Friday, 22 December 2017

Advent Calendar Day 22: Father Christmas


This piece of sheet music brings back so many memories. I’m five years old the Christmas tree in the corner is twinkling with lights. More lights are strung along the beams. Sprigs of Holly are on top of all the pictures and in a big vase on the piano. The Christmas cake is iced, and the turkey is in the oven. The Beverly Sisters are on the radio singing about mummy kissing Santa Clause, and my own mum is joining in on the piano. As much as I loved the song, I always wondered why mummy would be kissing Santa Clause. It was some years later when I worked out Santa was actually daddy in a Santa suit, for a while there I thought mummy was up to no good. 😅


How I remember the song 



These images come from a scrapbook which belonged to a little boy by the name of Teddy. I never knew him, but from an inscription on the first page, I know that his mummy and daddy gave him the scrapbook in 1933. I shared some images from it on the 1st December, and today I would like to share a few more...




And finally, Christmas 1981 with our son Steven playing Father Christmas.


We are meeting our grandson at Bristol airport this morning so please forgive me if I’m a little slow at replying to comments or visiting your blogs. He is flying down from Edinburgh to spend Christmas with us before leaving again for an overseas posting. He joined the British Army earlier in the year and has done very well. I will visit you all as soon as I can. 

I'm linking with Julie over at Julie's Scrapbook.  More from my Advent Calendar tomorrow. 
at 08:30

32 comments:

  1. Valerie-Jael22 December 2017 at 08:50

    I remember that song very well! Thanks for sharing the lovely scrap-album images. Have fun with your grandson, merry Christmas to you and yours, hugs, Valerie

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 09:28

      Thanks Valerie! Merry Christmas to you and all your family. Barbara x

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  2. Unknown22 December 2017 at 09:38

    Yep, remember singing along with that and love all these illustrations. Had not seen the photo with Steve on it, those were the days! xx

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 09:47

      I thought you might remember that Sue! I’ve got such lovely memories of those Christmases, hope you have too. I love the photo of Steve, and couldn’t resist tagging him on Facebook. xx

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  3. KC'sCourt!22 December 2017 at 10:27

    Have a lovely time with your grandson.

    Julie xxx

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  4. Sue Imgrund22 December 2017 at 10:27

    You must be very proud of your grandson. I'm still wondering about Teddy and hope maybe he's still with us and celebrating with grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 20:18

      I wonder about Teddy too and really hope he is celebrating somewhere. We are very proud and happy for our grandson and thrilled to be spending Christmas with him.

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  5. Castles Crowns and Cottages22 December 2017 at 10:44

    Ah.....now you have opened up another memory for me: Christmas music. I can still see the sheet music I would turn for my father as he played carols on his piano or organ. I can still feel the emotion and smell the bake goods of those evenings at our home or in the home of friends or family....and all of this comes back from your lovely vintage images. It's wonderful being of a certain age, because you gather more and more memories that no one can ever take away. Happy Christmas dear Barbara.

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 20:25

      Thank you so much for sharing your memories Anita, I always enjoy reading about them. Memories are a wonderful compensation for growing older, and they seem to come back into sharper focus with each passing year. Have a joyful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

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  6. RO22 December 2017 at 11:38

    I remember the Jackson 5 version was one of my faves as a kid, so this brings back some memories for sure. You always post such meaningful pictures, and I love them. Yay for your grandson visiting a little while. There's nothing better than sharing the holidays with family. Hugs...RO

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 20:26

      Thank you RO, I hope your Christmas is full of good things. x

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  7. colleen22 December 2017 at 15:02

    LOVE this! The pictures are just delightful.I hear the song every year- i have several versions- I do like the Michael Jackson version...Have fun with your grandson---are you REALLY old enough to have a grandson in the army???? You certainly look too young- it must be because you are so young at heart! Sending you a BIG (((HUG)))!

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 20:32

      Bless your heart Colleen but yes, I’m more than old enough! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the pictures and thanks as always for taking the time to leave a comment. Thank you also for the hug, I enjoyed it! :) xx

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  8. CraveCute22 December 2017 at 17:02

    Barbara, your Advent series has been such a delight! I love these vintage images so much, and your family photos are so charming! What a wonderful memory of Christmas past! Have a lovely Christmas my friend! Happy travels as well! ~ Diane

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 20:34

      Thank you so much Diane both for your kind words and your good wishes. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2018. Love Barbara.

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  9. Elephant's Child22 December 2017 at 18:17

    Love the pictures. The song didn't reach us - or cross my consciousness.
    I hope your time with your grandson is truly amazing - and Happy Christmas to you all.

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  10. Barbara22 December 2017 at 20:35

    Thanks so much. Happy Christmas xx

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  11. Bleubeard and Elizabeth22 December 2017 at 21:13

    I'm not familiar with the first rendition, but I've heard the Michael Jackson version as a child. I had to laugh when you said you thought your mum was up to no good. That was FUNNY.

    I'm really enjoying these advent calendar days. I'm going to be saddened when they are over. Thanks for doing this, because many of the posts have brought back so many happy memories.

    Enjoy your time with your grandson. I can tell you are proud of him. And I'll be back till the end. The final advent calendar day that is!

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    1. Barbara22 December 2017 at 22:14

      You had me worried there talking about the end – glad you cleared that up! :-)
      Thank you so much for all your visits and lovely comments. xx

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  12. Jeanie22 December 2017 at 23:05

    I don't know what I loved more here, Barbara -- the songs or the fabulous images. Either way, they bring smiles.

    Have a wonderful holiday. I bet your grandson thinks you rock! (And again, loving the advent calendar!)

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    1. Barbara23 December 2017 at 07:42

      Dear Jeanie, your comment makes me so happy. Smiles are the best! Thank you!
      Enjoy the holidays (I’m sure you will). Hugs Barbara

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  13. Stephanie@Fairday's Blog23 December 2017 at 00:35

    How wonderful that you will get to see your grandson for Christmas. Enjoy every minute. :)

    Loved seeing your pictures for this post. I remember loving that song when I was little and thinking it was funny that mommy was kissing Santa. When I got a little older I was happy to learn learn what was really happening in the song and surprised I wasn't more concerned when I was little. :)

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    1. Barbara23 December 2017 at 07:19

      Thanks Stephanie.

      I thought just the same thing as you about mummy kissing Santa and was very relieved when I realised what the song was really about!

      I hope you have a lovely Christmas. xx

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  14. Magic Love Crow23 December 2017 at 03:20

    I love that song so much! I love your story Barbara!
    Beautiful vintage images!
    Your son playing Santa, is so cute!
    Congrats to your Grandson!
    Wishing you and your loved ones, a Very Merry Christmas! Big Hugs!

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    1. Barbara23 December 2017 at 07:31

      Thank you so much Stacy!
      Have a lovely Christmas. xx

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  15. Darlene23 December 2017 at 19:43

    I always loved that song too, both versions. Your son looks so cute as Santa. How wonderful that your grandson will be with you for Christmas. Sounds like he is doing very well. He may well be posted to Canada like my hubby was and find a nice Canadian girl to marry!!

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    1. Barbara24 December 2017 at 08:25

      I just showed him your comment Darlene it made him smile, but he said he's not sure what his girlfriend would think about that! ;-) Have a lovely Christmas xx

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  16. Anonymous27 December 2017 at 13:32

    Wonderful post, Barbara! I hope your grandson had a nice visit, best of luck to him. I've just watched your Beverly Sisters video. Then I had to look them up to find out if they were triplets. Fun to discover they were all born on the same day, but the one in the middle (always in the middle) is three years older. She died at 91, but the twins are still going strong at the same age. What a remarkable sibling story! :)

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    1. Barbara27 December 2017 at 15:49

      Hi Marcia, We loved having our grandson to stay, and the house feels quite empty now that he’s gone.
      I did know that about the Beverly Sisters but had forgotten it over the years. I must have read it in a newspaper or magazine (before the advent of the Internet).

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  17. Anonymous27 December 2017 at 13:42

    p.s. Just to mention, I spot two pictures of Santa with a bag of UNWRAPPED presents in this post, ha ha.

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    1. Barbara27 December 2017 at 15:50

      You are so observant Marcia. I can’t believe I didn’t notice that. :)

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I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
Barbara xx

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