Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland

Subject: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: skarpi
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 10:53 AM

So all , I got a question in my work yesteday from a single mom
who is about to loose her job ,

" how am I gonna have christmas " and I am sure that many hundred
or millions of people are asking the same question .

So how are you who have little or nothing between your hands
, how are you gonna have christmas this year ???


My answaer to her and you from me and my family is :

First I am thankful for my family is healthy and we still have each other , and my children are grown up , so they can help out
over the christmas , but not everyone is that lucky .But family´s
should stuck together and help each other. Everthing else
is a bonus for me .

My wife is hand making almost all the christmas gifts
that we are givin away this year , and if get some things out of stores we pay with money , not cards nor credid/debit.

We try to get food as a cheap as we can and dont throw anything away
, make some thing out of the rest from yesterday for today if you can thats savin money .

but I quess you all know how to do those things .

so light a candle , send good thoughts around you all ,
if there is a time to do that its now as ever ofcourse .

We will not spend much money this year ...... the crisis
here has just begun and its gonna get worse in January and February
and things are gonna get bad and if the coverment here is not goin to do sometihng quick , there will be a disaster on the streets
of our capital , just like in Athen Greece , we have generation
now that is not goin stay away from this . They are so angry ,
few days ago they invated out parlament and tryed to throw
the coverment out. But I cross my fingers that there will be peace
and everything will go well in the end and we will not let hate and
anger rule the way .

But from me and my family to you all in the world where ever you are
Have a peaceful christmas , wrap you r hands around your family
and friends , light a candle and pray that the new year and the future will good for all mankind.

Lots of love and hugs
All the best Skarpi Iceland

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 10:57 AM

You are a wise and good man, Skarpi. Here's wishing you and your family the happiest Christmas ever. Sometimes contrast makes the colo(u)rs richer.

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 11:17 AM

skarpi,

One Christmas after Dad had been on strike for months and supported us by being a Fuller Brush salesman, Mom took me aside and said that we wouldn't have much of a Christmas. There was no money.

Christmas morning, I was shocked. There were lots of gifts (tiny but carefully chosen) and a stocking plumped up with fresh fruit.

None of realized it was a "skinny" Christmas.

In these days of outrageously expensive electronic stuff, it may be harder to pull off but if kids are safe and loved the rest falls into place.

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: Megan L
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 11:24 AM

I remember one christmas when things were rough mum and dad bought ten penny bars of cadburys(yep old pennys the bars were about the length and width of a ladys middle finger)they were hidden all over the house and they made up clues. Mum chased me round the house pretending to try and get one of the bars before i could. we laughed and shared tangerines wrapped in silver paper or coloured tissue. It wasn't till many years later I realised how hard that year had been for them. I learned then the greatest gift you can give your children is love and memories of laughter.

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: ClaireBear
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 11:39 AM

My father once told me that, once in his youth when his family (in which there were 10 children) was very poor, they wrapped up the furniture in old newspapers and gave it to each other for Christmas. I think it was one of his fondest childhood memories.

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: Morticia
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 11:51 AM

My thoughts go out to those in danger of losing their homes, worried about how they will pay the bills, keep their kids warm and how they will put enough food on the table without the added pressure and expectations of this time of year.

We are not rich but I feel we are blessed. Many people here are part of that blessing. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: Amos
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 11:58 AM

Cheers, Skarpi!! Your great heart, as always, lends beauty to the day. I wish all of Iceland a rapid turnaround from these hard times.


A

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: JohnB
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 12:41 PM

...... the crisis
here has just begun and its gonna get worse in January and February
and things are gonna get bad and if the coverment here is not goin to do sometihng quick , there will be a disaster on the streets
of our capital , just like in Athen Greece ........
I'm not supporting Anarchy BUT I don't see too many politicians around the world who deserve our respect for the appalling decisions they have made/are making.
Lets hope that in 2009 there are a few who emerge as HONEST if nothing else and handle our countries as we do our own homes and lives. We will get out of this mess eventually and there will be better Christmases to come.
We always have a budget for gifts and try to buy them when things are on "special" rather than full price. We are also fortunate in having the ability to make things, which have a far higher than material value.
Being vegetarian, our Christmas Dinner is a day long affair with lots of nibbly things on the table all day long, cheese crackers, vegetarian pate etc and we watch movies all day and stay in our pajamas all day. It's cheaper than meat and has become our tradition.
If you try it, DON'T foget the CHOCOLATE. it's an important ingredient.
Hoping you all ahve a good time at Christmas and a better 2009
JohnB

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 01:10 PM

We have restricted our presents for our 2 daughters to £100 each, which we have put on one side. They have in actual fact come to £122 roughly and they are paying the amount over £100 to us.
My wife and I are not buying each other presents.
We are not sending Christmas Cards. We will send Christmas Greetings by e-mail.
We normally go out for Christmas Dinner to give my wife a break. This year we have allocated £50 for the food and drink and will eat at home..
There you have it in a nutshell.
My wife is the breadwinner and she is self employed. If her work dries up, we are well and truly in the shit.
However, we are not carrying any credit forward by going over the top.

So Skarpi and everybody else who are in the same fertiliser, may we wish you a happy festive season and hope like we are hoping ourselves that you stay above the breadline for next year.

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: open mike
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 01:20 PM

hugs are the best present..
hope you get lots of them
@!1


Laurel

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: Deckman
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 02:38 PM

Merry Day Skarpi ... Your note resonated with me and I thought I'd jump in and make a couple of comments: First, regarding the social unrest. I live in the Seattle area of Washington state, USA. I also am clearly seeing a LOT of upset, and desperate people that are now out of work, scared to death, and resort to doing terrible things.

My local, and small, bank has been robbed at gunpoint twice in the last two weeks. My area has had 6 home invasion robberies in the last month. I'm hearing of muggings that I've never heard of before. This all has resulted in my wife and I becoming much more aware of our surroundings and safety. That's the bad part. Now for the good part ...

My wife and I are making almost ALL of our gifties for the families, kids and grandkids. They all say they prefer the things we make for them than store bought crap. Here's one simple, and fun, gift I'm making for each of my two granddaughters:

I got two new empty shoe boxes. I drilled a small hole in one end. Then I painted the insides and lid, I used wrapping paper for wallpaper, I made little pieces of furniture from balsa wood, I make walls, painted pictures on the walls, cut in skylites. Then when they look through the little peephole, they see a tiny world ... a miniture house, inculding a stairway that dissapears into the ceiling. I'll give them little flashlites, and they can shine the lights through the roof skylight, and the side windows (which are covered in velum paper) and see new things that become visable. Simple, no money, and great fun.

Merry Season's Greeting to you and keep your hat pulled down low! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: lady penelope
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 02:49 PM

Hey Skarpi, our thoughts are with you and yours and all those who are being pushed to the line in these hard times.

This time of year is about gathering those you love about you and celebrating the hope new light will bring us all in the coming months. As you say, light a candle and keep good thoughts before you.

Xxx Penny.

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:05 PM

Can't we do something to help? How about a CD Auction to benefit this family, with funds going to Skarpi to manage?

~S~

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: skarpi
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:25 PM

WYSIWYG




you dont have to do nothing , I am fine realy and I mean that .
it would make more sence if I would do something for others .

dont worry about me , I still have my job and my house although I dont
know for how long , so dont worry .

There are lot of other people who have it terrible.
And remember we here in Iceland will live through this
one way or another.


all the best Skarpi .

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 04:08 PM

Skarpi-

Posting on Mudcat is also nice, as you have done so well!

May you and your family do as well as you can this Christmas!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Christmas 2008 .from Skarpi Iceland
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 04:09 PM

Skarpi, I wish you were nearer, you would be welcome back in Lairg at any time.

John