Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! - Christmas 2020 - The Richmond ...

The regular newsletter for The Richmond Charities Almshouses
 Christmas 2020

Merry Christmas and
 a Happy New Year!

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Contents

Contents Juliet Ames-Lewis
Letter from the Chief Executive 2 Chief Executive
Age UK Writing competition 4 Letter from Juliet
Christmas Night poem 5
 Dear All,
A BIG Thank You 6-7
 Welcome to your
Carol Singing 8-9 final Almshouse
 News of 2020!
Staff Christmas Favourites 10-11 I’m sure we’ll all be glad to see the
 back of this year and we look forward
Jokes & Memes 12-13 to 2021 being an improvement.
 Usually we produce 4 editions of the
Cartoons 14 Almshouse News each year. In 2020
 we have produced 21 editions! I want
Norman’s Christmas Quiz 15 to thank and pay tribute to Chantal
 Richards who has put in an immense
Jokes & Memes 16-17
 amount of time and effort working on
Crossword 18-19 the Almshouse News, and also I want
 to thank all those residents, staff,
Sports Quiz 2020 20-21 trustees and friends of the charity who
 have contributed. Please keep your
Anagrams 22 contributions coming!

Christmas Snowball recipes 23 In this final edition of the year, there
 are some other groups of people to
Cartoon 24 thank as well.

Celebrity Quiz 25
 Firstly, thank you to you, our
Answer page 26 residents, the core of our community.
 When we first got an inkling in
Wordsearch 27 February of what might lie ahead, my
 biggest concern was for our residents
Poetry Corner 28 and our community. And though it has
 undoubtedly been very hard, keeping

 2

Letter from Chief Executive - ALMSHOUSE NEWS
apart in order to keep us all safe, we they stopped for doorstep chats and
have stayed strong and for that, a big got to know some of you. I’d like
thank you to you all. Thank you for to say a huge thank you to all our
your forbearance, your perseverance shoppers – we couldn’t have provided
and your patience, and for working the level of support that we did without
with us to keep our community safe them.
and virus free. You have looked out
for each, helped each other, and new Finally, my thanks are for my fabulous
friendships have developed in the staff team. They have all risen to
face of adversity. And despite Covid the challenges this year and I am
and lockdown, we have welcomed so proud that we have been able to
into our community 25 new residents provide the usual, if not an increased
this year – 17 to existing almshouse level of support for our residents
estates and 8 to our new almshouses even while we have had to work from
at Wright’s Almshouses. We are home. I am privileged to work with
absolutely delighted that we have such a committed, enthusiastic and
been able to expand our number dedicated team.
of almshouses further, and we are
working on other potential new May I wish you all a happy and
developments too. peaceful Christmas and here’s to
 2021! With my very best wishes,
My next thank you is to our Trustees
who have worked so hard this year
behind the scenes, supporting the
charity and helping steer our path
through the Covid crisis. I’d like
particularly to thank our Chair, Peter,
who has been a huge support.

Some Trustees also joined our
army of shoppers but there were
many other volunteer shoppers who

 Credits
readily gave of their time to shop
for residents, queueing tirelessly in
the supermarkets and searching the
aisles for quirky requests. Not only Editor: Juliet Ames-Lewis
did they shop for so many residents, Design: Chantal Richards
but when they delivered the shopping

 3

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Writing Competition
Winter Writing Challenge Competition
 by Gennie Thompson

 AGE UK Richmond
 Winter Writing Challenge
 Competion:

Age UK is inviting people to take part
in their winter writing competition, the Prizes:
prompt is ‘A memorable moment, event There will be one overall winner –
or day’ inspired by a happening in your Trustee Chair’s Choice prize.
own life. The other prizes will be awarded
 randomly.
-The only restriction is the 800 word Any entry they receive qualifies for a
limit. chance to win one of the prizes.

-The closing date is midnight on Age UK want to publish your writing on
Sunday 14th February 2021 their website. All entries received will
 be considered for publication on the
-Entries are accepted either : website so all can enjoy reading your
 stories and not just the judges.
-via post to Marie Therese Keegan,
Twickenham Wellbeing Centre, Arragon Prizes include:
Road, TW1 3NH -Afternoon tea at the Wharf,
 -book tokens,
-or email (in pdf or word format) -entrance to Strawberry Hill House and
mt.keegan@ageukrichmond.org.uk. Turner’s House.

 4

Poetry & Illustration - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

Christmas Night
Written and illustrated by Suszie Vignoles

 A fox barks on the hillside, watching the fields below,
 The countryside is sleeping, blanketed in snow.

 Pinpricks of light from millions of stars speckle the velvet night.
 Frosted leaves on the brambles are held in winter’s bite.

 And the wildlife of the woodland shelter in burrow or nest.
 Sleeping dormice and moles underground are taking a wintry rest.

 All of nature seems to be waiting for the unfolding Christmas Story.
 When the music of angels spreads over the earth,
 Telling of God’s glory

 And animals watched and waited then in a lowly cattle shed.
 For the birth of God’s baby son in the straw of a manger bed.

 5

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Thank You

A BIG Thank You to this Year’s Contributors
 by Chantal Richards If you would like to be a future contributor
 please do get in touch. Please talk to
 Just over a year ago, your scheme manager.
 Juliet Ames-Lewis

 Thank you to:
 asked me to take on the
quarterly task of producing a ‘new look’
Almshouse News magazine. Instead
of four issues this year - we have Thank you to all the staff and trustees.
produced a staggering TWENTY ONE
issues of Almshouse News!! Special thanks to Nigel Davis and his
 late wife, Emma Davis; Mindy Burrows
Obviously we had no idea that Covid-19 (lockdown shopper); Michael Hobbs;
would upturn all events this year, Heather Keeler and Gail Sullivan.
and like so many my career, as a
photographer and designer, took on a And thank you, too, to all these residents.
whole new dimension this year. Usually
I am buzzing around you taking photos
and reporting on events. Instead, I have
been designing these pages, devising
quizzes, creating wordsearches and
crosswords. I have managed to tuck in
a few social distanced interviews and Suszie Vignoles
a couple of events using my very long
camera lens! But most of all, I have
missed visiting your community this
year.
 Norman Bramfitt
In a year, unlike any other, that has
been unpredictable to say the least, we
hope that these pages have given you
time for thought, puzzles to ponder and
inspiring content.
 Gordon Bliss

 6

Thank You - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

Irene Donovan Poppy Hillman

David Thomas Sylvia Ridout

Lena Warboys Sheila Walker

Margaret Goddard Lorna South

Leslie Cook Pat Platt

Maggie Davidson Lissa Good

Jean Newport Barbara Costanzo

 7

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Carol Singing

Carol Singing
 by Stuart Lee It was a pleasure to see some familiar
 young faces and residents braved
 Earlier in December a chilly, grey afternoon on their
 it was a pleasure to doorsteps to welcome the children.
 welcome two groups of One group of children was delighted
 children from Marshgate by the calm attentiveness of Ruby the
Primary School, which sits just across cat who appeared to be transfixed by
the road from Hickey’s Almshouses. the singing!

They came to sing some traditional
Christmas carols and introduce us
to some newer, seasonal music.
The two groups made their way
around Hickey’s and Church Estates,
accompanied in places by young
clarinet and violin players.

The visit was inspired by the shared
project between Marshgate School
and the almshouse community, where
we brought children and residents
together over the period of a year to
grow friendships and to learn from one
another.

Smriti Prasadam-Halls, a relative of
one of our residents and currently
writer-in-residence at BookTrust,
helped organise the visit, mindful of
the difficulties of different generations
coming together over this Christmas
period.

 8

Carol Singing - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

Carol Singing

 9

ALMSHOUSE
 ALMSHOUSENEWS
 NEWS- Christmas
 - Competition
 Favourites

Staff Christmas Favourites!
With so many delicious goodies and plenty of festive entertainment to
choose from at Christmas - we did a quick poll on the staff favourites.

Gennie Thompson James Dorey
 My Favourite Christmas... My Favourite
 Song: Winter Wonderland Christmas...
 by Michael Buble Song: Merry Christmas
 Film: A Christmas Carol Everyone – Shakin
 Carol: Joy to the World Stevens
 Food: Mince pies Film: Trading Places
Drink: Mulled cider Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful
 Food: Christmas lunch

Claire Sanecka
 My Favourite Christmas... Lorraine Bradley
 Song: Do they Know it’s My Favourite
 Christmas - Band Aid 1984 Christmas...
 Film: Home Alone Song: White Christmas
 Carol: We Wish You a Film: It’s a Wonderful
 Merry Christmas Life
Food: Homemade vol au vents with Carol: Silent Night
prawn cocktail Food: Warm mince pies & cream
Drink: Snow-ball cocktail & a cherry on Drink: Baileys Original
top

 Debbie Flaherty
Joanne Davison My Favourite Christmas..
 My Favourite Christmas... Song: Let it Snow
 Song: Do They Know it’s Film: Love Actually
 Christmas- Band Aid Carol: Good King
 Film: Elf Wenceslas
 Carol: Silent Night Food: Pigs in Blankets
 Food: Mince Pies Drink: Aperol Spritz
Drink: Prosecco

 10

Christmas Favourites - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

Gerry Wilson Juliet Ames-Lewis
 My Favourite Christmas...
 Song: Santa Baby by My Favourite Christmas..
 Eartha Kitt Song: Do they know it’s
 Film: Below Zero— Christmas? – Band Aid
 Laurel & Hardy Film: Love Actually
 Carol: Stille Nacht Carol: See Amid The Winter’s Snow
Food: Whatever my wife cooks Food: Pigs in blankets
Drink: The one over the eight Drink: Mulled wine

 Mick Tinson
Linda Prendergast My Favourite Christmas...
 My Favourite Christmas.. Song: Fairytale of New
 Song: I Wish It Could Be York by The Pogues
 Christmas by Wizzard Film: National
 Film: It’s A Wonderful Lampoon’s Christmas
 Life. Vacation
 Carol: Mary, Did You Carol: Joy to the World
Know by Pentatonix Food: Sprouts
Food: Scottish Clootie Dumpling Drink: Black Forest Hot Chocolate
Drink: Peach Schnapps with lemonade
…with a nice glass of rose as a chaser Most popular are:

 Song: Do they know it’s Christmas? –
 Band Aid
Alison McAlear
 Film: Love Actually & It’s A Wonderful
 My Favourite Christmas...
 LIfe
 Song: Jingle Bells
 Film: Scrooge The
 Carol: Silent Night
 Musical with Albert Finny
 Carol: Silent Night
 Food: Mince Pies
Food: Turkey
Drink: Champagne
 Drink: Mulled wine / cider

 11

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Jokes & Memes

Jokes & Memes!
 is it b e s t to think of 2020 Why are Santa’s
 reindeer allowed
Wh y travel on Christm to
 as Eve?
like a panto? y, it’s behind They have herd
Becau s e e v e n tu a ll immunity. 
 you. 
 s
 Why couldn’t Ma t p r o d u ction wa
 ry and Joseph hear tha rkshop?
 join their work co Did you nta’s wo to Elf
 nference call? n a t S a a v e h a d
 Because there w dow w orkers h
 as no Zoom at o f h is
 the inn. Many
 isolate! 
 Why can’t
 Boris Joh
 his Christ nson mak
 e Tr u m ps do for mas cake
 until the la
 e
 th minute?
 What do st
 C h r is t m a s dinner? spread.
 a super
 He doesn
 ’t know ho
 o n it should h w many tie
 They p u t ave. rs

 Which Christmas Joseph
 film was 30 a r y a n d
 ’t M
 years ahead of it Why didn
 Alone. s time? Home
 make it t o B e t hlehem?
 s w e r e c a ncelled. 
 flight
 All Virgin

 How do y
 C u m m ings’ ou play D
 ominic
 Dominic Cumming
What is s song? s Monopo
favourite
 C h r is t
 f
 m
 o r
 a
 C h r istmas. Ignore the
 anywhere
 rules, mo
 ly?
 ve
 ome
 Driving H and neve
 on the bo
 ard you lik
 r Go To Ja
 il. e,

 12

Jokes & Memes - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

 13

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Cartoons

14

Christmas Quiz - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

Christmas Quiz by Norman Bramfitt
1. In Dickens A Christmas Carol, 6. In a 1992 Christmas
what is the name of tiny Tim’s father? advert for an item now
 defunct, what did a young boy stand
2. Mary’s Boy Child was a Christmas on to make him tall enough to kiss a
UK number one hit for two artists. In girl under the mistletoe?
1957 and 1978 - Which artists?
 7. Which pop group had a big UK
3.Widow Twankey is a pantomime hits in the 60’s with Jennifer Eccles,
dame from which pantomime? Carrie Anne and The Air that I
 Breathe?

 8. The following lines come from
 which Christmas song? In the
 meadow we can build a snowman?

 9. Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie
 Reynolds and Virginia Dale all
 starred in which Christmas movie?

 10. ‘Cast out our sin and enter in’ are
 lines from which carol song?

Ian McKellan as Widow Twankey in 2004

4. What is the next line after ‘Twas
 Tiny Tim and
the night before Christmas, when all
 his Father in
through the house’? A Christmas
 Carol
5. Which two books of the bible
describe the birth of Jesus?
 Answers on page 26.

 15

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Jokes & Memes

Jokes & Memes!

16

Jokes & Memes - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

 Which G
 ir a t e s h ave to go supports
 overnme
 nt s
 the p Christma cheme
 Why did Eat Spro s
 lo c k down? rate had ut To He dinner?
 in t o
 Because
 the “ A r r r r ! ” lp Out. 
 risen. 
Why won’t Santa lose any
presents this year? c a n y o u g e t o u t of talking
 How
He’s downloaded Sack and y o u r b o s s a t th is year’s staff
 to
Trace. Christmas party?
 
 .
 Put him on mute

 n d e m ic like my
 e pa
How is th er Christmas? How does Santa
 keep track of all
stomach
 aft
 t e n t h e curve. the fireplaces he
 es to fla t ’s visited?
 e a g
It’ll
 
 t a k He keeps a logb
 ook. 
How is Prince Andrew
 coping with
the stresses of Christm d re s s e s in re d and gives
 as this Who
year? h il d re n th is Christmas?
Fine. No sweat. to th e c
 Marcus Rash
 ford. 
 Why
 allowed d
 u d o lp h trave id Mary a
 n’t R lt n
Why was in vaccine trials? ea Beca o Bethleh d Joseph
 art uin hom use they em? have
to take p ey only wanted g e de to
 Because
 th livery couldn’t
 pigs. . book
 a

 17

Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ___________________

 Christmas 2020 Crossword

 18
 1

 2

 3

 4

 5 6

 7 8

 9

 10

 11 12 13 14

 15

 16 17
 ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Crossword

 18
 Christmas Crossword 2020

 19 20 21 22

 23

 24

 25 26

 27

 28 29

Across Down
 Answers on page 26.
2. King Wenceslas looked out of his window on the Feast of Stephen (Boxing Day). Which 1. What is “roasting on an open fire” in the famous Christmas song?
country was Wenceslas king of? 3. What would you traditionally find under the icing of a Christmas cake?
4. A Bellini is flavoured with which fruit? 5. Alphabetically, which of Santa's reindeer comes first?
7. Which plant has bright red and green leaves and is sometimes known as the Christmas 6. How many Drummers Drummed?
Flower? 9. Which animal carried Mary before she gave birth to Jesus?

Crossword - ALMSHOUSE NEWS
Across popular Christmas dessert 6. How many Drummers
2. King Wenceslas looked panettone originate from? Drummed?
out of his window on the
Feast of Stephen (Boxing 23. Which US President 9. Which animal carried
Day). Which country was made a cameo appearance Mary before she gave birth
Wenceslas king of? in Home Alone 2: Lost in to Jesus?
 New York?
4. A Bellini is flavoured with 10. What country is
which fruit? 25. What is traditionally Lapland, Father Christmas’
 hidden inside a Christmas home located in?
7. Which plant has bright pudding?
red and green leaves and 13. Which country did
is sometimes known as the 26. Butter is traditionally eggnog originate?
Christmas Flower? mixed with which spirit to
 make Christmas pudding? 14. Which country annually
8. What is a female turkey sends a Christmas tree
called? 27. What stick would you to be erected in London’s
 put into a mulled wine? Trafalgar Square?
11. Which iconic Scottish
poet wrote ‘Auld Lang Syne’ 28. Which wordless 15. Who had a festive
 children’s picture book by number one with Lonely
12. Cliff Richard had his Raymond Briggs was first This Christmas?
12th number one hit with published in 1978?
his sing-along Christmas 18. What does George
classic Mistletoe and what? 29. In which country is it promise to give Mary in It’s
 tradition to eat KFC for a Wonderful Life?
16. How many ghosts Christmas dinner?
appear in A Christmas 20. What is your star sign if
Carol? Down you are born on Christmas
 1. What is “roasting on an Day?
17. Traditionally, which way open fire” in the famous
should mincemeat only be Christmas song? 22. Which country
stirred to bring good luck? traditionally plays the
 3. What would you Boxing Day Test Match
19. In what classic novel traditionally find under the every year?
does the protagonist set sail icing of a Christmas cake?
for a sea voyage on a cold 24. The Australian external
Christmas day? 5. Alphabetically, which of territory of Christmas Island
 Santa’s reindeer comes is in which ocean?
21. Which country does the first?

 19

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Quiz

Sports Quiz 2020
1. How many times has Rafael Nadal
won the French Open?
A. 12
B. 16
C. 8

2. Which team has won more trophies

 Jade Jones
since the first Ryder Cup golf tournament
in 1927 – USA or Great Britain/Europe?
A. USA
B. Great Britian / Europe
 5. Which England footballer was
3. Where is the next (2021) Olympic famously never given a yellow card?
Games set to take place? A. George Best
A. Paris B. Gary Lineker
B. Tokyo C. David Beckham
C. Milan
 6. Jade Jones took home gold for Team
4. Which sport do the New York Knicks GB in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
play? Which sport does she compete in?
A. American Football A. Judo
B. Baseball B. Taekwondo
C. Basketball C. Karate

 7. Which of these is not a real sport:
 A. footgolf
 B. chess boxing
 C. hand rounders

 8. How many balls in total are there
 Rafael Nadal

 on the table at the start of a game of
 snooker?
 A. 22
 B. 21
 C. 19

 20

Quiz - ALMSHOUSE NEWS
9. Which sport will feature at the
Olympics for the first time in 2024?
A. Squash
B. Break dancing

 Mick Schumacher
C. Ten-pin Bowling

10. James Dasaolu ran 100 metres in
9.91 seconds a few years ago, making
him the second fastest Briton of all
time after Linford Christie. Dasaolu will
be competing at a World Cup event in
Austria this month – in which sport? 12. Mick Schumacher will make his
A. Weightlifting Formula One debut next season for the
B. Bobsleigh American team Haas. Which team did
C. Skateboarding his father represent in his first grand
 prix in 1991?
 A. Ferrari
 B. Jordan
 C. Mercedes

 13. Who is the captain of the England
 rugby union team?
 A. Andy Farrell
 Tyson Fury

 B. Owen Farrell
 C. George Ford

 14. One of the very best bowlers of his
 generation, Stuart Broad celebrated
11. Tyson Fury says he does not want to
 which birthday in June 2020?
win the BBC’s Sports Personality award.
 A. 34
Given that he is up against seven-time
 B. 29
world champion Lewis Hamilton, he’s
 C. 25
unlikely to win it anyway. Although boxers
have done well in the award over the Sports Personality of the Year 2020
years. Which fighter even won it twice? is on Sunday, 20 December at 7pm.
A. Henry Cooper Nominees are: Stuart Broad (cricket),
B. Lennox Lewis Hollie Doyle (horse racing), Tyson Fury
C. Barry McGuigan (boxing), Lewis Hamilton (Formula
 1), Jordan Henderson (football), and
 Ronnie O’Sullivan (snooker).

 21
 Answers on page 26.

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Anagrams

Christmas Anagrams by Norman Bramfitt

Miss Chatterer _________________

Wolf Snakes___________________

Yeti Dual _____________________

Totems Live___________________

Co Ordinates __________________

Station Pie____________________

Starfish
Rematch_____________________

Tossing Eagerness______________

Boot Gang ____________________

Ole Ugly _____________________

Answers on page 26.

 22

Recipes - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

Christmas Snowball Recipes

 by Gennie Thompson

 by Lorraine No-Bake, Speedy ‘n’
 Bradley Simple Snowballs
 Classic Ingredients:
 Snowball -shredded/ desiccated coconut (1 and 1⁄4
 cups),
 -almond flour (1/3 cup)
Ingredients:
 -maple / agave syrup (1/4 cup)
-10-15ml lime juice or lime
cordial, (optional)
-50ml advocaat Method:
-50ml sparkling lemonade I love these delicious snowballs and I love more
-ice, to serve that they are ready in 15 minutes with minimum
For the garnish effort and washing up after!
-1 maraschino cherry • Add all ingredients to a bowl or for best results
 use a food processor and blend until well
 combined and you have made a sticky paste.
Method:
 • Fashion the mix into balls – I usually make
Fill a glass with ice and if
 around 10 – 12 with this amount.
using, add up to 15ml of lime
 • Roll the balls into some shredded coconut so
juice or lime cordial (or to your
 this covers the outside for the snowball effect.
taste). Pour the advocaat and
lemonade over the ice and stir
gently until the outside of the • Store them in a sealed container in your fridge
glass feels cold.Garnish with for up to a week.
the maraschino cherry.

 23

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Cartoon

24

Picture Quiz - ALMSHOUSE NEWS
Famous Celebrities Who Died
This Year Quiz

 1. 4. 7.

 2. 5. 8.

 3.
 6. 9.

 Answers on page 26.
 25

ALMSHOUSE NEWS - Answer Page
Page 15. Christmas Quiz by Norman Bramfitt. 1. Bob Cratchett. 2. 1957 - Harry
Belafonte & 1978 - Boney M. 3. Aladdin (his mother). 4. ‘Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse’. 5. Luke and Matthew. 6. Yellow Pages. 7. The Hollies. 8. Winter
Wonderland. 9. Holiday Inn. 10. O Little Town of Bethlehem.
 Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ___________________

 Christmas 2020 Crossword
 1
 C
 2
 B O H E M I A

 E
 3
 M S
 4
 P E A C H T
 5 6
 R N B T

 Z U L W
 7 8
 P O I N S E T T I A H E N
 9
 P S T L D
 10
 A Z F V O
 11 12 13 14
 B U R N S E W I N E B N N
 15
 M N N R K O
 16 17
 F O U R C L O C K W I S E R
 18
 D M A T Y W

 O N A A
 19 20 21 22
 M O B Y D I C K I T A L Y

 N A N U
 23
 T R U M P S
 24
 I R T
 25 26
 N C O I N B R A N D Y

 D C A
 27
 C I N N A M O N L

 A R I
 28 29
 S N O W M A N J A P A N

 Across Down

 Page 20. Sports Quiz Page 27. Famous Celebrities Who Died This Year Quiz.
 2. King Wenceslas looked out of his window on the Feast of Stephen (Boxing Day). Which 1. What is “roasting on an open fire” in the famous Christmas song?
 country was Wenceslas king of? 3. What would you traditionally find under the icing of a Christmas cake?
 4. A Bellini is flavoured with which fruit? 5. Alphabetically, which of Santa's reindeer comes first?

 2020. Flower?
 1. Sean Connery. 2. Bobby Ball. 3. Jonny Nash. 4. Nobby
 7. Which plant has bright red and green leaves and is sometimes known as the Christmas 6. How many Drummers Drummed?
 9. Which animal carried Mary before she gave birth to Jesus?

 1. A-12.
 8. What is a female turkey called?
 11. Which iconic Scottish poet wrote ‘Auld Lang Syne’
 Stiles. 5. John Sessions. 6. Frank Bough. 7. Barbara
 10. What country is Lapland, Father Christmas’, home located in?
 13. Which country did eggnog originate?

 2. A - USA (26).
 Mistletoe and what? Windsor. 8. Geoffrey Palmer. 9. Des O’Connor.
 12. Cliff Richard had his 12th number one hit with his sing-along Christmas classic 14. Which country annually sends a Christmas tree to be erected in London’s Trafalgar
 Square?

 3. B 16. How many ghosts appear in A Christmas Carol?
 17. Traditionally, which way should mincemeat only be stirred to bring good luck?
 15. Who had a festive number one with Lonely This Christmas?
 18. What does George promise to give Mary in It’s a Wonderful Life?

 4. C 19. In what classic novel does the protagonist set sail for a sea voyage on a cold Christmas 20. What is your star sign if you are born on Christmas Day?
 day
 Page 22. Anagrams 22. Which country traditionally plays the Boxing Day Test Match every year?

 5. B
 21. Which country does the popular Christmas dessert panettone originate from? 24. The Australian external territory of Christmas Island is in which ocean?
 23. Which US President made a cameo appearance in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York?

 6. B
 25. What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding?

 1. Christmas Tree 6. Poinsettia
 26. Butter is traditionally mixed with which spirit to make Christmas pudding?

 7. C
 27. What stick would you put into a mulled wine?
 28. Which wordless children's picture book by Raymond Briggs was first published in 1978?

 8. A
 29. In which country is it tradition to eat KFC for Christmas dinner?

 9. B 2. Snowflakes 7. Father Christmas
 10. B
 11. A 3. Yuletide 8. Season’s Greetings
 12. B
 13. B 4. Mistletoe 9. Toboggan
 14. B
 15. A 5. Decorations 10. Yule Log

 26

____________________________________ Wordsearch - ALMSHOUSE NEWS
 Date: _________

 Wordsearch: 2020 Buzzwords
 Christmas Wordsearch 2020
 U T N O R V M H M G Y X T J X K K X O M R Y P S
 A W A F R E C Z D R V O S B H S V I V G D B J I
 F A X Q J Y L V O N P F P S L U B C Q B R Z O C
 U W O V F Y T K Y A D E V D E R O S U J H E Z Z
 G O V D Z L S H B D G C O D E N Y J T D A J L M
 O Z O D P F O Y R S R H W A N H D L Q B I D Q K
 R B R K F T O Y D S U O D E S A N I T I S E R D
 I Y J V X W Z H D X W S R P H M D A T T A M S S
 J B Y H Z F C F U K O Y S Y V O T V U C R G E L
 D Q U B L K V A J S P F K E J X Z U H G U U R K
 A N O D A R A M L B O L C E V Q V T B L D W M I
 K L L X G R T O F I V Z T X T I C K F J Y I Q P
 X R Z G D H V J G I F N M Y B J L F J M K N P K
 N M A F D J X R R R O A K T P A N K O X L H N A
 A O S I G W A X F A C E M A S K M Q C X D I H V
 B Z I H C G J O E Z L C P N H L N G J A L C F Z
 L B E T F E S W N I B L J R F D C B D O L J L Z
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Poetry Corner - ALMSHOUSE NEWS

Poetry Corner A poem by ee cummings

 little tree
 by Nigel Davis
 little silent Christmas tree
 you are so little
 For adults,
 you are more like a flower
 Christmas can
 mean many
things – the stress of preparing who found you in the green forest
Christmas lunch, the frenzy and were you very sorry to come away?
of present giving, the chance see I will comfort you
of eating and drinking too because you smell so sweetly
much, the family reunions,
the loneliness, the stay of
 i will kiss your cool bark
the mother-in-law, whatever.
 and hug you safe and tight
For not that many people, I
guess, does the real reason
 just as your mother would,
for celebrating Christmas only don’t be afraid
nowadays feature that much.
But underneath it all, don’t we look the spangles
at least respond to the sense of that sleep all the year in a dark box
wonder and excitement of little dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
children at Christmas? the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy
 threads,
This peach of a poem by the
American poet E.E. Cummings put up your little arms
– a favourite poet of mine
 and i’ll give them all to you to hold
– seems to me to convey
 every finger shall have its ring
so much. The young child
identifies with the Christmas and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy
tree as a living person – ripped
up from its home in the woods, then when you’re quite dressed
alone, abandoned, neglected, you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see and
unclothed. But by her adorning how they’ll stare!
the “little tree” with lights oh but you’ll be very proud
and decorations, by loving
it and cherishing it, the little
 and my little sister and i will take hands
Christmas tree becomes not
just cared for but wonderful. and looking up at our beautiful tree
And so Christmas becomes we’ll dance and sing
wonderful. “Noel Noel”

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