It's Christmas eve. When I was a kid Christmas was a time of high hopes and grim realities . Christmas time was always hard times. It was always miserable and cold ,cash was always short , things would be freezing and breaking down and limited resources . It was a struggle keeping the house warm .We would go the Christmas gathering at the Grandparents farm , and inevitably there would be some form of conflict which would result  in Mom deciding to pack it up and storm out and go home. Then it was the short but uncomfortable ride home , to have snacks and go to sleep . Glad that's over. now I am like an old badger ,holed up in my den enjoying the quiet. Maybe I will celebrate the season with a wee dram .