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scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Christmas by the Gregorian calendar falls on a Thursday in 2008. As a result the hostelries on Bahrain will be full of revellers celebrating this Christain festival. Even this aging Caledonian agnostic will be sipping something in of the more salubrious hostelries of that town. He will comfort himself that he is far from the misers of the 300 Club and the Fellowship oif Five Hundred.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

Dear scot47,

"Even this aging Caledonian agnostic will be sipping something in of the more salubrious hostelries of that town."

Tea, no doubt. Though malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to man.

But

'Ale, man, ale's the stuff to drink For fellows whom it hurts to think: Look into the pewter pot To see the world as the world's not. And faith, 'tis pleasant till 'tis past: The mischief is that 'twill not last."

I don't think it hurts you to think.

Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Thinking can land a man in trouble, true. In any case I shall be sipping one of the "drinks that cheer but do not inebriate". Tea perhaps. Coffee, or Vimto.

As one who has taken a solemn pledge to refrain from buying, selling or using the demon drink I shall, God willing, have a sober Yule.

kaw · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

While those of you in Bahrain have the luxury of some festive cheer - or a refreshing glass of jiuce, take pity on some of us who left the land of shopping malls and building sites and no longer have the choice.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

"Thinking can land a man in trouble, true."

But not nearly as often, nor, I'd say, as much, as not thinking can.

May we both have another festive, non-alcoholic, hangover-free Yuletide.

Regards,
John

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

I detest Christmas. It's the only time of the year when I would like to be back in Saudi. At the moment Mrs. Sheikh and I are discussing whether to stay here or spend the Festive Season in the UK. Neither appeals. Sad

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Well, rattler, in our native Scotland, the celebration of Christmas is a recent English import - although of course the RC's in our midst, mainly of Irish origin, always celebrated this.

I can rememeber when Christmas was a working day in Scoitland. New Year was the big holiday. Now the two have merged together into a 10-day shut-down.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

johnslat · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

Dear Sheikh,
Good heavens - what about that post offended you? I have Irish roots, trunks, limbs, branches and twigs (Mom was a Sullivan; Dad was, of course, a Slattery) and I wasn't offended.
I also went to parochial schools: nuns though the eighth grade and Jesuits through high school.
But I do think you were much too lenient on Mr. Paisley.
Regards,
John

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

He was offended becasue he is not a rational freethinker.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,
Very true. I'm a completely irrational freethinker. Rationality is an illusion.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

John
Here we were thinking that John Slattery was a child of the Enlightenment ! It turns out that he is a disciple of Nietzsche.

Jefferson would be disappointed in you.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,
If you're speaking of Old Tommy, even a quick scan of his biography would, I believe, demonstrate that he was anything BUT rational in his personal life.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"Tommy" ? I am impressed that you were on first name terms with the man. You must be a tad older than I thought.