Merry Christmas

After attending the panto yesterday we walked back to the car, carrying bags of extra goodies from the local supermarket. We also stopped to talk to a Big Issue guy, who told us he was lucky enough to have somewhere warm to stay for the next few nights. Some years ago I was teaching a GCSE English class and, during a discussion on charities, I discovered many of the teenage students believed homeless people thought the homeless were sleeping rough because they wanted to. A disturbing number also believed the solution to the problem of homelessness was "to have them all killed." I remember standing there, speechless, listening to the views of parents coming out of the mouths of children with no idea of the realities of how harsh a life can be. Anyway, I resisted the urge to rant.

But today, on Christmas Day, I'd like all you reading this to enjoy the holiday in whatever way you do. And don't forget to count your blessings.

http://www.shelter.org.uk/