Places   (Help with places, streets and buildings in Wigan.)

Observations of Christmas 2023.

In my younger days, the anticipation of Christmas was so powerful. I’m not religious at all and what Christmas to me was Father Christmas, Playing in the snow, Snowmen and presents. No particular interest in the religious part of it.
I remember wanting a train set for Christmas and also not being too hopeful as money was so tight for my parents. It must have been so so hard to keep all 4 of us kids happy on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day came and yes, I did get my train set. I could see it was a well played with 2nd hand train set, but I loved that train set and was so happy. All my siblings were very happy with what they got too. You grow up later really appreciating more how hard it was for my parents, but you realise more how much you were loved.
The streets on Christmas Day were occupied by kids riding their new bikes or playing with their new footballs, skates, scooters and the like. Kids with new trainers/pumps on, possibly Annie Deeks New jumpers and clothing, that had to last.

Fast track to Christmas Day 2023.

I went to pick my Mother in Law up in Downall Green to bring her for Christmas dinner. As I drove
through the village I noticed there was no kids at all out on the streets which once was my playground. In fact no sign of anyone. I drove past The Blue Bell and there was no sign of life at all. As I went past I remembered how The Bell back then was full of people getting together to wish each other Happy Christmas and celebrate with a celebratory drink or two. Then watching as the girls band squeezed in and congregate d near the Christmas Tree to play Carols. Then it was back home when it closed for the afternoon for our Christmas dinner.
All that now a memory.
My wife said to me on Christmas Day how Christmas Day didn’t feel like Christmas Day used to do. She had also been seeing on social media, clips of parents around the Country, showing kids opening their presents and saying things like ‘’is that it?’’…’’ well those are crap’’…and actually throwing their gifts across the room.
Thing is they get too much and anything they want during the year. Christmas Day is just another day to those kids. We were excited in anticipation of the ‘Big Day’.

We enjoyed Christmas Day and it was all down to our parents showing us the way and growing up with likewise families who worked so hard. I’m so glad I don’t have to live my
childhood in this throw away age.

Happy Christmas.