Nobody Panic - How to Survive Christmas 2020

Episode Date: December 15, 2020

It might be a different Christmas to what you're used to, you might be spending it alone, with friends rather than family, or maybe you've lost someone. Stevie and Tessa look at ways to get through the Christmas of this, the worst year in recent memory, with as much festive cheer as possible. Want to support Nobody Panic? You can make a one-off donation at https://supporter.acast.com/nobodypanicRecorded by Ben Williams and edited by Naomi Parnell for Plosive Productions.Photos by Marco Vittur, jingle by David Dobson.Follow Nobody Panic on Twitter @NobodyPanicPodSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/nobodypanic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, I'm Carriad. I'm Sarah. And we are the Weirdo's Book Club podcast. We are doing a very special live show as part of the London Podcast Festival. The date is Thursday, 11th of September. The date is 7pm and our special guest is the brilliant Alan Davies. Tickets from kingsplace. It's coming to London. True on Saturday the 13th of September. At the London Podcast Festival. The rumours are true. Saturday the 13th of September at King's Place. Oh, that sounds like a date to me, Harriet. Hello, welcome to Nobody Panic. Ho, ho, ho, ho, and the jolly festive, a ringing of my bells. Merry Christmas, everyone. Happy wintermas. And may all your sleighs be swift. Lovely. I watched Fred Claus last night, Stevie, and I've been reeling ever since.

I saw it once. I can't really remember, but I didn't find it good. No. No. No, no, no, it's extremely bad. It's extremely bad, but it was nice to have one. There is something nice about having it all on in the background and just doing other things.

Christmasy bits. Christmasy bits and bobs. While something is happening at the North Pole, you know, and there's chaos, but we're all going to learn the true magic of Christmas, you know? May I also throw my hat in the ring for, like, films to have on in the background, not necessarily to watch. Yes. Polo Express, lovely a time in the background, quite dull watching it.

But vision. it's like ASMR, I would say, but for the eyes. Oh yes, ISMI. ISMI. H-D-M-I. It's lovely soft. It's so soft. I've no idea. I think the plot of Peral Express is literally a boy who rides the train. Meet Tom Hanks.

Could be. No, I know it is him. I know it's him. And it's lovely. It's so lovely. It's so lovely. Yes, very lovely. The snowman was also. The snowman. The snowman was on as well.

night. And I say last night, it was on at 4pm, but it was dark outside. And I would say, that's also something that you, I thought it was background, but actually you can't look away because some other beautiful thing is about to happen. And also you feel like when you look away from that, you're like, well, somebody drew that. It took hours. You know? Yeah. How rude. Give it it to you. Attention, please. Oh, that's hypnotizing. Yeah. So I was actually completely stressed because I couldn't do any of my other things because I had to, you know, give it its full attention. Every year, I watch it. Every year I get a wet neck from crying so much. And I don't and it doesn't get better, it just gets worse.

But in like a festive way, it's like a festive cry. Please, may I just finish telling you about, can I just tell you this thing about Fred Claus? Oh, God, I'm so sorry. I thought that was really. You just watched it. It was it, but now this has been sat on me for a while, and I have to share it with you.

So the plot is, he's inexplicably, it doesn't make any sense. Vince Vaughn is the younger brother of Father Christmas, baffling, already baffling. Then at one point he does this a little bit, where he goes to Elizabeth Banks is like a sexy elf.

It's extraordinary. Kevin Spacey, he's there. What's he doing? Oh dear. Oh dear. He's the baddie, luckily. Groping, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. So anyway, then Fred Claus, the young brother, goes to this self-support group for the brothers of famous people. And I thought, and I was like,

that's quite a funny joke. That's a funny idea. I thought everybody there was just a look-alike that somebody who looked like, like a famous person pretending to be their fictional brother. And I was like, that's very funny. So then this guy who looks like Alec Baldwin stands up.

And everyone's like, and he starts shouting at Vince Vaughn. And then everyone's like, Stephen, he's not Alec. He's not Alec. And then everyone has to like calm him down by saying. And I was like, what a funny idea. They found an Alex Baldwin impersonator to pretend to be the fictional brother of Alec Baldwin. I was like, that's a very funny joke.

I thought about it. I took a series about it. Then I wikipeded it. Stephen Baldwin is a real man. He's his actual suspect. I was so Kevin Spacey. Oh, God. Oh, God. Well, I was really stressed out because I went from being like, that's a funny little joke to being like, that's that man's life. Well, he has been in some good films. That's okay. He had his, he had, he had it, he's had some good times. But also as well, I think he's, I think they've got other brothers as well. I don't even, I don't, I don't. Yeah. So you You've got to watch out for that. Just like, no. You've got to watch out for that kind of thing.

It could be a Baldwin. At any time, it could be. It could be. Lucille. Lucille Baldwin. Could be. I've, um, we've really, yeah, we've already. Listen, what's this episode even about?

Yeah, what is it about? It's, I mean, it's not what you think. It's about, it's about, it's about Christmas. It's about, we've had this, we had, I would say this, has been one of our hottest received messages, hottest highly received, which was, guys, how are we going to do Christmas this year? Surviving Christmas in 2020. How to Survive Christmas in 2020.

I'm calling it. That's the title. Oh, nice. I think, yeah, because we've had lots of varying questions, how to have Christmas away from home. How to still be Christmas Eve amid all the doom and gloom. How to be on your own this year, when you've never been away from family before, all kinds of things.

And so I think, you know, this is something that everybody, no matter your situation, everybody is having a different Christmas this year, no matter what's going on or how rich you are, Kim Kardashian, you're still having a different Christmas than you had in the past, you know. I mean, hers will just be like, they get tested or something and then they go to an island again. Yeah. I'll just be fine. But still, we're all aware that it's 2020. And now, before we do get into it, oh, sorry, hi, welcome to know what you do panic.

Hello, welcome. Hello, welcome. Start here if you want, but I'd recommend pop in. No, no, come on in. Come on in. I like the Fred Gawls, chap. Have a mince pie, pull up a pew, crack on. That actually works for going into the most adult thing I've done this week section, which is that I, oh God, I thought I'd like get into baking again.

Oh, yeah. I think I had a long-term listeners of the podcast when I had about two years ago I got into baking. Then I got off it again. And now I thought, well, it's Christmas. I finished like one bit of work I was supposed to do this year. So I was like, well, I can free up some time, learn how to bake again. I remember I made mint pies in 2018. I'll make them again.

I made them. They were the consistency of brick. Like you had to like pull them apart with your teeth. Then I, last night, at about like midnight, was like, I can't deal with this. I'm going to try again. And so I tried again with like a different, with some different vibes that I put, because I put it on Instagram and some people had given me some nice. Oh, that's helpful.

And send me some good luck. Actually, so many people, including one of my ex-boyfriends. Like, get out of my messages. Sent me a very passive-aggressive message. It's like, try this. And it was unbelievably easy mince pies for children to make. It's like, okay. So I was very sliffy.

And then I did it. And then I got it out, took out the oven. And it's like, the pastry was thin. That was good. They looked good. But then they were still incredibly chewy. So I actually don't know what to do. So my adult thing is that I'm trying.

There's no redemption to this story. No, there's absolutely zero redemption. I'm sorry. If I'm trying, I'm trying and I will continue to try. I've just bought some more flour, which goes against all the evidence that I've been presented with. And loads of people like, just buy your own pastry. I'm like, no, I'm going to, I'm going to do it.

And I'm going to make a good mince pie before Christmas is gone. And also I'm going to make, some cinnamon rolls. I'm too scared to try them because I can't even make the most simple of meals. But like, yeah, so I'm, my journey is, I'm on a journey. That's my adult thing. Well, I speak on behalf of all the lessons when I say we're on tenterhooks. That was an absolute roller coaster. And we were only hanging in there because we thought there was going to be a resolution. You know, I've just, I've just made a lot of stuff. Bloody else, Stevie. What's your adult thing, Tessa? Mine is inspired by producer of this podcast, Naomi, who sent

me a text message last night of a wreath that she'd made herself and said that she was feeling the bees' knees and I didn't have a wreath but it's a visual story this look at this that's great did you make that yeah I made it so you need this straw bit at the bat the straw ring oh yeah which you can get once you've got a straw ring guys you really the world's your oyster um you can get the straw rings from any any old where and then and then i uh my tree is quite sparse I don't think I walked to the churchyard where they are selling the Christmas trees and I said, oh, hello, governor, do you mind if I pick up a few scraps from the floor? And they were like, come on in. And then I went around and picked up all pieces that are dropped off. And then I carried

them all home and I made my wreath. That's excellent. It looks like a shop bought wreath. Thank you so much. And I live in a block. I live in a block of flats of eight flats. And I'm going to, and I'm new, obviously. I'm going to text, I'm going to text my only lady I like in number five and say, does anyone put a wreath on the main door? I don't want to step on anyone's toes. But I don't want to be like, oh, the girl and the new girls put the wreath up, you know, if it's like somebody else's job. I'd to just like put the wreath up everyone, because no, everyone will just be like, oh, someone's put a wreath up. Yeah, but imagine if somebody who's been here for 20 years and always does the wreath and it's a big deal, you know? Okay, fair enough,

yeah. So just, I don't want to, I don't want to, you know, I don't want to upset anyone. That's the start of Christmas film. People do, right. No, it's a war in the house of everybody fighting, you know, and then we would all come together, blah, blah, blah, but like, yeah, that's the big, that's the start of it, isn't it? Anyway, so people take Christmas very seriously. I don't want to upset anybody with Maurice. You know what? That's very conscientious. Thank you, Stevie.

And talking of conscientious, yes. Celebrating Christmas this year. Yes. Oh, dear. Yes, it's quite tricky, isn't it? I think, well, actually already, we've already said some things that, or like, brought to brought to light some things that I was going to maybe pop in with, which is that, you know, you've made a wreath there. Can't help but notice. And I think that's the one of the crucial

things. So if you are thinking, you know, because I think there's a lot of Christmas when you are young, we've spoken about it before, it happens to you. It happens at you. People around you are like creating Christmas for you. Then you get older and then that stops happening. And then you stock, there's always often a transition between like, why, like, Christmas isn't happening anymore. Christmas is rubbish. I hate Christmas. Until you realise that you have to like make it yourself and that there is merit and fun in that. It doesn't mean it's rubbish because you're the one buying the fairy lights. You're the one going like, oh, should we get Santa hats? You're the one kind of coming up with the ideas. In fact, actually, I'd say it's like it makes Christmas a whole new

sort of thing. And I think that's really coming into it. So this year, it's like, I will decide how my Christmas is going to be. And then I will, so if, rather than seeing it in your flat with housemates or with no housemates or with like half your family or not being able to see your family because one of them's got underlying health conditions and you're a bit worried or all of those things, all, you know, lots of people I know who can't go back home for Christmas because they, their family are in countries that you can't fly into. stuff from this country is that yeah

is to rather than just sit and be like oh well Christmas isn't happening there's no one to help me make it happen you can go right well what would make me feel the most Christmassy and uplifted and and I'll just buy it I'll get it I'll make it I will

create it and then when you wake up you will have like we've got some like stupid little very very cheap fairy lights on like the headboard of the bed because I was like, the bedroom's never Christmassy. It's like, well, just make it Christmas. Just do it then. So I'm like, just bought like a pair of like two pound lights. And then now every time I wake up, every time we go to sleep, we like read with the fairy lights rather than the bedside light. It's like, oh, even that. We made paper chains. Like,

that's, look. I think, oh, I didn't need to believe you, but I see it now and they look fantastic. I think the thing this year, we're going to get into the actual day. But I think for the minute, ignore the day, like, stop panicking about what the day is going to look like. It will be, I imagine, quite poor. It is just the day. And just park that. Stop thinking about it. And instead embrace the whole of December as you just go balls deep into Advent and then be like, what can I do for the area to make it look nice? So it's like, can I put, you know, walking on my street and I've seen like people with those sort of dropping, like fairy lights that look a bit like icicles. Oh, I know what you mean. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I don't like the ones that are on the move, but I like the still ones. And I was like, I don't care for lights on the move, if I may. But then I was like, those are weirdly sort of for everyone else more than they are for people in that house. So I was like, right, I'm going to put those out on my, outside my window for other people to see. I'm going to get some solar powered ferry lights for the bush outside. Absolutely. What can I do just for people walking past, like, make it more festive for everybody else? a really mad idea I've had is to make a stocking or like for everybody in the flats like do one

there's eight there's eight like not just not put anything particularly exciting in but just like a little stocking to hang on the door but then also do my own door so nobody knows who's done it that's very nice actually and I think I would find that just overwhelming this year I think I'd feel like incredibly moving and deeply poignant like I would cry if that happened yeah do that. Yeah, that's such a night, because in that kind of, there is, there's an, there's an element of panic about this different Christmas and then you realize that that's what all of, like, we actually are returning to what all of the films say the true spirit of Christmas is about, but then we're panicking about that. Yeah. It's like, no, it's like, well, that's what Christmas is.

We've watched the movies. Like, we know, we know. It's not, it's just about like sharing something with, you know, all the Christmas movies are about like that weird old neighbor that you thought was scary turning out to be a lovely guy you know like that's it's about like embracing people let it let the weird old neighbor into your house don't get it don't bet it just let him in i've got a friend who's having um because of course over the christmas period we are able to i think it's three households are able to join um so she's got um uh she's having like a friendmas which is like various friends who aren't able to go back to i was going to say various friends are unable to go to back to Morocco, that's just one friend, or whatever.

Yeah. And they are all going to hers and they're all going to like bring a section of the Christmas dinner and they're all going to like go on like Christmas Eve, have a sleep over and then work on Christmas Day together. As Tessa says, the day is daunting because of what the day normally means, but it is, it is just a day. We're in Christmas right now. Christmas is happening. Christmas is happening to you now. Yeah. So you can get, if the more that you go on board with it around the actual day, then the more diluted the day is. And the day can just be like... Dilute the day, exactly.

That's our number one message. Dilute the day. And rather than considering this day to be a shadow of the other days, the good ones, firstly, some of them weren't that great, let's be honest. It's all about the anticipation more than it is the day. And so, you know, don't allow yourself, don't get yourself into a sort of mystical thinking that like the day has in the past been amazing when it's like, come on, we all know. Think of it as rather than be like those doors have been shut.

Like what windows have been open? Like can we do a friend miss? Oh, that's sorry. That really, that really moved me very deeply. Thank you. What windows have been open. And, you know, mayhap there's a balcony upon that window that you can decorate. You can sit outside.

Have a hot cocoa outside. Right. You're a little Santa hat on and your little gloves. You're very small. The gloves are too small for your hands. Sure. But you've bought them and they look Christmassy. the um there's a lot of um there's a lot of like good tv on christmas day and by good tv i mean

christmasy tv and there's also a lot so think about on the christmas days where you've like been and let's be honest it does happen forced to go to see family that you don't often see and you don't maybe go on with or you're like oh wouldn't it have been nicer to have done this oh wouldn't it be nice to have watched christmas films all day oh we would have had wouldn't it be nice? Drink mimosas from 7 a.m. And just isn't to Christmas music and I don't know, go for a Christmas walk or whatever. And do the thing, do those things. Do those things that you sort of have kind of wanted to do on Christmas Day.

I actually couldn't do because you have lovely family every other year, all around. Great. But if you don't, this year, yeah, it's like an excuse to kind of just go crazy and do whatever you would like to do. which is actually quite freeing whilst also being terrifying because actual freedom is terrifying. Yeah, that's the thing I think we're all so worried about being like, but it could be anything. Be like, yeah, but let's not, don't freak out. Like, it could be anything. There's nice local area business as well. Like you can like, there are soup kitchens. There are, there's often like, you know, for example, like mass or little carol concerts on like Christmas Eve or things happening in the day that you.

probably wouldn't have noticed before because you just weren't doing them. But like, have a look around, start looking around now for like things that are going on as well, because that might be quite nice. Because more things will be happening because more people will be in your situation than usually. Yeah. Like what are the lovely things happening in your area that you normally would have been like, what are you talking about? I'm at the Christmas party. Then I've got to go to Janet's drinks. Then I've got to go to the sausage, the international sausage competition. Then I've got to do this. Classic Christmas fair. Yeah. I was just thinking how much I love honey mustard cocktail sausages at Christmas.

And maybe there's a competition for them. I'm sure there is. And if not, you know, this is what we're talking about, Tessa. Can you make your own competition. So look, this Christmas, you round everyone up. You have various sources. You have, you pit family members against each other. Yes, yes, yes.

You do it over Zoom. You can have taste testing. Send them a sausage in the post. Come on, let's be creative here. Exactly, exactly. And so like, what are, if you're always like, if you've been thinking, oh, there's nothing like that in my era, Could you be the change you wish to see in the world?

Could you be Mahatma Gandhi? Could you be the sausage master? Could you do it? Like, can you organise a, you know, a distant sing-along or a caroling or some kind of thing that's happening? Or, you know, can you put up some lights in the local park that are just nice, you know, that people say like, who did that? And you'll be like, it was me. Is that legal? I'm genuinely asking.

Putting up fairy lights on the tree on the park. I'm sure it is. If, listen, the worst it will happen is the council will take them down and then. And that's another stuff. And low, another Christmas movie begins, you know? That's true. And then because then the man taking them down or the person are taking them down, you've then fallen in love with.

Right. And you have to like fight them in court. Yeah. Secretly love them. And then they, you discover them in Christmas. And then at the end, when you're like getting off, he like gets the Christmas lights out of his pocket. It's like, you can have them back.

You're like, yay! Yay! Or he fights the council and you just wanted to put like one little back. battery powered pack in one tree. And the council get involved and so like, you can't do anything like that. And then they fight and then you lose the court case. But then he takes you to the park and says like, press this button and you press it. And all the trees light up and it's so much better than he takes it out of his pocket and gets off with you.

That's so much better. I've been watching a lot of Hallmark movies. Yes. Like what are the things that you can do? And we don't know what kind of living situation you're in or if what, what, where you live, where you live, but like, I bet there's something that you've always thought, oh, yeah, I can, I can do that. What can you join in that already happening that you've never done before?

Also, as well, like, I think this is the first time I've ever said, this is a positive tip. Like, use social media. I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I say, lots of people in your position. And also, it's a, it's a myth that people on Christmas don't just stare at Twitter and Instagram all day because they're too busy doing excellent things. Like, no, they're not. You actually look at it way more than any other day. So, you know, like, there's just off the top of my head.

Like, why don't you watch all of the absolutely terrible Hallmark films and then live tweet them? Why don't you, like, you know, there's like lots of things that you can get involved with. It's like hashtags and stuff. There's also just like be aware that you're not on your own and you can like make something of the day if that's, if you're somebody that likes doing that kind of thing, you know? Yes, 100%.

Sarah Milliken always does, has been doing for maybe 10 years now, the hashtag join in for people who have, this is their first Christmas without somebody or this is their first Christmas doing something differently where they're just really not up for, you know, getting into it in the way that they used to and then, or they're spending it by themselves or whatever. And you can do the hashtag join in and just show and everybody joins in with each other.

So you feel like this is your community spirit. This is your family, everyone doing this together. That's a good point about how, so some of the emails that we've had have mentioned and I'm having a Christmas like this myself. I know lots of people I know are where there's somebody not there, because of whether it's COVID or whether it's, you know, something else. And that's sort of the same goes for every, because there's always, without even a massive doom and gloom pandemic,

people are going to have Christmases like that. But this is especially galling often because people have been able to see people and it's been very, very traumatic for lots of people. But the one thing that I'd say that we as a family found very useful is to like let everybody, let everybody have the Christmas in relation to that that they would like. So, for example, like, you know, one of you might really want to, like, mark the occasion or have, you know, a play setting for that person or have, like, a toast to them or have something of them that they would always do it because another person might not, but you can accommodate both of those things, you know? and I think don't feel like you should be doing this something or you shouldn't or don't just just do whatever would make you feel the best and make you be able to sort of get through it and feel as okay as possible in that period of time. And that's not, it's a very bad way of saying like don't beat yourself up for however you want to grieve if you're grieving at Christmas essentially because I think there's a lot of like, oh, like I know people who have lost people who have then felt really bad because they had quite a nice day.

and then I'm like, ah, he's like, no, that's okay. Like, that's fine. And then people who've had a terrible day and then felt really like, why can't I pull myself together? Like, this is so stupid. It's like, no, it's really not. Like, and it's very, very hard, but be, like, anticipate that you're going to feel differently this Christmas.

And also don't pretend that it's not happened, you know, like it has happened. And you talk to the people who you will be spending Christmas with. If you are zooming them, if you are with them, if you are alone, like make sure that you're not. Make sure that you're not truly alone in it. Like, there are people that you can reach out to and talk to. And I think the one thing to be careful of is making it like the elephant in the room, which we're just like, it's fine.

It's like, it's not. And that's okay, I suppose. Yeah, absolutely. I think, and in many ways, I think, I don't feel as negative about this year being so different. We've put myself in it for a moment. We've recently lost my granddad not to COVID, but it certainly hasn't made things easy. and we normally do Christmas as a family at my grandparents in North Wales and have done most of my life.

And then this year I think everybody was just too, didn't want to go there again and, you know, have his chair empty. And, you know, it just would be such a, you know, elephant in the room, that everyone would be, it would be like a mordland experience. So we're doing a totally different thing. Grandma's going to my auntie. We're just going home. Like, it's just going to be a totally different.

And I think everyone's actually really embracing the change and the need for it not just to be like a crapper version of the one, you know, a crapper version of something done in the past. Like, this is just a different, and it can be different and positive and good in its own way. And I think exactly what you say, that like, there is no correct way to mark this or to do it or to, you know. Yeah. I think doing it completely different is such a good. And obviously that, you know, that works differently if it's something, like we have exactly the same thing.

My grandma died as well. She died of COVID. And it was very, very traumatic for my parents. And same thing, it's like we always, the traditions that were there and now no longer there. So we are doing something completely different. And we've also like, I tried to like create things. I'm isolating and then going like driving. I'm not driving, but I'm being driven to my parents' house.

So, but we have, I've like created lots of like new things to do that are just silly. Like we've got, I've bought some crackers and we have like put stuff in them that is fun. They listen to the podcast. I can't say what it is. But like that we can like play a game and like like just little, just. Even that, just like something stupid that we don't normally do, just like, so it's not the, so, yes, it's not the only thing that is different is that that person is no longer here. That's very, very different if it's a part of your, like, nuclear family. And in that case, that is just like, you have to talk to your other family members and be like, what would you like, what shall we do?

How should we go about this? So it's not just like people in a room being like, Christmas and not knowing. Yeah. Yeah. So I do know about you, which when I, and this is relevant, When I'm like cooking a meal for my, just myself, I'll be like, I'll make it shit. If I'm cooking for somebody else, I'm so much more like, oh, presentation. Oh, actually, I guess I will.

But take the time to go and buy that thing that goes in it. This would be good. And I think the same applies to Christmas. If you're having like a Christmas dinner by your side, be like, yeah, I take some toast. It's like, well, that might not make you feel great if you're like, wake up and you're like, cool, I've got toast and that's it and maybe like, so ice cream. Maybe like it might be a good idea to have a little Christmas dinner. And like, even if you don't cook and you're not very good at it, like, you could have a go.

Like, do some, like, make sure that you have food in that you are excited to consume on the day of Christmas. So that then, because I think, I mean, I'm just somebody who's incredibly food-orientated. But if you are as well, then I think that would really depress. me if I didn't have good food to look forward to specifically special Christmas cheeses. Yes, I think it's very important to plan a whole day that if you have a sort of like, fuck it, I'll just, I'll just eat you this old pizza. We're like, oh, look. But you can say peach.

This is old peach. No, oh, look, the Grinch is in town. Like, I think do all the stuff. Get all the nice things for yourself. I think I remember this time last year saying I wasn't doing anything for Christmas and then walking home, going to Marks and Spencers and buying myself a Christmas, selection tray of pigs in blankets and a mord wine and then going home and crying because it was so nice and be like yes like you could just because you're not into the spirit of it you know

don't let yourself don't punish yourself you know get in like embrace it get the stuff do the things um you know and we can go for Christmas walks outside with people who aren't in our immediate household so like if you have people that you know who uh you know wrap up warm and go for a walk in the park, in the forest, in, you know, in like a very small patch of grass, just walk around circles, it's fine. Like, do, you know, do you utilize the fact that you, we now know about coronavirus that it's, it's much more difficult to transmit outside. Like, there's a couple of people who we know who are having Christmas alone. And so, um, I'm going home, but the shadow is remaining. And, you know, he's doing some, some Christmas walks with people and like, seeing people

outside. And I think just because it's like, oh, God, how pain he else. But still do it. Because it is Nice. Like it will make people's day. And put that, all it takes is that little tiny bit of effort or like a Christmas hat or a little ribbon on your jumper or a little, you know, if you have a jumper with, with something, any object on it. Okay. Can't wait for the end of this. The addition of a bobble, it becomes a Christmas jumper. That's very true.

So like if you've got, you know, I have one that had two woolen puppy dogs on it. tie a ribbon around them, stick on some, now they're Christmas puppies, you know? Christmas puppies, that's very true. So, like, you know, it's so easy. Red ribbon is so easy to come by. I cannot recommend Flying Tiger Copenhagen enough for this kind of tat.

But if you've got enough red ribbon in the house, you can make literally anything lovely. And it takes, it's such a tiny step from being not Christmas-y to being like, oh, actually very Christmas-oh, actually very lovely. There's a cupboard in my bathroom, and I was like, the bathroom never gets me Christmas-y stuff. So I just salarate some, like, wrapping paper.

brought into the cupboard, which sounds terrible, but it actually looks delightful. And now, I don't remember I'm on the gritter. It's a lovely festive time. Is that an expression? No, but I'm really starting it because I just think on the gritter is the funniest thing I've ever heard. Someone said it. Listen, I support you 100%. Yeah. Can you stick a bit of grit for this wrapping paper, like on anything? I hung a bobble on the doorknob. It looks exquisite. And I actually just was putting I know, I'm sure it does it, just like, I hung a bubble on the doorknop. It's just a nice sentence. Well, I actually was just placing there for a second because I couldn't put it down.

And then I was like, God, that's... How heavy is the bowl is the bowl? Sorry, I just meant, I was... I was... Had a lot, so I just had to, like, pop that bobble on the doorknob for a minute, please. God's sake, just take the weight off for a second. No, like, you just, you will, even if you're like, I'm not creative, I'm not into this, I don't like it. Like, you will surprise yourself by how quickly and how easily you can make something go from nothing to something.

And exactly what Steve is saying, like, can you feel those crackers? Can you make a Christmas quiz? Can you invent a drinking game called eggnog heads? It's just a quiz, but you drink eggnog. You can stick any alcohol into any pun. It's very easy. Yeah. And also, as well, you know, there's a lot of Zoom FaceTime fatigue.

Get it. you know if you aren't with people it's it's it will be lovely and festive and great to have a little festive Christmas face time this is what FaceTime is what FaceTime is invented for so that it's not I'm sure it's meant so you can show each other your tree show them your new Christmas jumper show them the stuff you know like yeah get get I know it's horrible like you know it's we're doing it right this second and we're hating every minute of this are we not stupid um but you know it's there for a reason it's so nice to see a person um and to talk to them face to face.

And, you know, it's going to be tough for everybody. But, you know, embrace it as best you possibly can. Yes, I was going to say the final thing was to have, even if you can't be with people who are in a similar situation to you, find a friend, find numerous friends that you can, like, WhatsApp. If you're feeling a little bit lonely or you're feeling like shit. And then you can, like, also egg each other on, give each other tips, like help each other through the period of time,

like Christmas each other off. you know so like um it might be on impossible for you to have a friend must but you can still have a friend absolutely and uh and even if you're like there's no one near me there's nothing here be like okay well is you know couldn't is a neighbor also on their own like is there somebody else you could do a little something with you know yeah really pushing for that weird old neighbor to come around yeah you really are I think I yeah sorry you're going to be responsible for a lot of issues essentially it's throw yourself in and be creative with how don't just expect it to happen

that you're going to have to do some planning you're going to have to do some thinking you have to be the father you have to accept that Father Christmas is not coming for you this year you have to be the Father Christmas you're the spirit of the festive season you're it you're it

and that's both you know like I say it's both freeing and terrifying yeah but like the more you can do it can do it and it is it is so much easier than you think it just says some lights put a bobble on the door knob you are away get a Christmas tree

even if you're like, oh, I don't, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, Christmas tree. Like, why not? The thought of having a tree in your living room will lift the spirit's like nobody's business. Also, it's something to do, isn't it? It's a day out. It's something to do, honestly. Like, don't, you know, I get it.

We're all like, oh, who cares? Christmas is cancel. But you're like, we've got to go the opposite way and be like, Christmas is literally all we've got. Christmas is all, oh my God, yeah. Christmas is all we've got. It's a season to be jolly and joyous. La la la.

La la. And we've had a wretched year, but we've made it this far, you know? Yeah. And also I can't recommend watching Muppets Christmas Carol enough. That's all, that's my main tip, really. I feel quite Christmas. I do too. Yeah.

I hope that helped in some way to get the old yule... I was supposed to get the old Yule Tide juices flowing. Yeah, but why not? Yeah, get the pastry, get that pastry rolling. Get those bells ringing. Get those lights? Get those baubbles knobbing. Oh, okay.

Okay. And on that note, we have a very, very, very Merry Christmas. wherever you are and whoever you're spending it with. Merry Christmas for last year. God bless us. And everyone.