A Christmas Story

[Tippaporn]

29 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

These days, not much. Only get prezzies for the Grandkids, but must send them 2 months in advance to Dubai, or online via Amazon UAE.

Love some of the TV programs, but absolutely HATE the ads showing dinner tables filled with food, starters, mains and desserts all at the same time, and many in UK cannot afford it. 

For us here, me, the Mrs, her daughter and her 4 year old and her son, we are on Moo Satay, Gai wings and Apple Crumble with custard. Oh and a bottle or two of home made vino.

The Christian religious part of it disappeared 60 years ago, when I realised it was all a Myth.

 

Now that sounds like peace, joy, good will, love, happiness, and cheer.  If that's how you conduct your life daily then I'd say you're living the Christmas spirit everyday.  Good on you.  And no, that spirit doesn't need to be tethered strictly to Christianity.  Not for me.

 

You're eating well.  Two thumbs up on the moo satay.  Or as my wife refers to it, moo steak.  Wonderful stuff.  And it never gets old.  I put it right up there with pizza.  LOL  The vino is a special touch.  Invite me over any time.

 

As to Christianity, I grew up a Catholic.  I used to stay in a Franziskaner boarding house going to school in Germany.  We had a small chapel and I was selected to read from one of the books in the Bible, can't recall which, in Latin.  I dropped out of religion in my teens because too much of it didn't add up.  I therefore don't blame anyone for religion leaving a bad taste in their mouth.  On the other hand I respect those who choose to follow their faith.  I don't agree with them on much but I won't trash them for what they choose to believe.  That cuts both ways, after all.

 

I do understand the symbolism of Christmas.  There's nothing negative about it.  Unless someone chooses to read into it what's not there.  So I do enjoy it.  As Scrooge would say, "let me keep it in my own way."  I enjoy it much more here in Thailand, away from the commercialisation of it.  Although the marketing companies are certainly attempting to create a market for sales out here.  But even that I don't get exposed to as I'm not around it.

 

[Tippaporn]

26 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

30 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

One thing I love about Thailand is the "live and let live" attitude of Thais.  Westerners, on the other hand, tend not to be able to keep themselves from sticking their long noses into everything and anything that they don't approve of so they can trash it.   I dunno.  Maybe they suffer from a superiority complex.  Or maybe they're just mean spirited.  Anyone care to say which?

Live and live? How many murders have been reported just this week, Thai on Thai?

 

Just because there are Thai on Thai murders here, no different than in any country, doesn't negate the fact that the general attitude is one of "live and let live."  Coming from the West that attitude was a marked difference that was obvious at once to me when I first came here.  People here tend to mind their own business, very much unlike the west.  Unless, of course, you're getting either robbed, beaten, stabbed or otherwise assaulted in broad daylight on a busy street.  That's about the only time Westerners seem to be strict about minding their own business.

 

Perhaps I shouldn't generalise by referring to the entire West.  Since my experience is chiefly American I can say that it certainly applies to America.

[Tippaporn]

33 minutes ago, riclag said:

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Tipp.

Special wishes for everyone else enjoying the  Christmas TRADITIONS!

 

Thanks, riclag.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family as well.

 

I can't very well send you a Christmas present but I can give you the gift of music.  The Harry Simeone Chorale's '58 recording, The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Festival, is my favorite from childhood.  Most every radio station, at least in the U.S., plays the version of The Little Drummer Boy off of this album.

 

This is the entire playlist.  The carols are in the form of medleys.  They're all quite short.  But I prefer traditional Christmas music.  Also tops for me are the choir recordings of King's College, Cambridge.  Plug it into YT if it's up your alley.

 

 

[KannikaP]

18 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

 

Now that sounds like peace, joy, good will, love, happiness, and cheer.  If that's how you conduct your life daily then I'd say you're living the Christmas spirit everyday.  Good on you.  And no, that spirit doesn't need to be tethered strictly to Christianity.  Not for me.

 

You're eating well.  Two thumbs up on the moo satay.  Or as my wife refers to it, moo steak.  Wonderful stuff.  And it never gets old.  I put it right up there with pizza.  LOL  The vino is a special touch.  Invite me over any time.

 

As to Christianity, I grew up a Catholic.  I used to stay in a Franziskaner boarding house going to school in Germany.  We had a small chapel and I was selected to read from one of the books in the Bible, can't recall which, in Latin.  I dropped out of religion in my teens because too much of it didn't add up.  I therefore don't blame anyone for religion leaving a bad taste in their mouth.  On the other hand I respect those who choose to follow their faith.  I don't agree with them on much but I won't trash them for what they choose to believe.  That cuts both ways, after all.

 

I do understand the symbolism of Christmas.  There's nothing negative about it.  Unless someone chooses to read into it what's not there.  So I do enjoy it.  As Scrooge would say, "let me keep it in my own way."  I enjoy it much more here in Thailand, away from the commercialisation of it.  Although the marketing companies are certainly attempting to create a market for sales out here.  But even that I don't get exposed to as I'm not around it.

 

Satay sauce = peanut butter (home made) Sriracha sauce and coconut milk.

Vino = 2 x litres of grape concentrate from Shopee (Nuboon). 6 litres of H2O. packet of Lalvin yeast (Shopee). Leave for a week, decant it off for two weeks, bottle in Singha bottles, crown caps (Shopee). I call it my Shopee Wine.

I was brought up Protestant, no idea what I was supposed to be protesting about! Top of my class in Religious Studies at 12-13 yrs old. Played guitar in church. THEN along came Paul, John, George & Ringo, more popular than JC was true. Went on to have a long long career in rock music.

[Tippaporn]

7 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Satay sauce = peanut butter (home made) Sriracha sauce and coconut milk.

Vino = 2 x litres of grape concentrate from Shopee (Nuboon). 6 litres of H2O. packet of Lalvin yeast (Shopee). Leave for a week, decant it off for two weeks, bottle in Singha bottles, crown caps (Shopee). I call it my Shopee Wine.

I was brought up Protestant, no idea what I was supposed to be protesting about! Top of my class in Religious Studies at 12-13 yrs old. Played guitar in church. THEN along came Paul, John, George & Ringo, more popular than JC was true. Went on to have a long long career in rock music.

 

My wife doesn't make her own moo satay but there's a vendor at the local market here who excels at it.  And he's very generous with the peanut sauce.  Even after giving each satay a full coating I'm still left with a number of teaspoons full.  And I'm not embarrassed to admit that i wipe the bowl clean with my finger.

 

I'll have to try the homemade vino.  Do you think Leo bottles will work as well?  LOL

 

The both of us need to get back to posting on the "Blasts from the Past" thread.  I'm with ya on the Beatles.  Would love to hear about your career, too.

[KannikaP]

4 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

 

My wife doesn't make her own moo satay but there's a vendor at the local market here who excels at it.  And he's very generous with the peanut sauce.  Even after giving each satay a full coating I'm still left with a number of teaspoons full.  And I'm not embarrassed to admit that i wipe the bowl clean with my finger.

 

I'll have to try the homemade vino.  Do you think Leo bottles will work as well?  LOL

 

The both of us need to get back to posting on the "Blasts from the Past" thread.  I'm with ya on the Beatles.  Would love to hear about your career, too.

Best Christmas album ever. 

 

[novacova]

5 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Wow.  Christmas Day, 90 views thus far, and not a single, solitary Christmas greeting from anyone.  I admit I'm surprised.

Wish you and all a merry Xmas and a safe new year. Personally not much of a holiday celebrator except for the wife’s birthday, prefer to ignore commercialization of it all. My late sister used to call me every Christmas new years and birthday, never missed a single one, sure do miss her dedicated calls more than anything.

[Tippaporn]

@KannikaP

 

My wife and daughter went out for the day.  They just arrived home and picked me up something to eat from the market.  One guess as to what it was.  LOL

[KannikaP]

12 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

@KannikaP

 

My wife and daughter went out for the day.  They just arrived home and picked me up something to eat from the market.  One guess as to what it was.  LOL

I can't be arsed threading the meat onto wooden stakes, so I brown the meat in the pan, and pour the sauce over it all.

[Tippaporn]

9 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I can't be arsed threading the meat onto wooden stakes, so I brown the meat in the pan, and pour the sauce over it all.

 

One of the most gorgeous photos I've ever seen!  

 

Please PM me your address.  I promise not to wear out my welcome.  As soon as that pan has been licked clean I'll be on my way.

[Tippaporn]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Best Christmas album ever. 

 

 

My favourite Christmas movies:

 

 

 

 

This recent French movie I consider to be a classic for it captures perfectly the meaning of Christmas, albeit under gruesome circumstances.

 

 

[Tippaporn]

@KannikaP

 

I'm calling it a night but before I do I want to wish you and you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Seems to me you live it year round.  Thanks for the excellent conversation.

[KannikaP]

10 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

 

One of the most gorgeous photos I've ever seen!  

 

Please PM me your address.  I promise not to wear out my welcome.  As soon as that pan has been licked clean I'll be on my way.

Too effing late, mate.

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, Tippaporn said:

@KannikaP

 

I'm calling it a night but before I do I want to wish you and you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Seems to me you live it year round.  Thanks for the excellent conversation.

We ain't finished yet, I go from The Trombones to Sunset Strip on 28th.