Christmas 1972. My mother and I lived at my grandparents’, and my grandad had had a stroke.
I wanted Father Christmas to bring me a castle for Christmas.
I did not realise this was essentially asking my cash-strapped mother for an extra and expensive gift. But Father Christmas delivered the castle, and it was waiting in the morning. Working portcullis. Raised ramparts. Perfect. We lived next door to an old Scottish carpenter with bad eyesight, and budgies. “Go next door and thank Mr Archer for making your castle,” said my grandad. “I thought Father Christmas made it?” I said.
My grandad hastily concocted a cover. “He did. But Mr Archer helped him with it.” I was only four, but I realised that if there was a Father Christmas, he wouldn’t be subcontracting castles to Scottish carpenters. He had elves for that. Ever since, I’ve been an atheist sceptic, but I never lacked a sense of wonder.
What is more inspiring, the flying sled gift man and the barn-born baby, or the retired carpenter, knocking together a handmade castle for the boy of the divorcee next door?
Last Christmas I unboxed it, and gave it to my son.
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Brighton Argus
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Guest1001, Youtube
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Stuart, Chortle
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Bosco239, youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log