Ladies and Gentlemen. A Merry Christmas to you all!

[Gern]

A Seasons Greeting to All, and Best Wishes for The Coming New Year.
I haven't celebrated Christmas for many years, and I tend to batten down the hatches halfway through December - it gives me a nice quiet period to really relax!
Dave

I'm the same! I give my girls a wad of money each round about the middle of November and that's it! Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries all taken care of for the next twelve months. Mind you, I have gone a bit berserk with my Xmas celebrations this year. I've bought myself a nice piece of rump steak for my Xmas dinner!

PS I reached a similar dizzy height of excitement last Xmas when I bought myself a small Xmas pudding, but that shouldn't really count as it's still in my cupboard.

PPS Maybe I can really push the boat out this year and have both!

[quieto]

Merry Christmas and Happy 2019 to everyone and your families.

[Peej]

Merry christmas everyone and all the best for 2019. I will be working over the festivities with 190,000 chickens to look after.

[Peter Gillson]

A merry Chritmas to everybody, and wishes for a peacefuland productive 2019.

Peter

[SimonT]

Seasons greetings, all the best to one and all

(Dave S4 - :thumb2: I knocked off on Tuesday as had holiday to use up)

[AlanG]

Hands up if you've knocked off already...:thumb2:

Chance would be a fine thing. Farmers don't get time off :tongue-out3:

[Tim Marlow]

Biotechnologists do :thumb2: Off now ‘till new year.....

[Si Benson]

Happy holidays folks. Eat, drink and be merry :smiling4:

[col68]

Yes, Happy Xmas to everyone!
Hands up if you've knocked off already...:thumb2:
Sshhh... don't tell the boss...

Merry Christmas guys.
Finished yesterday. off until the 7 th of Jan plenty of bench time ahead

[AlanG]

Biotechnologists do :thumb2: Off now ‘till new year.....

Thanks for that Tim! :blow-kiss:

Take a minute to think about the farmers, armed forces, emergency workers etc that still have to work at this time of year. It's a thankless task at times. But i love this way of life now. I'll enjoy my xmas meal when i get in from feeding and bedding the animals.

[Tim Marlow]

Mate, I always do. I am actually on call over this period, and have been called out on Xmas day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day without warning in the past. I have to then get to work within thirty minutes, no matter what I am doing...

My wife is a Nurse who does twelve hour shifts, and is not allowed to take leave at this time. She just gets told the rota’d days off she will be given and that’s all. No choice in the matter. This year is the first time she’s had Xmas day and Boxing Day off together in over twenty years....

There are actually over a million people that have to work through this period, most of them with very low pay. In addition to those mentioned, care workers, hospital porters, and care system catering staff come to mind. In the health services in particular, they do not get paid enhanced rates, this is just an expected part of the job.

So, yes, I always think of them as well.

Cheers and Merry Xmas...
Tim

[Steve Jones]

Merry Christmas everyone!! Its been a very busy run up to Christmas this year and no bench work at all. I have Christmas and Boxing day off but thats it. Hopefully I will get back to the bench in the New Year.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful festive period. Please say a prayer for those serving overseas during this time as well as those on the front line emergency services here as well.

Its been an amazing year with the RAF and WWI centenary celebrations. I will leave you now with the moving poem from that famous of WWI poet laureates - Baldrick

‘The German Guns’.

Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom,
Boom, Boom, Boom,
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom,
Boom, Boom, Boom

:smiling3::smiling2::smiling::thumb2:

[Ian M]

A very Happy Christmas to you all. I hope that the big guy brings you all that you wish for.
We had a good Yule as well Tony. Even though it Rained like mad and the sky was cloudy. So no bonfire, no full mood and no Ursid shower for us!

[Guest]

John,
ummm no, it's the shortest period of daylight! Here, sunrise 08:13, sunset 16:01 - 7 hrs 48mins of daylight. The equinox is the equal daylight/night!
Dave

Well I meant some things along those lines .
Easily confused of Lincs :smiling2:

[Guest]

And I'll bet your celebrations involve setting fire to something!!!
Jim

Jim ........... How could you ! :flushed::smiling2: ,,............,mind you that's sounds a great idea, one burning SU maybe :tongue-out3:
John .