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.
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Dan McCaid, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Spursguy, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Zoot Cadillac, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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John Robins, Comedian
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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XPIJONpsY, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Liam Travitt, Twitter