
Because I’m hiding away from the dreaded Second Wave, I’m watching a lot of programmes on the Home Channel, and I’m all fired up. Next year, friends and family will open their gifts and gasp: Did YOU make this? Yourself? Whether the gasps will be of horror or admiration remains to be seen.
How hard can it be? Knock up a batch of shortbread? Tick. Knock up a batch of Fir-tree shaped biscuits? Tick. Bash out a couple of fruit cakes mid-October, buy a bottle of brandy, and tenderly dose the cakes at weekly intervals. Tick. These I can do. Easy peasy.
Ditto making chutney when apricot and tomatoes are plentiful. Tick. Doable. Provided we aren’t plagued with load-shedding in 2021, hello Eskom, are you listening?
But there are other options: apparently all I need is bunch of willow branches, a stout pair of pliers, iron determination and I will weave a batch of wooden placemats, or maybe a small laundry hamper. The relentlessly enthusiastic English TV anchor made it look so simple. Now where am I going to source willow branches? Do willows even grow in this province, I wonder? Maybe Karree tree branches would work out? This is so exciting!
And then, I nearly forgot: Knitted items , and crochet whatsits. Why, I saw an adorable little crocheted snowflake in a craft magazine, only yesterday. Never mind that the South African Christmas season is blazingly hot, and not a snowflake in sight. Details, details! Don’t be a wet blanket! Of course, I’ll have to learn how to crochet, but that’s all on YouTube, isn’t it ? No problem.
Or I can raid my trove of wallpaper samples, ( note to self: start collecting wallpaper samples); cut out floral bits and bobs and make individual handsewn greetings cards; or decorate the cover of the handmade book that I’ve conjured up out of thick manilla paper, and magicked up a cover out of an old leather coat that I’ve cut up. Must say I have reservations about cutting up an old leather coat. Even if it is Pleather. Is this a good idea, I wonder? Again, the TV anchor was amazingly nonchalant about attacking an old leather jacket with an enormous pair of shears. Mind you, it was a nasty shade of green, so what the heck.
Really, the choice is dazzling, and I haven’t even got around to the knitted and sewn items. I mean, socks, scarves, beanies, dinky little purses. Positively overwhelming.
Oh! the agonies of choice! A greener, more thoughtful Christmas. Thoughtfully curated gifts, personally designed and laboriously made; no more raids on the Chinese plastic shop.
The only thing between me and a homespun Christmas in 2021 are the following: a glue gun, a craft cutting mat, a super-sharp craft knife, an awl, pliers, a steel ruler, paint, decorative trinkets, buttons, raffia, fabric strips, a collection of wallpaper samples, fabrics samples, buttons, sequins, dinky charms, a ton of glass and ceramic beads, oh …. and a lot more besides.
My word, I’m going to be busy in the New Year. Alternatively I could just go online on Black Friday and press the plastic. Takelot.com could see me around the end of November. Watch this space. And if you don’t want a home-made gift, I suggest you start planning your home removal right now! You have been warned.
UNSUBSCRIBE FROM 2021
On January 1st, 2021, I packed away my Christmas decoration table display, and removed my bead wreath from my front door grille.
Next task was to changeover the calendars. Down came the 2020 Wildlife calendar, up went the pretty Paws and Petals calendar. Lovely! a colourful, calming picture of cats posed decoratively amongst the flowers. Inspiration above my worktable. Great.
Final chore: to write up the birthday dates into my new 2021 diary, without which no one would receive my enthusiastic rendering on their birthday of ¶♫Happy Birthday to youuuu ¶♫…. sung by Yours Truly, somewhat out of tune, but with feeling.
Oh what a happy glow of accomplishment! Bolstered by the happy knowledge that I decided not to make any New Year Resolutions this year. Note to all my readers who were nervously anticipating strange homemade gifts this coming Christmas (see previous post). Friends, it was but a passing fancy. Not an iron-clad resolution.
So: all organized, everything under control. I was prepped, ready for 2021.
But unfolding events on Wednesday 6 January in Washington, USA shattered my sangfroid. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight, va BBC TV News, of rioting Trump supporters storming the Capitol Building, and invading it. I was shocked. I was appalled. I was stunned. To put it mildly.
I live in Africa. I am well accustomed to news/footage of dictators fomenting riot and resolution when elections don’t go their way. But Americans? No! Surely not! Isn’t the USA meant to be the bastion of democracy, the leader of the Free World, the leader of the West? But if a narcissistic, rabble rouser is Top Dog, then look out. All the high flown ideals are tossed onto the rubbish heap, and mob rule is encouraged.
Which brings me to Napoleon Buonaparte, Emperor of France. I have been watching a fascinating TV documentary on the Corsican soldier, inspired by visions of classical heroes like Julius Caesar, soldier, leader, emperor extraordinaire – Napoleon’s role model.
A brilliant military strategist, Buonaparte tamed the post-French Revolution Mob chaos, brought order, rule of law, dignity and imperial status to his country. He unified France, which flourished and became a solid, established, modern society. History has recognized Napoleon’s genius.
How will History judge Donald Trump, I wonder? An aberration of the Social Media Age?
I watch unfolding events in the USA with horrified fascination. My feelings today can be summed up by a meme currently floating around WhatsApp and it crisply states:
I’d like to cancel my subscription to 2021. I’ve experienced the free 7 day trial and I am not interested.
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Filed under HUMOUR, POLITICS, PRESENT & FUTURE, SOCIAL COMMENT, TV SHOWS
Tagged as 2021 new year, Donald Trump, Napoleon Buyonaparte, riots on Capitol Hill