The Grim Reaper also works on Bank Holidays!

The Grim Reaper!

So what did your Boxing Day bring? Have you suffered from the bilious aftermath of the previous day’s overindulgence and excess? Did you receive all you wanted or are you in a quandary, wondering what to do with the now somewhat traditional  unwanted Christmas gift?

Were you prevented from securing massive savings by the tube strike as you hit the shops looking for bargains? Were you one of those ‘lucky’ enough to boost the coffers of all those ’ailing’ retailers; many of whom incidentally reported a strong trading day, thanks to the “hundreds of thousands of shoppers” (with no money) snapping up all the bargains. Hapless souls partaking in the de rigueur festive retail therapy to excess, irrespective of any real need for most of the items subsequently purchased.

Whatever the true meaning of Boxing Day, and there are several competing theories, to most it’s little more than just another day at the shops. But for some, the actual reality of this year’s seasonal austerity is far more substantial than simply financial.

A man was stabbed to death in Oxford Street, one of London’s busiest streets during the sales (see here). A murder inquiry has begun after a man was fatally stabbed in Littlehampton, West Sussex (see here). A 56-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was found dead at a house in Nottingham (see here). A 23-year-old student from India died after he was shot at close range in Salford after an unprovoked attack (see here). And finally in Scotland, police are investigating two shootings which occurred within three miles of each other to the north of Glasgow (see here) over the Christmas period.

For each one of those lives lost in violent circumstances, there are also families and friends now spending their Christmas Holiday consumed with grief. In addition, for every one of these deaths (above) at the hands of others, there are also many more who have met their demise just as suddenly - all be it perhaps less violently.

Despite death rates in England and Wales being at their lowest-ever recorded levels (see here), according to official figures there were 493,242 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2010. That actually equates to an average of about 1,351 deaths for every day of the year, including Christmas.

During my 30yrs as a police officer I have dealt with all manner of sudden deaths at Christmas. Be they road accident victims, those who have committed suicide or the less sudden age or illness related death. For each one there are nearly always relatives left behind who can never truly enjoy the seasonal festivities ever again. For each subsequent year they are reminded about the grief brought on by the loss of a loved one.

Like our Emergency Services, even the Grim Reaper turns up for work on Bank Holidays. Unfortunately it’s usually not very pleasant and therefore hardly a wonder that; Christmas isn’t actually as ‘special’ for some as it is for others!

Related articles

• Boxing Day sales shoppers turn out early for bargains and belated gifts (guardian.co.uk)
• Mortality statistics: every cause of death in England and Wales, visualised | Datablog (guardian.co.uk)
• At a glance: key findings of life expectancy report (telegraph.co.uk)

Humbug Carols from the Riverbank…

Bah Humbug!

I have to say, having seen much of the badness that can also materialise in people during this supposed season of Good Will To All Men, unfortunately, I always find it hard to drum up any enthusiasm for the festivities, genuine or contrived…

As many who know me will confirm, I’ve never really had that much time for Christmas. I’m not a misery per se, I may be grumpy about many things but the true meaning and value of Christmas is not one of them. But, as I’m also not a follower of any particular religion, it holds no meaning to me in terms of faith. It’s the inherent commercialism and falseness of it all these days that constitutes the majority of my disdain.

To say “Bah Humbug” is my standard comment each year would be an understatement (see here). Someone once said;  ”Wouldn’t life be worth the living and wouldn’t dreams be coming true, if we kept the Christmas spirit, all the whole year through?” But people in the main don’t, they display their mostly contrived emotions and synthetic concerns for the briefest of periods, then just as quickly return to their business as usual self-interest.

Someone once said; “One of the nice things about Christmas is that you can make people forget the past with a present.” But this Christmas, perhaps more than many before; there will be many of us finding it even harder than usual to be positive and celebrate, especially when there is so such economic uncertainty surrounding us.

During this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol) was told “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time”… “We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices”…

As many of us face ever more restricted financial discomfort, the more sensible amongst will probably be reining in their Christmas spending somewhat. That in turn will result in less ‘present’ to help you forget the past but many would do so well to learn; a gift to others doesn’t always have to be a materialistic one.

This afternoon HM The Queen will focus on family, friends and the community during Christmas message (see here) because; “The modern family extends much further than blood relatives.” The Queen, quite rightly, will call for us to celebrate the strengths of friends and the community. Whether you happen to be a Royalist or not is mostly immaterial, the lady talks a lot of sense. Many of the problems in UK society today boil down to a distinct lack of social cohesion. 

Writing in yesterday’s Yorkshire Post The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu said; “Christmas in troubled times gives us a chance to reflect on building a fairer world reflects on the duty to support and care for others at Christmas and the urgent task ahead to re-establish a fairer society” (read more).

May the message of Christmas turn all our fears into hope; and heal us from our tendency to wallow in cynicism. We must believe that change is possible. Let us all go out and make it happen. May the peace of Christmas be your gift…(Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York)

But to many others like me, Christmas is simply another day at the office; a day where they do all the work and the fat guy with the posh suit gets all the credit. Having said that, many of those actually doing the ‘work’ such as our emergency services, aren’t actually looking for thanks. A little more consideration for those, who continually put themselves out (or at risk) for us, on either a statutory or voluntary basis, wouldn’t go amis though. The person who said “The Christmas spirit that goes out with the dried-up Christmas tree is just as worthless” was so right.

“But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.” (Charles Dickens)

Unfortunately there are far too many people in our society, from top to bottom, who hold more interest in serving themselves than helping others. Isn’t it a pity their hearts don’t remain ‘open’ for a little longer than just a few days in December in each year?

Lord Francis Jeffrey, an 18th century literary critic wrote of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol that it had done more good than “all the pulpits and confessionals in Christendom”. William Makepeace Thackeray, the English novelist described it as; “a national benefit, and to every man or woman who reads it a personal kindness”. These descriptors of how the story has been seen ever since may well be correct however; as Claire Tomalin commented in The Guardian - “Its message may well offer some comfort and joy but we still need to think about the wolfish children.”

Whilst worrying about your mortgage payments, think about those without a home and cut back on your waste and frivolous expenditure. Whilst stuffing yourself to bursting point with masses of rich fayre, think about those who haven’t eaten for days. Whilst imbibing gargantuan quantities of booze, before disturbing the tranquility of all around, then going home to beat hell out of your partner, think of those who have to clear up your mess.

Spare a thought for all the emergency services workers, the ones who can’t be at home with their families because of people like you, or are trying to protect others from the likes of you. Think of the men and women of the RNLI and other rescue services who will put their lives at risk to save yours, no matter what day it is. And finally, think of those in the military, fighting in far off lands and protecting your freedom and right to be an absolute prat…

A Very Merry Humbug to one and all!

Related articles

• The Queen will focus on family, friends and the community during Christmas message (telegraph.co.uk)
• Archbishop of York attacks bankers’ ‘massive bonuses’ (telegraph.co.uk)
• It’s not presents but your presence that will matter this Christmas: Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu’s festive message to Sun readers (thesun.co.uk)