This year I finally unwrapped the very fine Christmas Sweater I was presented with last year. You may consider that my wearing such an item is a bit of a surprise, given my normal commitment to understated style, not to mention dignity. However, things have been a bit dismal for us this Winter, so I decided that I should man up and try to spread a little festivity, however feeble, and The Sweater has already been called into service.
On Wednesday night I made a rare visit to our local folk music club - what better way to spread a little Christmas spirit? In fact the evening was sparsely attended and not awfully jovial, despite the knitwear. I got into a chat with Serious Angus, who commented that he noticed that I was wearing a seasonal jumper - there are no flies on our Angus, I can tell you. Being already fired up on the topic, I said that the thing I loved best was the CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY bit - I feel it is hilarious that a Christmas sweater should carry a Health & Safety message; Angus explained that this was obviously because the sponsors are a brewery - I'm glad we cleared that up. However, he also explained - probably more usefully - that the mysterious Christmas horses are in fact a reference to Budweiser's famous stable of Clydesdales, which feature in their advertising.
The horses feature in the close-up detail pictures. Now I am familiar with horses - there are a great many on the farm where I live, and I paint dozens of the little beggars - but I was intrigued that the horse on the sweater pattern, if you follow it round under the arm, has a head at each end, which is certainly not a standard configuration. However, it all makes sense - when you place the sleeve into a natural position you find that the missing horse's backside is present on the sleeve. Impressive, eh? I am beginning to suspect that this garment was actually designed by someone. Excellent.
So this afternoon I think the time is right to inflict my sweater on Liberton Hospital when I go to visit my mother. I am definitely getting into the swing of this new role as Ambassador for Responsibly Sponsored Good Cheer - I do hope they appreciate my efforts. The message will also be welcomed by the constabulary, I am sure, if they stop me for a random breathalyser test on the way there.
"Ambassador for Responsibly Sponsored Good Cheer" is a commendable assignment and carries a quite heavy responsibility. My image of you may never be the same.
ReplyDeleteMay you act as The Guidepost for all!
Merry Christmas!
It is a great honour.
DeleteInflict! Inflict!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
Rob
It has to be admitted that the hospital staff thought the sweater was a gas, though the patients did no notice. That's show biz. Elvis Who?
DeleteAnd it silently encourages good posture since you need to stand erect with your arms by your side, thumbs along your trouser seams in order to display the design properly. A marvelous guft.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for this Christmas for you and your family.
Thanks Ross - the posture thing is the main reason we got it, of course...
DeleteSerious Angus sounds a blast, perhaps he needs a loan of your jumper??
ReplyDeleteAngus could probably do with a firecracker up his exhaust pipe, though i suspect he wouldn't notice.
DeleteI thought I'd round off a nice Christmas Day with a quick surf of the blogs I'd missed because of being otherwise engaged. Unfortunately I stumbled across Serious Angus and the Christmas jumper. It made me realise what a charmed life I lead and why I haven't frequented a folk club since the 70's. Nevertheless, I hope you and yours had an otherwise happy time of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the jumper has been an unqualified success - the jury is still out. Angus is a backbone of the folk club - he's always there, and he sings a lot of very earnest nationalist stuff - his appearance (beard, white sweater and leather waistcoat) and his performances must have been frozen in time since about 1970.
DeleteOn Wednesday he surprised everyone by performing a new piece which he had been learning - the Beatles' "Here, There and Everywhere". This is not a complicated song, but it involves a number of chords greater than 3, and poor Angus got terribly lost - give him his due, though, he stuck at it and reached the end, but the song should have been titled "Here, There and All Over the Bloody Place".
Since I have a day off from driving into Edinburgh tomorrow (one of my older sons is taking a turn at the visiting), I actually had a drink with my Christmas dinner, which is an unfamiliar luxury these days.
Normally I disapprove of Christmas sweaters as being frivolous and unbecoming of gentlemen, but in this case I shall make an exception. It combines humour and earnestness in such equal measures that one would think it was Canadian.
ReplyDeleteSerious Angus - I am guessing he was a big fan of Steeleye Span back in 1970?
Best,
Michael
Hi Michael - today the sweater has gone back in the drawer for next year - that's quite enough festive behaviour.
DeleteSerious Angus - Steeleye Span would certainly have been offensively English in his opinion - I think Angus has only ever admired people like Christy Moore and maybe Gaberlunzie. He has been failing to play their stuff ever since.
Steeleye Span? Gaberlunzie? My kind of music, although I'll skip the anti-English nonsense...best wishes for the so-called festive season, and for the coming year.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Iain - and the same to you and yours!
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