Archie Hume of A Hume Country Clothing shares his thoughts on Christmas using the titles and lyrics of 35 songs.
Snow is most definitely not falling all around, yet still, children are playing and having fun. I used to love a white Christmas almost as much as I love mistletoe and wine.
The winters of 2009-10 and 2010-11 tested me sorely though. I discovered the pleasure of bunking off to go sledging in a winter wonderland, isn’t quite the same when customers are calling frantically enquiring about their deliveries. So, these days I’ll settle for a really hard frost that causes the countryside to sparkle but doesn’t stop the cavalry.
2000 miles
As I write, many of you will be planning on driving home for Christmas, cars filled with presents; possibly a little something from Dubarry, or a shirt from RM Williams, maybe even tucking a sable (faux, of course), from Helen Moore under the tree. Wherever you’re travelling, we wish you a safe journey.
We don’t travel far, as Karen, my wife, and I spend the day in Kelso. Though sometimes it can get so busy round here through December that I wonder if I’ll be home for Christmas.
What Christmas means to me
Most of you, don’t start rockin’ around the Christmas tree until early December. But for me Christmas started way back in January, when I did the buying for Christmas 2018. Before I set out to visit Barbour, William Lockie and Schoffel, I thought about what you’d want for Christmas. All I want for Christmas is you to be happy with the A Hume collection. I made a list, I checked it twice and right about now Santa should be loading it onto his sleigh pulled by his trusty lead, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.
Despite the hard work I never tire of Christmas. Let’s face it, everyone’s a kid at Christmas time. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, I wish it could be Christmas every day.
When I was a little boy I used to lie in bed on Christmas Eve going through all the naughty things I’d done that year – pinching Fatty Gordon’s sweets (it wasn’t like he needed them), copying Swotty Dan’s maths homework (who needs maths? I don’t do the books around here) – was it enough to be struck off the list? Would I be the little boy that Santa Claus forgot?
One year I was awake for hours. It was a silent night and I lay listening for the reassuring sound of sleigh bells ringing. Wishing let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Even though I knew it was another mark in the naughty column, I snuck out of bed, crept downstairs and peeked through the door to see if my parents were still up. What I saw nearly knocked me off my feet – I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus! Jings, it would be a blue Christmas if Daddy ever found out.
Last Christmas
I had to deck the halls alone because Karen was so busy working. But joy to the world, twas the night before Christmas when work stopped. As the day came to a close, the phones fell quiet and I swear I could hear jingle bells.
This year, as ever I’m wishing for just a little bit of peace on earth and plenty of joy to the world. It won’t be long before Christmas – shh… listen – here comes Santa Claus. Think I should sign off now, then go enjoy some chestnuts roasting by an open fire.
But just one final word before I do – from all at A Hume, we wish you Merry Christmas. And all the best for 2019.
For the full list of 35 song titles visit www.ahume.co.uk/songlist-i72.
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