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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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Herald Scotland.
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Spursguy, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, 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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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter