The Christmas Thread

I wonder will Machine Nation get a visit from Santa?

But of course

Some charities you may consider donating to on your own or another's behalf this Christmas:

Overseas & Developmental
Bóthar
Oxfam
SUAS
Concern
GOAL
Unicef

Faith Based Overseas & Developmental
Trócaire
Fields Of Life
Habitat for Humanity
Tearfund
Christian Aid
Samirtans Purse

Domestic Based Charities
Focus Ireland
ISPCA
Barnardos
The National Children's Hospital
The Simon Community

Faith Based Domestic Charities
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Salvation Army Homeless Centres

Someone was on the radio saying that refugees in Direct Provision accommodation have an awful job getting internet access that they need for trying to trace family and for getting information and services.

I was thinking of trying to do something about that.

That certainly sounds like a very big problem for people in that position. I wonder what the best way of doing something about it would be. By Direct Provision Accommodation are we referring to privately owned hostel type accommodation which is paid for by the State?

cactus flower wrote:

I wonder will Machine Nation get a visit from Santa?

Hopefully anyway.


http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/santas-sleigh.htm/printable

johnfás wrote:

Squire wrote:

Christmas can be a very lonely time for many.

Similarly, as you allude to, Christmas can be incredibly lonely for people on their own and that applies to a huge cross section of society from older people to young people away from home and everything in between.

The lonely you can't do much about unless you know them and then perhaps make a point of including them in some way or offer to do so. If you have elderly or frail neighbours find an excuse to drop in before Christmas and see if they are all right and have what they need. It can be hard for the frail to get about at this time of year and the cold is cruel.

Indeed, we really do have a responsibility to do as such.

We're trying to encourage lots of people to come and celebrate Christmas with us at our Church this Christmas. We're distributing several thousand of these to our local area - they're great .

johnfás wrote:

That certainly sounds like a very big problem for people in that position. I wonder what the best way of doing something about it would be. By Direct Provision Accommodation are we referring to privately owned hostel type accommodation which is paid for by the State?

Yes - they basically get accommodation often in the middle of nowhere and a tiny amount of money. It would be a question of a computer and broadband access. I have a good enough computer here - I expect a lot of people have decent older ones that would do.

Do you know of any organisation which is already provided advocacy and support in addressing this issue on behalf of refugees? The best port of call is probably to first get in touch with the bodies that already have the infrastructure in place to provide this sort of support rather than attempting to provide a similar, albeit different, service in parallel.

johnfás wrote:

Do you know of any organisation which is already provided advocacy and support in addressing this issue on behalf of refugees? The best port of call is probably to first get in touch with the bodies that already have the infrastructure in place to provide this sort of support rather than attempting to provide a similar, albeit different, service in parallel.

Well, we have locally supported sports organisations for refugees and provided a coach for them to go to a tournament and so on, so there are contacts. A lot of what is done is ad hoc.

Would a local national school, with a computer room, be able to hand over the use its facility outside of school hours? You could put that facility and the bus transportation together. Beyond that perhaps a local church or community hall would be prepared to host donated equipment. It could be mutually beneficial for them and for the people who need it. At our Church we host many different community groups that have no further relationship with our congregation than the use of our hall. It is part of our mission to serve the Community.

johnfás wrote:

Would a local national school, with a computer room, be able to hand over the use its facility outside of school hours? You could put that facility and the bus transportation together. Beyond that perhaps a local church or community hall would be prepared to host donated equipment. It could be mutually beneficial for them and for the people who need it. At our Church we host many different community groups that have no further relationship with our congregation than the use of our hall. It is part of our mission to serve the Community.

Internet access would be a nice thing in a Church hall, for elderly people too who might want help to send and receive emails to family abroad. I try to get older people I know hooked up on the internet - some love it but others need a bit of support.

cactus flower wrote:

I wonder will Machine Nation get a visit from Santa?

Post your letters/and requests here:

Aragon wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

I wonder will Machine Nation get a visit from Santa?

Post your letters/and requests here:

Dear Santa,

Will you do all my Christmas shopping for me, I really can't be arsed.

Won't be leaving any mince pies out, mice you see...

Forlornly hoping,

toxic avenger (aged 32 and a half).

Is that what this thread is for ?! I've already written to Santa asking him to bring theBear back but I don't know .. I'm considering asking him to bring back the Celtic Tiger instead.



Only joking.

toxic avenger wrote:

Aragon wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

I wonder will Machine Nation get a visit from Santa?

Post your letters/and requests here:

Dear Santa,

Will you do all my Christmas shopping for me, I really can't be arsed.

Won't be leaving any mince pies out, mice you see...

Forlornly hoping,

toxic avenger (aged 32 and a half).

Bag of coal for you...you lazy bollex. From the top ...

hey evm - that smilie of yours has blue teeth

check out the moon if you're not in bed - it's amazingly bright down here in Clare anyway. It's like a summer's dawn ! I wonder if there would be a similar amount of light on a moon of Saturn or Jupiter.

I just nipped out the back yard there and it's all very bright anyway

Auditor #9 wrote:

hey evm - that smilie of yours has blue teeth

check out the moon if you're not in bed - it's amazingly bright down here in Clare anyway. It's like a summer's dawn ! I wonder if there would be a similar amount of light on a moon of Saturn or Jupiter.

I just nipped out the back yard there and it's all very bright anyway

Saw it earlier, the back garden was lit up amazingly brightly. It's the closest distance a full moon has been in 15 years or so, so the size is quite a bit bigger relative to the sky than it usually is, though it's hard to distinguish with the naked eye (glare kind of cancels out the effect).

toxic avenger wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

hey evm - that smilie of yours has blue teeth

check out the moon if you're not in bed - it's amazingly bright down here in Clare anyway. It's like a summer's dawn ! I wonder if there would be a similar amount of light on a moon of Saturn or Jupiter.

I just nipped out the back yard there and it's all very bright anyway

Saw it earlier, the back garden was lit up amazingly brightly. It's the closest distance a full moon has been in 15 years or so, so the size is quite a bit bigger relative to the sky than it usually is, though it's hard to distinguish with the naked eye (glare kind of cancels out the effect).

Yes ! as yehbut_nobut let us know earlier
https://machinenation.forumakers.com/the-natural-world-the-environment-f55/full-moon-rising-t1552-25.htm#52519

Is that why we all can't go to sleep I was amazed at how bright it was though - like morning at half two in the middle of winter. Totally weird looking. Clear enough sky too.

Auditor #9 wrote:

toxic avenger wrote:

Auditor #9 wrote:

hey evm - that smilie of yours has blue teeth

check out the moon if you're not in bed - it's amazingly bright down here in Clare anyway. It's like a summer's dawn ! I wonder if there would be a similar amount of light on a moon of Saturn or Jupiter.

I just nipped out the back yard there and it's all very bright anyway

Saw it earlier, the back garden was lit up amazingly brightly. It's the closest distance a full moon has been in 15 years or so, so the size is quite a bit bigger relative to the sky than it usually is, though it's hard to distinguish with the naked eye (glare kind of cancels out the effect).

Yes ! as yehbut_nobut let us know earlier
https://machinenation.forumakers.com/the-natural-world-the-environment-f55/full-moon-rising-t1552-25.htm#52519

Is that why we all can't go to sleep I was amazed at how bright it was though - like morning at half two in the middle of winter. Totally weird looking. Clear enough sky too.

Ah, missed the thread...
I'm going up the stairs to bedfordshire now in a minute, once I've finished combing the back of my hands...

So thats why I havent been able to got to sleep after a few beers.

Well the last lunatic here is checking out.

Good Nite!

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

This is Nigella's recipe and these are compulsive. If you've never baked, bake these. Scrumptious.

Preheat fan oven to 180.

In a bowl measure out 140g plain flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 75g rolled oats (porridge oats).

In another bowl, beat 125g soft, unsalted butter, 75g dark brown sugar and 100 caster sugar. When creamy, beat in an egg and some vanilla extract (1/2 tsp).

Beat the dry ingredients into the wet and fold in the following 75g cranberries, 50g roughly chopped pecans (not too small), 140g white chocolate chips or chopped up bars (which is the most accessible and least expensive way to buy it in my part of the world, though the chopping is a pain).

Put the dough (which is rather tasty as it is) in the fridge for half an hour. When it's cold, roll out little balls (insofar as this is possible with chunks of chocolate and nuts) about the size of a decent sized meatball and place them on a baking tray. You can flatten them a little with a fork. You'll get 12 to a tray with room for expansion.

Bake for 15ish minutes. They'll still be soft when you take them, golden, from the oven, but don't lift them from the tray until they harden slightly after hitting the air. Cool them fully on a wire tray.

I make multiples of this dough - and it freezes really well, in little balls which you can later leave in the fridge overnight to defrost and then bake fresh to have on Christmas morning with hot chocolate when you come back from mass/the goal mile/visiting the grandparents for the Santa pressie procession.