Cycling UK Forum

The National Festival of Obesity, which aims to support and encourage obesity in the UK, takes place this year on the 25th and 26th of December. Families across the country will be taking part in two days of fun and festivities ranging from the traditional Christmas turkey dinner with sausages wrapped in bacon (followed by Christmas pudding and brandy butter) to cold hams and chocolates, all washed down with fine wines and liqueurs. The organisers of this year’s event said: “This really is an event for the whole family from grand-dads and grandmas right down to the younger members of the family.”

The festival is supported by a range of familiar household names from the high street including of course the five main supermarket chains. But the organisers say that it is M&S who provide the main impetus for the event with their mouth watering TV commercials - "One bite of their Christmas pudding will be remembered long after those New Year resolutions have begun to fade."

A major high street electronics chain has also pitched in this year: their spokesman said ”There really is no excuse for children not to play indoors this Christmas. We have a great range of computer games and of course the new Sony Play Station is battling it out with X Box – whichever you choose to get them, they don’t need to leave the house to have a great time.”

The BBC is supporting the festival as well. They have a glittering line-up of programmes from TV film premieres to Christmas editions of family favourites. One BBC programme director said last night that “We have enough unmissable programmes to keep you sofa bound for the full two days. We also have great comedies and family programmes to fill that awkward gap between lunch and teatime when you might be tempted to go for a walk. It’s a real “sink back in the sofa” time for everyone.”

The festival kicks off on Christmas Eve with mince pies and sherry and runs until Boxing Day evening when there’s trifle and brandy to be enjoyed to round it off. To take part, simply drive down to your local supermarket. You will need to spend a minimum of £50 on festive foods but there is no upper limit.

The last word however goes to the hard working festival organisers who said “We know there’s going to be vol-au-vents and sausage rolls in the afternoon but the real question is: will the German Stollen cake take the number one spot this year from traditional English Christmas cake with sugar and marzipan icing?” We wait to see.

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Take the christ out of Christmas and the mass and then you might have a real reason to celebrate the season.

It occurs to me that I have not yet posted a picture of myself on this forum....

661-Pete'

You are me AICMFP

Lol! Satire is alive and well in deepest Cornwall. I do hope you enjoy that gruel on Christmas day!

Humbug

Al

I will be glad when Christmas is over. I can stop being nice to people!

Surely it's better to be miserable all the time? I know I am, especially when I see motorists on their mobile 'phones

Well, since this has de facto become the "Bah Humbug" thread (see the other thread for more mixed sentiments), a few remarks might be appropriate:

• I dislike Xmas-and-all-the-trimmings with a passion. Sorry, it's just in me. Too many bad memories associated with it. I'm not asking anyone else to share my views.
• I have been labelled 'Scrooge', on occasion, but my usual retort is, Scrooge becomes a reformed character. Did no-one read the book through to the end? Anyway, Scrooge's main pre-reform vice, as I see it, was a refusal to give to charity. If I am found wanting in that department - at any time of the year, not just Xmas - I'm willing to be judged.
• In my vocabulary it's "Xmas" and no other spelling. I don't do religion. Anyone who wants to make a case about the Greek chi, go ahead!

So - Bah humbug to all my fellow forummers. Have a good/bad 'un as preferred!

Incidentally, I came close to losing my cool in the supermarket this morning. The main problem was the muzack - all those jingly xmassy tunes that get on my nerves. I just wanted to get out. But it was of course very busy, we ended up at a slow till, and things weren't helped when the customer two in front of us had her card refused. More delay. Frozen stuff beginning to thaw out on the conveyor. More of me simmering. But I didn't quite boil over - indeed I even managed a smile once we did get served.

Is this common? For me - no, not usually at the checkouts. I'm usually comfortable with queueing. Maybe it's a dose of SAD?

Now I know why there are so many Christmas and New Years Cycle rides advertised...

Go on have another mince pie.

Emma

I do like Chrismas dinner, but that's about it. Can't be bothered with the rest of it. I'm not religous. I don't have fond memories of Xmas from when I was a Child. I can associate with most of what Pete said. Xmas eve has particular bad memories, got my car broken into, Waited 1.5 hour to get out of a car park cos I took my mother to the shops. Quing for an hour at the supermarket checkout (someone forget something) getting my ankles rammed by some woman that, by that time I would have happily punched in the face, If I didn't fear being arested etc.( I am in no way a violent person)
My wife knows that if she wants a tree and tinsel and the like, she's has to do it
They best Chrismas I had was before I was married, me and two of my mates went mountaineering in Scotland for a fortnight. It was great. Christmas day on at the top of Cairngorm mountain in the snow, drinking Brandy, Champagne and eating Chrismas cake.
But, married now, so no more of that

So happy humbug to you all

NaObFest has started in chez-Si today as Mrs Si has arrived home from school loaded down with bucket loads of chocs from the kidz. Oh well, I dare say that I'll walk it all off on the way to the Chinese tonight.

Si wrote:NaObFest has started in chez-Si today as Mrs Si has arrived home from school loaded down with bucket loads of chocs from the kidz. Oh well, I dare say that I'll walk it all off on the way to the Chinese tonight.

Walk?? WALK ???? What on earth are you doing?? Didn't you read the flyer???? To participate in NObFest you MUST DRIVE!!!

Not if it takes more energy to walk to the car than it does tot he Chinese. Actually, I think that to participate properly one should probably have it delivered.