Originally published on Photoblog by Gethin Thomas DECEMBER. 05, 2020
[122-365] 5th. December 2020- Why does everything seem to involve a bacon sandwich and a coffee these days. Oh, it's obviously just me.
Following on from yesterday's attempt to buy a Christmas Wreath we were more successful today, but we got slightly side-tracked by the fact that the local garden centre café has now reopened after lockdown, hence the requirement for bacon.
This raises a question about "substantial" meals and Covid transmission. Nobody has yet explained why in Tier Two in this area it is now perfectly safe to go to a garden centre and have a bacon sandwich and a coffee but not possible to go to a pub and have a bacon sandwich and a half of cider. This is because pubs have to provide "substantial" meals if they serve alcohol. One is going to kill people and the other isn't. Sorry, but they are starting to lose public support with rules like this.
It starts to look more like a moralising value system of alcohol restriction and social control and less like anything science based. But moving on from conspiracy theories.......
Wreaths are a strange concept when you think about it because as far I can see there are only two occasions that we generally use them. To celebrate birth at Christmas and to commemorate death at a funeral. That's quite a good all round product, you're never short of a sales opportunity. This seems to be because representing the circle of life they can be symbolic of both death and rebirth, that's two unique selling points right there. Who knew there was such a thing as double unique?
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a ring.
In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, most commonly as an Advent and Christmas decoration. They are also used in ceremonial events in many cultures around the globe. They can be worn as a chaplet around the head, or as a garland around the neck. Wreaths have much history and symbolism associated with them.
They are usually made from evergreens and symbolize strength, as evergreens last even throughout the harshest winters. (Wikipedia)
Now even growing up in a religious household I have to say Chaplet is a new one on me. Chaplet- A garland or circlet for the head. A form of Christian prayer which uses prayer beads. Chaplets are "personal devotionals." The chaplet is a special type of rosary in honour of the Trinity, of Jesus Christ, his Mother, of angels and of saints. Its purpose is to initiate or to revive a special devotion. Many chaplets can be recited with the ordinary rosary beads, others have their own number of beads and special format.
So that explains why it is a new one on me. It looks like a Catholic thing and we were Anglican. As my Dad used to describe "High Church" ceremony. "All bells and smells" a reference to incense waving I presume.
A commercial point of interest that arose in my wreath buying, which raises some questions. This wreath was £12.99 the wreath making kit was £30. This wreath has the added bonus that I don't have to make it although I was looking forward to doing that, but also it comes with a substantial reusable metal frame that I will keep and use next year to get a free wreath which I will have to make. The greenery will go in my green bin for composting and next years greenery will come out of the hedgerow up the lane so will provide a community pruning service at the same time, so I am also feeling quite smug that I have singlehandedly saved the planet today.
There is a funny advert on TV at the moment which not making my own wreath at home reminds me of. I am not actually sure now what it is advertising so that is a big fail for a start for the corporation that paid hundreds of thousands for it, but a man is explaining the plus points of "Home Yoga" which he has just got into. He says " The great thing about home yoga is that you don't have to pay and also that you don't have to do it."
I cannot for the life of me even contemplate what that would be advertising, but then most adverts are lost on me ever since they started cranking up the volume between programme breaks which has caused me to become very familiar with the mute button.
Advertisers, you should really find out the data on how many "viewers" of your ads have hit the mute button because they are too loud. We seem to be moving closer to the American style of TV advertising which on visits to the US seem to consist mainly of people shouting at you.
So we now have our solar powered fairy lights tucked into the ivy on the garden wall and our wreath hanging up. That is Christmas for this year done and dusted.
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