In days gone by we'd be sledging down hills, and attend midnight carols to sing our goodwill.
The tree was adorned with an angel and tinsel and we'd go to bed early to await Santa's jingle.
There were presents to open at first sign of dawn, as we stumbled downstairs with a stretch and a yawn.
A book and some colours, and the game of the day, and the latest LP which we'd play and we'd play.
After gifts in the morning (it was over quite quickly), we would eat so much dinner we'd all feel quite sickly.
So we'd watch the Queen's speech and we'd put up our feet and then open a jigsaw for all to complete.
There was boxing day rugby to let off some steam; we'd all shout at the ref 'cause we thought he was mean.
For the second big feast we would traipse back to Nans, and then on with the Bond film by popular demand.
Nowadays, a White Christmas is a very rare thing, and very few people enjoy hymns to sing.
The tree is a real one, and the lights LED, and no-one believes in Old Santa, it seems.
The kids all need waking 'cause they've had a late night, and they've chosen their gifts from their favourite website.
We used to fly kites, but they're now flying drones; with skateboards and bikes superceded by phones.
Smoked salmon for starters, the new modern fave; Great Nana and Grandpa would turn in their grave.
A shop Christmas pudding from Tesco or Lidl, but no sixpence in sight when you spoon out the middle.
Now the telly's old hat, even video games are gone, and instead there's a headset that the young ones all don;
It spirits them away to a much different place: to a war zone or a race track or to solve the next case.
And round two on Boxing Day doesn't seem to be done - summer rugby has done away with our fun
In the evening, a curry or a takeaway pizza - Pepperoni, Diavalo or a plain Marguerita.
Many people are far from their family and friends and connect with their folk through a camera lens,
Via WhatsApp or Facebook or even by Zoom, sending Christmas greetings from their own front room.
I wonder what Christmas will bring in the future; will we all interact by some kind of computer?
Or will we go back to the good days of old, bringing neighbours and family back into the fold?
I know what I want - which one I think is better better, a traditional day, for I'm no trend-setter.
Just family and friends, that's all I require, just a chat and a drink around a real log fire.
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