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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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Brighton Argus
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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John Robins, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk