        These people very rapidly have nothing to say and acquire a very nervous disposition when you meet them face to face. They’re total cowards and terrified of ‘Little Englanders’ as they often call us – from the anonymity a comp, of course.

        1. Martin in Cardiff
          December 24, 2020

          You are groundlessly asserting that being “for” your country means that it is against all other countries, unless their populations are mainly white and speak English as a first language though, aren’t you?

          That is quite reprehensible, I think.

          Normal people are not relaxed about being threatened implicitly or otherwise with violence merely for stating a few facts, no.

          And that is true whether they think that they would easily deal with it or not too.

          Maybe those flat roof estate pubs are better staying shut?

          1. Edward2
            December 24, 2020

            Waving your race card is pathetic Martin.
            But that is the typical lefty response anytime they lose the argument.
            Typically you are a socialist who hates the working class as can be seen in your last sentence.

  3. Nig l
    December 24, 2020

    As wonderful as ever. Even more poignant bearing in mind what has happened in Brussels. Thank to you for umpteen years of effort. I hope they are rewarded.

  4. Lifelogic
    December 24, 2020

    So Tony Blair has suggested we consider initially giving just one dose of the vaccine each rather than two while the vaccine is in worse supply. I suggested this about four weeks back. It seems rather likely to me that this would (assuming the vaccine is sufficiently safe and works that is) probably save more lives.

    What is more clear cut still is that the vaccine priority list certainly needs to adjust the age for men so they get it at a slightly younger age than women to reflect their risk. Not doing this is gross negligence that will kill. Also little point in wasting vaccine on people who have had it.

    1. Lifelogic
      December 24, 2020

      The above all assumes that the vaccine is safe and effective enough to use.

      Figures from the US apparently indicate that quite serious reactions to it (requiring medical care and/or inability to work were about 2.8%). These also are just the short term reactions any long term ones are not known.

      So vaccinating 30 million might give nearly 1 million such reactions. Are we really sure it will do more harm than good?

    2. Lifelogic
      December 24, 2020

      while in short supply not worse!

    3. Know-Dice
      December 24, 2020

      LL the vaccine/vaccines are probably not approved for single dose use, if there was a reliable ongoing supply then surely those at the sharp end would be using everything they currently have with the knowledge that the second dose supply would arrive in time.
      Are they actually holding back 50% of stocks to give as a second jab – I don’t know?

      1. Lifelogic
        December 24, 2020

        Clearly approval would be needed, but diverting the second doses to new people (until supply is plentiful) seem to be worthy of serious consideration.

  5. Shirley M
    December 24, 2020

    If the rumours are true, I feel as though Santa has come and taken 90% of my gifts to give to an unfriendly and belligerent neighbour and I get almost nothing in return. In addition, I must continue to be nice and constantly giving gifts to my nasty neighbour while they treat me like a servant, call me names and generally make my life difficult.

    1. TrueBrit
      December 24, 2020

      It looks as if Mr Redwood backed the wrong horse in the leadership race. Did he really believe Boris? Not the first man ( or woman) to be burned

      1. steve
        December 24, 2020

        True Brit

        “Not the first man ( or woman) to be burned”

        As surely he will be.

        I have a feeling the coward will rush the betrayal through Parliament, then step down, stupidly thinking he’s got away with it.

        What he doesn’t realise is that mud sticks, even more viciously with a bit of infamy thrown in. He’ll have too many enemies after the destruction of his own political party, and won’t be employable – nobody will touch him.

      2. Lifelogic
        December 24, 2020

        No real alternative to Boris was there? At least he turned the 9% support that the appalling Theresa May had into an 80 seat majority and saved the UK from Corbyn, Mc Donnall and the National Socialist Party of Scotland.

        1. steve
          December 24, 2020

          LL

          “No real alternative to Boris was there?”

          There was an alternative – not too far from this website.

          JRM, IDS…….there were alternatives. But coward we got was put in No 10 to deliver BRINO.

          1. Lifelogic
            December 24, 2020

            Not alternatives that could win given the nature of most “Conservative” MPs.

      3. Lynn Atkinson
        December 24, 2020

        Which of the three runners did you back?

    2. Andy
      December 24, 2020

      Not true. You get lorry parks. And masses of new bureaucracy. And higher prices. And a shiny new border down the Irish Sea. And pointless hassle and expense just to travel. These things really will all make your life difficult.

      Oh – and you are promised discount tampons too! Exciting.

      1. Edward2
        December 24, 2020

        Andy
        You fail to realise how important independence and sovereignty are.
        You speak only about trade.

        1. Fedupsoutherner
          December 24, 2020

          Benn on BBC news this morning saying even if we had sovereignty what would we do with it? What an idiot. No vision. What the hell does he think other countries do with it? They get on with life with no outside interference. I despair.

          1. Edward2
            December 24, 2020

            He should have listened to his father a lot more.

          2. graham1946
            December 24, 2020

            His dad is probably spinning in his grave.

          3. Martin in Cardiff
            December 24, 2020

            It’s like Victorian old maids trumpeting their virginity.

            What ever did they do with it?

            About as much as the brexit fanatics will do with their “sovrintee”.

          4. Edward2
            December 24, 2020

            Independence has been fought for by nations around the world.
            Many died to gain that precious freedom, independence and sovereignty.
            Remain fanatics like you can sneer all you like.
            Roll on January 1st 2021.

          5. Lifelogic
            December 24, 2020

            The Benn act was pure treachery and all who voted for it should have no place in parliament.

          6. Lynn Atkinson
            December 24, 2020

            Why is he an MP if he does not know what a Parliament does?

  6. steve
    December 24, 2020

    “So Boris is the first Tory leader since John Major to reject the Europhobes ”

    =======

    Soon to be ex – Tory leader.

  7. Mary M.
    December 24, 2020

    Marvellous fun. Thank you.

    (Let us hope that our hearts will not break, but that Santa will bring each one of us the gift of self-determination.)

  8. steve
    December 24, 2020

    JR

    Under normal circumstances I’d entertain your Christmas wit, but with all the evidence suggesting the great betrayal is imminent I’m more concerned with plan B – revenge !

    I think the majority in your party either don’t realise what we are going to do to the conservatives, or must be arrogant in the extreme to think they’ll get away with it.

    Obviously none of them has any notion about radicalisation, if they did they’d realise betrayal is THE sure fire way to cause it.

    Things are going to get nasty.

    1. Andy
      December 24, 2020

      Why are you going to get nasty? You got your Brexit. We told you it would be naff and it will be.

      If you are too silly to listen that it your own fault.

      1. steve
        December 24, 2020

        Oh I guess we were supposed to roll over at the referendum and give you what you wanted, eh ?

        Brexit was naff because you and YOUR Boris Johnson sabotaged it.

        Johnson has planted the seeds of radicalisation and sectarianism.

        There will be a reckoning, count on it.

        1. Martin in Cardiff
          December 24, 2020

          What are you planning?

          A mass dog-fouling?

          If Leave voters love their country so much, then why do they leave it covered in cigarette ends, Stella cans, old mattresses and staffie muck?

          1. Edward2
            December 24, 2020

            Another socialist who despises the working class.
            Hilarious.

          2. graham1946
            December 24, 2020

            Is that what it’s like in Wales? Not so in my village or nearby towns. Perhaps we can now see why Wales is so infected.

          3. Glenn Vaughan
            December 24, 2020

            MiC

            Have you considered changing your location?
            You obviously live in a very untidy neighbourhood.

          4. Fedupsoutherner
            December 24, 2020

            Oh Martin. You really are a silly Billy. I am a Leave voter. I don’t drink Stella, I don’t smoke, I clear up after my English Cocker Spaniel and when I changed my mattress recently the shop took the old one away. Your vision of the world is very sad and blinkered which is why you can’t see past life within the EU.

          5. SM
            December 24, 2020

            Please do tell us how you know that it is Leavers who strew litter around the place?

            You see, I recall how this bad behaviour occurred before the Referendum, and before Maastricht – in fact I even recall a campaign way back when titled ‘Keep Britain Tidy’.

            What next, how Brexit supporters created the Wuhan virus?

          6. Fred H
            December 24, 2020

            you’ve been walking around splot lately!

        2. TrueBrit
          December 24, 2020

          Funny how everyone lets us down once they are in charge

  9. Mark B
    December 24, 2020

    Good morning and a Merry Christmas to our kind host and all those who read and contribute to this Diary.

    As a bit of a downer I have to say it does not feel like Christmas. The shops where I am are virtually empty, totally devoid of that Christmas hustle and bustle with a tinge of magic and wonder thrown in.

    Yes, the Grinchs’ certainly have stolen Christmas for many. But as always, you can always tell where government has been by the mess it leaves behind.

    Have a good one 🙂

    1. steve
      December 24, 2020

      Mark B

      Well what do you expect?

      That jellyfish Johnson ruins everything he touches. The bloody useless buffoon is a dangerous liability, ( as the conservative party will soon come to realise )

      No surprise he’s buggered Christmas.

  10. Fedupsoutherner
    December 24, 2020

    So Boris is reported to having agreed a deal. What with this news and more variants of Covid 2021 is looking like a crap year already. Great poem John and Happy Christmas.

  11. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
    December 24, 2020

    Considering geographical proximity, some deal is better than no deal,
    It may also avoid too much souring of relationships between the two unions.
    We may still need one another.

    1. Richard1
      December 24, 2020

      A friendly alliance and good trading relationship between sovereign equals would seem to be a good basis.

      1. Andy
        December 24, 2020

        1 x 27

        65m v 450m

        Your fundamental mistake is to think you are equal.

        1. Edward2
          December 24, 2020

          It isnt about population.
          Standards of living can be far higher in countries with small populations.
          We don’t want to be equal
          Just independent.
          Like the more than 150 nations on Earth that are not in the EU.

        2. Know-Dice
          December 24, 2020

          And that is why some of us wished to leave the EU, in or out we were never equal and never wanted to be…

        3. steve
          December 24, 2020

          Andy

          “Your fundamental mistake is to think you are equal.”

          True. We are superior, after all they all surrendered to Mr H, we didn’t.

        4. graham1946
          December 24, 2020

          Yes and 19 of the 27 are so poor they rely on handouts. We certainly are not equal. I don’t see any people here getting into dinghies to escape the UK for the fabulous EU. It’s o.k. for the rich like you, for the rest no so much.

      2. steve
        December 24, 2020

        Richard 1

        Does that include sovereign equals who don’t regard us as such, and generally treat us like shit ?

    2. Andy
      December 24, 2020

      My apologies Peter. Most people in the U.K. are not like this lot. I am sure they started out with good intentions but they just all went a bit crazy when their fantasy smashed into the iron fist of reality. Johnson’s sell out deal will be bad for everyone. It makes trade harder and more bureaucratic- and that makes it more expensive.

      The coming generation of Britons will reject this nonsense and will rejoin the EU. I hope in a timely enough way for all the key perpetrators of this to be alive to witness its failure. Please keep our seat at the table warm for us. Most of us remain your friends. Happy Christmas.

      1. Peter van LEEUWEN
        December 24, 2020

        @Andy:
        I would certainly hope for a “different Britain” to rejoin the EU one day. But I have also learned, e.g. on this website, how different the perceptions, formed by history and differing circumstances, are about sovereignty, independence, etc. So the next best might be a form of association, built upon this deal during the coming decades.
        I can live with either. I hope that at least for the young and coming generations, that they will be as free to move and live wherever they want to, and enjoy all the perks of subsidised transport and study for the young over here.

        1. steve
          December 24, 2020

          PvL

          “I would certainly hope for a “different Britain”

          ========

          And what exactly has it got to do with you ?

          What right do you have to expect my country to be of a nature that suits you ?

          Who do you think you are ?

          I’d like to see a Holland that cannot s

          1. steve
            December 24, 2020

            key bounce…must get new keyboard.

            A holland who’s products cannot sell in the UK.

            You tell me how my country should be, I tell you how yours should be.

            Fair, don’t you think ?

        2. graham1946
          December 24, 2020

          You are correct that we have different perceptions due to history. Most of the Continent has been under dictatorship within the last 100 years, whereas we have 1000 years of history without that, other than the dictatorship of our ruling class. We, with allies, and some brave local people ended that for you. You feel the need to gather together so it can’t happen again, we don’t feel that.

      2. Mike Wilson
        December 24, 2020

        You start with incorrect assumptions. Like many non-thinking people, you accept things as given that are not true. The most basic and rarely challenged assumption is that trade between countries is inherently good and necessary. I would suggest that a child of five could spot the flaws in this argument.

        Yet another incorrect (and deliberately stupid and offensive) assertion is that people who voted to leave the EU do not want to be ‘friends’ with people in other European countries. You make this up and constantly assert it as truth. Whereas it is, of course, nonsense and you know it. You sound like your mate Trump with your endless parroting of fake truths.

    3. steve
      December 24, 2020

      PvL

      May I take the opportunity of festive season to suggest you do something with that olive branch that would cause you much discomfort.

      1. Peter van LEEUWEN
        December 24, 2020

        @steve: I notice that you are very angry. I can respect that. But from my perspective, when I hear Ursula about brexit, I don’t feel as though she is treating you like sh*t. Equally, when I hear Boris talking about brexit, I hear him always address his “friends and partners”. They are the two who in this case make the final deal. Equally, the language of either Mr Frost or Mr Barnier is respectful and devoid of too much emotion or any mud-slinging.
        I know you don’t like the French. But not everybody has the same feelings as you.

        1. steve
          December 24, 2020

          PvL

          “But not everybody has the same feelings as you.”

          I don’t give a toss about Europeans feelings, or those who think we should be in the EU.

          “I hear him [Johnson] always address his “friends and partners”

          They are not friends, what friends do you have that attack your fishing vessels and crews, blockade trade routes while at the same time navigating a warship into your territorial waters ?

          Would these be the same friends who owe their existence and freedom to our sacrifice on the Normandy beeches ?

          Would they be the same friends who we fed during the Berlin airlift, while we still had rationing in our own country?

          Would they be the same friends who enjoyed the protection we provided from soviet attack during the cold war ?

          Friends ? I think not. And Johnson has no right to address them as such.

          In any case him and his party are dead, they will never be re elected – we shall see to it.

          There will be an unstoppable rise of nationalism in this country – caused by coward Boris Johnson.

          1. Peter van LEEUWEN
            December 24, 2020

            @steve: Steve, we live in 2020, and you seem still stuck in a war of 80 years ago. Som people would rightly call that “pathetic”.

            I could of course tell you that we have been fishing in eachothers waters for centuries, but I won’t delve into history.

            All the same, there are many fishing families that risk losing their livelyhood overnight in case of a no-deal brexit. I’d prefer that not to happen, so I stated that some deal will be better than no deal, also for these fishing communities.

            Your attitude seems to be “not to give a toss”

          2. TrueBrit
            December 24, 2020

            Very poor, steve. I am a Brexiter but I would never pretend Britain pulled off the Normandy landings, the Berlin airlift or defence of the West. That was the Americans. We helped but so did the Canadians, Aussies etc. You dont help Brexit by making up stories about WW2 my friend

          3. Stred
            December 24, 2020

            I hope that the deal allows the UK to refuse licences to the large industrial Dutch and Belgian trawlers and the Danish sand eel grubbers which reduce basic feed for fish and supply pig farmers. If they are allowed to continue the North Sea will be ruined like the Mediterranean.

        2. steve
          December 24, 2020

          PVL

          “They are the two who in this case make the final deal.”

          Except ours has no permission to be making any deal.

          1. Lynn Atkinson
            December 24, 2020

            Parliament makes the deal in the full knowledge that if we don’t like their actions we will sack them. It does not matter if we replace them with worse people, MPs hate being sacked, it messes with their ‘career path’ and ‘income’. So whatever colour of MP you have, if he does not vote in accordance with his manifesto commitment, sack him!

      2. Everhopeful
        December 24, 2020

        Lol!
        Holly sub?

    4. steve
      December 24, 2020

      PvL

      “We may still need one another.”

      Next time you find yourselves in a scrap don’t come to us.

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        December 24, 2020

        +1 never again will we sacrifice British lives to save the Continent from itself!

  12. Alan Jutson
    December 24, 2020

    Wishing you a merry Christmas and a better new year to you and your family John.

    Many thanks for continuing with your blog during these very difficult and changing times, and allowing us to put our thoughts directly to you on a whole range of topics.

    Shame many other Mp’s do not follow your example.

  13. steve
    December 24, 2020

    “allowing us to put our thoughts directly to you on a whole range of topics.”

    Didn’t give us a PM who did as we told him though, did it ?

    1. SM
      December 24, 2020

      In case you hadn’t noticed, governments of all and any ilk don’t actually work like that.

  14. BJC
    December 24, 2020

    Any deal has to be worse than no deal as it annoints the mighty EU with the power to flex its muscles and demand we justify our existence. I know it’s a sell-out, the question is to what extent? Remainers will be joyous at the prospect.

    If we want to understand our future, look no further than those innocents imprisoned on an airfield being refused the right to be released without a mandatory negative test for Covid. It’s not UK policy, it’s EU policy. All the while, we’re letting more hostages into the country at the front end.

    The answer, by the way, is to only ship the containers from the border with the EU and have our own hauliers recover and deliver the goods at this end, returning the empty containers to the port for the reverse process. Can it work effectively and efficiently? Ask those fighting for their freedom; they’ll make sure it does.

    1. graham1946
      December 24, 2020

      We are complicit by agreeing to testing which has imprisoned them for more days. Having done that the way we have treated them is appalling, no toilets or washing facilties. etc. Totally different to the treatment of the illegal immigrants.
      We should have said ‘no’ and packed them all off on the ferries and let France sort it out. I doubt the drivers would be in any mood to quietly stay at the Calais gates like good little boys. About time Macron faced up to his ridiculous decision without the help of the UK to give it credence. He is terrified of his fishermen and farmers, now he has the hauliers to contend with as well. Brilliant statesman.
      As for containers, about 90 percent of our imports and exports come and go this way, so yes it does work, albeit a trifle slower.

  15. Stred
    December 24, 2020

    Santa will leave presents 2 metres away from the house entry point and refuse any drinks or food. Only stuff turkey using sage stuffing. Do not leave your house after Christmas day unless for essential shopping.
    By order of the Sage committee and
    Matt Hancock . Minister of Out of Control Mutant Bugs.

  16. Lester Cynic Beedell
    December 24, 2020

    I see that Grey Friar is the latest recruit to the Anti Great Britain ranks to keep Andy, MiC, Margaret Howard and several others company, the pro-EU brigade who are unable to recognise the benefits of being a sovereign independent nation.

    If the conservative party doesn’t become the Conservative Party very soon then it’s days are numbered.

    I enjoyed the poem very much. Merry Christmas!

  17. Everhopeful
    December 24, 2020

    A little bit after the style of a much better poet!

    Will Boris let us out of jail?
    Will his Brexit win or fail?
    We have given him our trust.
    He will deliver. He must! He must!
    He’s killed the economy, taken our freedom,
    Yet daren’t tell the EU to just stick their Edam!

  18. Know-Dice
    December 24, 2020

    Happy Brexitmas to you Sir John and thank you for your continued support in “Speaking for England”

  19. a-tracy
    December 24, 2020

    🎄🎅🤶 Happy Christmas John and to all your contributors to one of my favourite blogs.

  20. M Brandreth- Jones
    December 24, 2020

    Is this the same one as last year or just a little editing? Father Christmas must be too tired these days with all the Personal protection at each chimney ..

  21. Margaret Brandreth-
    December 24, 2020

    Ignore my last post .like many things I skip read, if it is not work… the adaptation is obvious.

  22. XY
    December 24, 2020

    There’s now a Santa Tracker app for your phone. Takes all the mystery away – I still enjoy waiting up for Santa 🙁

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