Ok how about we take a look at some Christmas stories that are well known when you think of Christmas stories what comes to mind?
Over time and across generations and cultures, some Christmas stories have become beloved classics, read and cherished every festive season. Here are few that popped into my head while thinking about this topic.
The first one being a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens which tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man who is transformed by visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Dickens’ tale is not only a critique of Victorian society but also a powerful reminder of the joy that generosity and compassion can bring.
The one I would read to my daughter’s every Christmas was The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, this story is also known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and this classic poem paints a vivid picture of a visit from St. Nicholas.
Another book liked by many is How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss but I am not one of them, in fact I am not a fan of Dr. Seuss. This playful and rhyming tale follows the Grinch, a green and grouchy creature who attempts to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. With its message that the true meaning of Christmas lies in togetherness rather than presents, this story remains a festive favourite for children and adults alike.
I like the movie Polar Express but didn’t realise it was a book by Chris Van Allsburg, it is a beautifully illustrated story, The Polar Express tells of a young boy’s magical train journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. This tale of belief and wonder captures the imagination and the spirit of Christmas in a profoundly touching way.
There are some popular Australian stories because in Australia, Christmas falls in the summer, so there are some unique festive stories that reflect our local culture and traditions. Popular tales include ‘Wombat Divine’ by Mem Fox, which follows a lovable wombat who wants to be part of the nativity play, and ‘An Aussie Night Before Christmas’ by Yvonne Morrison, a humorous reimagining of the classic poem featuring kangaroos and utes instead of reindeer and sleighs.
Good morning, all I have been up since 4.40am, why? Well, I had a headache, and it woke me up and I was unable to settle so I got up to take something for it and decided to stay up.
Tim and I went to the plaza to do some shopping, and I had to remove my shoes as I felt unstable walking was so much easier barefoot.
It has been a very warm day, but I haven’t had the air con on. I have had a much better day then yesterday.
Steps: 8,623 = 4.4klms or 2.7 miles
Good morning, it is the first of December and officially the start of summer. I slept well getting just over 8hrs of sleep. At 5.30am it is 14C or 57F, by midday it was 23C or 73.4F.
I sorted out some photos and put them into a photo album, also wrote a couple of letters and fed the birds.
I have noticed a small cut to my right index finger, and I have no idea how it happened, but it is sore.
I have asked Sue if she will take me to the post office on Thursday, she said she was about to ask me if I would like to go shopping with her on Thursday.
By 5pm I am struggling to stay awake.
By 6.30 I was feeling less tired and will stay up later then I thought I would.
Steps: 11,195 = 5.7klm’s or 3.6 miles
I was up at 4.50am again as from 4am when I got up to pee, I had trouble going back to sleep only dozing on and off, so I just got up. I had a good night’s sleep getting 9hrs & 45 mins of sleep.
It is only 12C or 53.6F at 5.30 and my BGL is 6.0.
I decided to sort out the Christmas gifts in have but only got half done as it took too much out of me. I ended up getting Sam to clean off my bed putting the stuff in bags for me to sort out tomorrow. Sue said she would come over tomorrow and help me with the task.
It has been a warm day.
Steps: 11,142 = 5.7K’s or 3.5 miles
I had a rough start to the night but ended up getting around 6hrs & 25mins of sleep. It is 13C or 55.4F at 5am and it is supposed to be another warm day.
After reading some blog posts and having breakie I find myself just sitting doing nothing, well I did do some work on Christmas cards, but I am kinda not all here.
The temp at 9am is 20C or 68F
Sue came over she helped me with the Christmas presents and I sent an email to the iris photo place about the photo for Kirsty. I was hoping it would be easier to get the voucher online for it but couldn’t work it out.
It did warm up to 26C or 78.8.
Steps: 7,975
I slept well in fact I think I was asleep minutes after going or bed and didn’t wake till 3am when I got up to pee.
I did a load of washing and hung it out to dry before I go out with Sue.
BGL:7.1 at 5.30am
Sue and I went to Kmart Sue wanted to buy some clothes, I also bought a few things, including a new Christmas dress which is a bit tight so may see if Sue can exchange it for the larger size, it looked ok on but was difficult to get on and off.
I was having a nap in my recliner when Sandy walked in, she at last came to get stuff I printer for her.
It is another stinking hot day; I have sorted out most of the Christmas presents still have to do a few more.
It reached 31C here or 87.8F had the air con on all day well from 11am.
I got the clothes inside and folded them but left the basket on Tim’s chair and of course he made some silly comment that annoyed me as he is just as able as me to move it.
Steps:14,523 = 7k’s or 4miles
A nice cool morning it is 18C or 64F at 5.30am. I slept well got around 9hrs of sleep.
Tim doesn’t need to get up till 6.30 he has a short day today; said he will be home around 4pm this afternoon.
Sue and I went to exchange our dresses I was able to get a size 18 but there was no size 18 in the one Sue wanted.
I uploaded the payslips for my DSP claim.
Had a long video call with Kathy this afternoon she told me about her trip to Bali, which made me laugh.
This afternoon there was a text fight between Sue and Tasha about my care Tasha got very angry and because she was drunk Sue was also very angry. Tasha put be in the middle of it which also really pissed off Sue. As Sue said it was about me and not with me.
Steps: 9,075 = 4.6k’s or 3miles
I had a good night, got 9hrs of sleep, it is only 23C or 73F and it is going to be another stinking hot day. My BGL is 5.5 at 5.30am
Jessica bought me breakie.
Tasha came down and she was furious her anger is over the top; she and Sue got into a text fight over Tasha’s care of me. This fight got out of hand and Tasha thought I was defending Sue and not her. However, both Tim and I thought she was the one in the wrong.
Kathy heard about some of the events and sided with her mum and aunty.
By midday it is 35C or 95.9F.
Tim is working this afternoon he should be home by midnight.
Tasha came down to let me know she wasn’t angry with me and all is well between us.
I also saw Blain and Jonathon this afternoon.
Steps: 13,703 = 6.9l’s or 4.3 miles
I WILL END THIS BY LETTING EVERYONE KNOW I AM OFF FOR A FEW DAYS AWAY SO I WILL NOT BE VISITING BLOGS
Recently I read this book My Story No Way Back by Valerie Wilding it is about the early life of Mary Wade and I found it very interesting.
She was born on the 17 December 1775 and passed away on the 17 December 1859, she was a British teenager and convict who was transported to Australia when she was 12 years old. She was the youngest convict aboard Lady Juliana, which was part of the Second Fleet. Her family grew to include five generations and over 300 descendants in her own lifetime.
It is believed that Mary had at least three siblings all younger than her they were Elizabeth Ann Wade born 5 February 1778, Henrietta born 17 November 1780 and Henry born 1 August 1786, died April 1793.
She spent her days sweeping the streets of London, as a means of begging. On 5 January 1789, Mary, with another child, Jane Whiting, 14 years old, stole clothes (one cotton frock, one linen tippet which is like a shawl and a linen cap) from Mary Phillips, an 8-year-old, who at the time was collecting water in a bottle at a privy. They then sold the frock to a pawnbroker.
Mary was reported to a Police Constable by another child the officer later found the tippet in Mary’s room, whereupon she was arrested and placed in Bridewell Prison. Her trial was held on 14 January 1789 at the Old Bailey, where she was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. However, in April her sentence was commuted to transportation she would spend 93 days in Newgate Prison while waiting for the transportation to take place.
After arriving in New South Wales she was sent to Norfolk Island while there she had three children Sarah in 1793, Edward (born c1795 died c1796) and William (born 1795).
When they arrived back in Sydney, Mary lived with Teague Harrigan, with whom she had another two children: Edward (born c1800 died 1803) and Edward (born 1803), in their tent on the banks of the Tank Stream in Sydney. Teague left to go on a whaling expedition in 1806 and, by 1817, he was living in Tasmania where he was granted land in 1825 and, presumably, never returned to the mainland.
From 1809, Wade lived with a man named Jonathan Brooker who was given a certificate of freedom in February 1811 and was granted 60 acres (24 ha) of land by Governot Macquarie. Mary received her certificate of freedom on 1 September 1812.
Mary married Jonathan Brooker on 10 February 1817 at St Lukes, in Liverpool in NSW. Even though they lost everything and became destitute they pleaded to Governor Brisbane for aid. They recovered, with them owning 62 acres (25 ha) of land in Illawarra by 1828. They lived there until Brookers’ death on 14 March 1833.
Mary died in Wollongong, NSW on 17 December 1859 (her birthday), at the age of 84. Her funeral service was the very first to be held in St Paul’s Church of England, in Fairy Meadow, NSW it was her son who donated the land on which the church was built.
At the time of her death, Mary had over 300 living descendants and is considered one of the founding mothers of the early European settlement of Australia. Her descendants now number in the tens of thousands, including Kevin Rudd a former Prime Minister.
In 2017, the NSW Government named the Mary Wade Correction Centre, a remand centre for women, in her honour.
Today I am writing a post suggested by and for my transgender granddaughter Sam, who is mentioned often in my diary posts, she has learnt a bit about these soldiers, I think at school, abut I am not 100% sure about that.
Anyway, the subject is The Sacred Band of Thebes.
The Sacred Band of Thebes was an elite heavy infantry of select soldiers, allegedly consisting of 150 pairs of male couples which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC, ending Spartan domination. Its predominance began with its crucial role in the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC.
They were formed under the leadership of Gorgidas but first ac
hieved fame under the general Pelopidas. They remained invincible from 378-338 BCE when the entire troop fell together at the Battle of Chaeronea.
The military unit is first mentioned in 324 BCE in a speech, but their full story wasn’t known to much later.
The Sacred Band were deployed early in the Boeotian War in 378 BCE under Gorgidas but became famous for their participation in the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE. They remained undefeated until the decisive battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE when the Macedonians under Philip II and his son Alexander the Great crushed the combined forces of Thebes and Athens.
The Sacred Band fell together as a single unit and, according to Plutarch, were mourned by Philip II of Macedon himself as valiant warriors. They would later became legendary figures exemplifying courage and military strength.
The city of Thebes, where this band had been founded in 378 BCE was particularly unique in how it regarded the love, between men. A young Plato is thought to have said “the rule has been laid down straightforwardly that it is right to gratify (male) lovers, and no one, young or old, would say that it is wrong.”
Of course, it was not uncommon for male-male encounters to be pursued by ancient Greek soldiers, demonstrated through the institutionalised practices of homoeroticism in Spartan militia and the cities of Crete.
The very act of homoeroticism was thoroughly incorporated into the educational systems of the Greek world. It was a means to lead a boy into adulthood, and by the Classical period, it extended into higher culture: “from the military to athletic games, from philosophy to historiography.”
But why would Thebes want to specifically create an elite unit of bonded male lovers, if homoeroticism was already part-and-parcel of ancient Greece’s cultural fabric?
According to Plato’s philosophical thought, lover-soldiers would inspire the courage and bravery needed on the battlefield. Plato tells us that:
The last person a lover could bear to be seen by, when leaving his place in the battleline or abandoning his weapons, is his boyfriend; instead, he’d prefer to die many times. As for abandoning his boyfriend or failing to help him in danger – no one is such a coward that he could not be inspired into courage by love and made the equal of someone who’s naturally very brave. — The Symposium, 179a’
It is said that such was the powerful display of love that it brought the great king to tears. So, to mark the burial site, a marble lion was erected in honour of the fallen, acting as a “symbol of their courage.”
The Lion of Chaeronea is still standing. It’s a funerary monument erected in honour of the Theban Sacred Band, who died in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. The monument was rediscovered in 1818 and later restored, and it remains a prominent landmark near the battle site.
This once-famous troop of heroes is often passed over in discussions of Greek history possibly because they were gay and the concept of a victorious unit of gay warriors is at odds with the prevalent homophobia of the present day.
As LGBTQ+ activism makes more progress in educating people, however, the Sacred Band of Thebes is again receiving the kind of recognition they deserve.
This week we are moving onto foxes which still fall under the wild dog banner, there are 12 true fox species and many other that are not considered true foxes. I think this because they have other non-fox genes in them.
Foxes and dogs are both members of the Canidae family, which is also known as the dog family.
Foxes are similar in appearance to dogs and coyotes, and share many other characteristics with other canids, such as their long muzzles, bushy tails, long legs and bone cracking flesh slicing teeth.
They are also similar to cats in some ways, such as being most active at night, having vertical pupils, they use a similar hunting style, and sometimes sleeping in trees.
Foxes are solitary scavengers that eat a variety of foods, including mice, voles, bird eggs, roadkill, wild fruits, vegetables, berries, and nuts. They are nocturnal predators that have evolved to see at night.
While it may be legal to keep a fox as a pet in some places, foxes are wild animals and should not be kept in the home.
I will write more about some of the different breeds of foxes over the next few weeks.
Jo-AnneRamplings 