AUTHOR'S CORNER;

SCROOGE AND THE LITERARY SPIRITS

In this day and age where recession seems to be the flavour of the era, and prices are sky high that one finds they have to make serious decisions between an essential item such as FOOD or a not so essential item like dishwasher powder!  It is fair to say, that Christmas in itself represents a bit of a financial dilemma, especially if you happen to be a struggling writer who is quite frankly reliant on the mercy of your book sales!  Just this morning on the news it was announced that an estimated five million Brits were about to embark on short-term loans!  The country is in trouble people and yet here we are trying to bankrupt ourselves even further!  What the hell is wrong with us?

However, it is Christmas and everyone knows how important this merry season is, the children have been looking forward to it, so has aunt Mavis!  The turkey alone is going to cost you a fortune, not to mention all the trimmings - well, you weren't going to serve just turkey?

Which brings us to the next hurdle; the presents.  In this day and age where expense is equated to love and extravagance is surmountable to your generosity, one has to appear giving and not stingy in front of the family.  Shall we take out a short-term loan?  NO, wait, let us explore..... you are after all a writer; a creative creature who has the insight and ability to create magic out of nothing.  One must look deep within, conjure up that magic and sparkle with the sheer force of your insight and imagination and creativity.... here's how....look deep, deep within.....

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Think back to when you were a child; remember how magical Christmas used to be?  When I was a kid my father used to have so many delights underneath the Christmas tree it felt like I had been transported to a magical world.  He used to go down to the market, he would buy cheap but fun things - such as brightly knitted scarves, jumpers and hats.  Dad would find old biscuit tins and fill them with sweets, chocolates, hair bands, fun, cheap jewellery and pencils and colouring pens.  He used to have a sack filled with bubble bath bottles, body spray and the cheap odd (market bought) lipstick, all tied up in that bag with a shiny ribbon around it.  I used to excitedly look forward to the yearly calender and that essential fluffy pair of slippers that kept my feet warm throughout the winter!  The tree was heavily decorated with cheap tinsel and a big, handmade fairy sat happily on top looking down on us.  If I ever received a big item - such as a bike, it would be one that dad had rescued from a skip somewhere and spent a few weeks fixing and painting for me!  My dolls were not Barbie, instead they had weird and obscure names such as Trixie, or Mimi, all bought from the market for a fraction of the price.  I was the happiest child on Christmas day!  And mum and dad were happy too, because they were NOT in debt!!

As a creative person, you should be able to use your initiative and create a magical, gift filled Christmas without breaking the bank!  Of course in this day and age kids expect the Wii or Playstation or whatever else the bloody media has put in their tiny minds!  Keep it to one expensive gift and the rest make up yourself.  Go and search in your local market, find old biscuit tins and fill them up with goodies, incorporate some essentials in your gifts, such as that pair of gloves you were going to have to buy anyway, or those pyjamas that your child needs!  

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Don't worry about their friends; they are not their friends, they are your children!  Unfortunately what the media has been very successful in teaching us, is to keep up with our peers!  That is a falsity that has been planted in our subconscious in order to make us all spend money - often money we don't actually have!   Don't be a fool, don't pass that on to your own children!  The best thing you can do is teach them to live within their means, it will serve them well in the future.   

When my kids say "Oh so and so has that!" or "My friend can do this"  I always have the same reply "Good for them, but they are not my children, therefore it doesn't concern me!"  More so, if they want to compare, try turning their attention to those who have less and are living on the breadline and let them compare that!  If the urge to spend money is that great - try giving to the less fortunate and perhaps they too could have a fairly nice Christmas!  Think people, how long after Christmas do your kids still use those very, very, very expensive gifts?

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME

Set the trend and you will never have to worry again!  If you buy what you can afford and only what you can afford, then people will come to expect this of you and never expect more!  Your kids will not be disappointed at receiving bubble bath and brightly knitted scarves, sweets, colouring pens and pyjamas.  And aunt Mavis will come to expect that lovely glittery hat from Primark!  

Also, you are doing your children a favour; you are breaking that horrible vicious cycle the world is in and effectively saving them from getting into debt when they are adults!  People must learn that it is not the cost that makes for the feeling of love; it's the sentiment and the effort that has gone into creating a special gift!