181 thoughts on “Must be Christmas time!”

1. j6p

   Great introduction to Christmas!
   

2. Wishing all Pubsters a wonderful Christmas and a safe, happy and prosperous new year.

3. From the previous thread.
   Sorry Aguirre my timing was bad. A great summary.

   Aguirre Says:
   I’ve had a think about the current state of affairs, and this is my present take on it:

   The Liberal Party are all about spending political capital. They really haven’t got any choice in the matter, considering who funds them and who they’re answerable to. Most, if not all, of what they’re doing is counter to the wishes of the electorate, so they’ve been racking up short-term advantageous situations for themselves, and then carrying on with their program until that situation is no longer viable. That’s the strategy, and Turnbull represents an end-point of that strategy.

   It’s not like the old days, when Howard could simply hoodwink the public with his ‘steady hands on the tiller’ fairytale. He worked his arse off to keep himself in power, and had to resort to naked xenophobia around 2001 to make it work for him. He was part lucky, part shrewd in having the country ‘trust’ him enough to keep him on power. But that’s not an option any more.

   Abbott got lucky. His rampant misogyny and attack-dog style made him a natural to take on Gillard. I don’t want to go on about that, we’ve thrashed that one out dozens of times. The only point I want to make is that a combination of crass bullying and confected ‘scandals’ (along with a supine press corps who allowed the ‘carbon tax’ fiction to take root), gifted him the PM-ship.

   He never bothered to build on it, to create a situation where he might become impregnable before carrying out the program. He (they) just went straight into it, racing against time to get as much business/IPA ideology into practice as humanly possible. He got a good two years out of that, and the party just let his reputation – such as it was – go up the creek. He was expendable.

   Two years in, and they either finally cottoned on that the next election would see the end of them in power, or more likely twigged that they could steal another three years out of us with a change to the more popular Turnbull. The switch was probably inevitable, and likely a bit sooner than they would have wanted.

   Turnbull is already spending his capital. To put it more accurately, the party is carrying on with the program and he can’t do a thing about it. All he’s allowed to do is sit back and watch his own reputation get slowly eroded. They’ll use him up until he’s unelectable, then they’ll think of another ruse to grasp the reins. Though this possibly is the last roll of the dice they had.

   Turnbull’s no leader. You can see that. He defers anything he can to the ‘relevant minister’, which means he’s trying not to be accountable for any of the bastardry that’s going on. He nicked off overseas for the announcement of MYEFO. He’s basically happy to carry on with the perks of office for as long as it lasts. He’s a useful idiot.

   When they’ve drained the last of his credibility from him, that’s when things will start to get interesting. It’s inevitable that will happen some time. It’s just a question of when.

   • I just wish I could say what you have written is rubbish.

4. Merry Xmas. I am having a quiet one.
   Just paying it forward, I gave a leg of lamb to someone I know. She was almost in tears. (Too sick, and too long a smoker to give up, the legal drug pushing btards have her deeply hooked.. Her food bill suffers and she buys very little red meat.)

   Anyone should be able to buy mutton as cheap red meat, but they no longer sell it. It is expensive lamb, or nothing.

   • What happen to the boiling fowls and hogget?

   • live export for the sheep, I assume.

5. Joe6pack,

   Cool!

6. I reply in the thread. not under the comment, so Aguirre, at 3, that is a good analysis.

7. Joyeux Noël à tous:

   

8. I say snag it for a thread starter after Xmas.

9. I like the snow flakes.

10. J6p
    I missed out on getting a Xmas bonus. damn!

    • I may have a very good tip for you in the new year

    • I am all ears. 🙂

11. Merry Xmas and NY to all.

12. Fiona, thanks, I must have missed the link before.

    joe6pack

    I like this setup, I know I’m a bit unusual, but they say a change is as good as a holiday.

    p.s. Razz doesn’t like it, but don’t tell her I told you.

13. Merry Christmas everyone. I can’t believe it has been three years though. Where has the time gone?

    A special merry merry, happy happy to joe6pack, Fiona and Bushfire Bill for being here and looking after all us patrons and the lurkers. Razz and I appreciate all the time and effort you put into this site.

14. I like snowballs:
    

15. Merry Christmas from the Duckery to all Pubsters, their families and pets.

16. Letters to The Age
    A coffee and croissant-led recovery subsidised by the wages of Sunday workers, and I thought the Productivity Commission was not in favour of subsidies.
    Les Anderson, Woodend

    

19. Let’s save the William Garnet James/John Wheeler ones until tomorrow evening (things like The Silver Stars Are in the Sky).

20. When I was in primary school our school principal, a lovely man, thought we should be Australian at Christmas rather than fake poms singing about snow, so we learnt all the John Wheeler/William James Australian carols, and I’ve loved them ever since.

    Here’s a couple of them.

21. Fiona
    Sorry, didn’t see that until I had posted. They are too lovely to be put off, anyway.

22. 6Pack

    [The Christmas theme will be up for a few days only. I can’t improve it any more]

    Better than the iteration where commenters got a conifer ‘up them’ when scrolling up!

    • This is the best i can do.
      I may be in your part of europe next year so will be asking for tips on good places to stay

    • I’ll suggest where I can but my knowledge of hotels is limited due to the Barbican bolthole and OH’s family places. They are the reason I’ve been able to go often – only airfare and walking-around money needed.

    • Your part of France will be the main query

23. Very Merry Christmas Pubsters. My daughter and her partner are already here in Portland. The other one is due tomorrow afternoon. As I’ve explained to Sim, Christmas in Australia is a bit like Thanksgiving in the US. Most families with any real connection try to gather together for that occasion both for lunch (even if for the big day it’s called Christmas Dinner) and tea, which is usually a good deal lighter after the afternoon’s festivities.

    I, Sim and daughters will gather at my nephew’s place for the extended family event. I hope that all others will have the same opportunity of gathering with or thinking of your loved ones.

24. Leone,

    No problems, and yes, they are lovely. The Children’s Hour / Argonauts’ Club was part of my life from my earliest days, so of course I’ve known those carols all of my life.

    So, two more:

25. Fiona

    I’ve never heard the Australian Jingle Bells, thanks for that, I really enjoyed it.

26. Gravel,

    It’s a pretty good version, isn’t it.

28. Leone,

    That was completely and utterly delightful.

    Thank you.

29. Fiona
    Just proving that you don’t have to be crass and ocker to be Australian.

30. I love those Ausie carols and will be insisting the Grand Dragonette has them played for her! Thank you.

31. Last client of the week done. Some shopping done.

    I have no idea what to do for Xmas dinner. Three of us, might just drag out the bbq, chuck on a few prawns, or do a cold collation.

32. got the cake, pudding etc but the main is still to be decided.

33. About the Australian carols – it is impossible to find recordings of them now, the YouTube videos are taken from an out-of-print CD. Bucko and Champs have included a few in their Christmas CDs but that’s about it.

    Why can’t we have some new recordings? Why can’t these carols be played in our shopping centres, instead of the American crap that gets blasted at us. What’s wrong with us, that we ignore our own culture and national treasures and instead prefer crap about snow and snowmen?

34. Thanks for the Christmas theme Joe, doesn’t seem like 3 years.

35. I think the theme with the snow is brilliant.

36. Enjoy Xmas with goats:

    https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/b4_EdJ-XkUA?rel=0

37. 

38. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. And a Merry Christmas to you all!

    This guy has had more success than the ATO!
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/sydneybased-cfo-stole-10m-from-company-over-a-decade-police-say-20151223-glufza.html
    There are some people in this world . . .
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/police-raid-finds-boy-kept-in-a-locked-shed-and-an-elaborate-underground-hydroponic-setup-20151223-glucpy.html
    The graceless Psycho Sydney drivers.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/its-just-a-car-park-dont-be-so-hopelessly-graceless-behind-the-wheel-20151223-glu0mz.html
    A new race to the bottom for NSW taxis?
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/old-taxis-with-cracked-mirrors-and-no-aircon-pass-inspection-after-restrictions-scrapped-by-nsw-government-20151223-glud63.html
    Jetsar and Virgin may have been too smart by half!
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/jetstar-and-virgin-may-face-class-action-over-drip-pricing-20151222-gltslj.html
    Let’s hope this Senate hopeful doesn’t sneak in.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/antiislam-senate-candidate-claims-she-is-being-discriminated-against-by-bosses-20151223-glu04z.html
    Michael Gordon says that now Abbott is out of it surely the Immigration Dept could have a dose of compassion.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/a-dose-of-compassion-needed-in-the-immigration-department-20151223-glu6dm.html
    Sussan Ley’s pathology rebate cuts have certainly come home to roost in her own electorate.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/major-pathology-business-in-health-minister-sussan-leys-electorate-to-close-20151222-glti9f.html
    A very worthwhile contribution from Fiona Nash in the scourge of ice.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/helping-addicts-is-the-only-way-to-halt-scourge-of-ice-20151222-gltfe2.html
    Peter Wicks on how the Victorian Liberals are destroying the Christmas spirit.
    http://wixxyleaks.com/hell-of-a-season-liberals-destroying-christmas-spirit/

39. Section 2 . . .

    Should I lie to my children about Santa?
    https://theconversation.com/should-i-lie-to-my-child-about-santa-51737
    Alex Jones on the ascension of Donald Trump.
    https://independentaustralia.net/article-display/donald-trump-isis-the-state-of-the-nation-and-the-nation-state,8518
    And Hilary Clinton calls out Trump for his penchant for sexism.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/hillary-clinton-donald-trump_567ad22be4b0b958f658e37f?utm_hp_ref=australia
    Penalty rate changes are like “economic apartheid”.
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2015/12/23/penalty-rate-changes-like-economic-apartheid/
    The police have executed search warrants on St Patrick’s Church and associated locations in light of allegations of relatively recent child sexual abuse.
    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/st-patricks-cathedral-investigated-for-child-sex-abuse-20151223-glu8f7.html
    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/23/victoria-police-seek-victims-of-sexual-assault-at-st-patricks-cathedral
    David Marr reviews the year that was 2015.
    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/24/david-marrs-review-of-2015-terror-fears-and-shark-scares-but-australia-carried-on-regardless
    “View from the Street” bows out for the year.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/view-from-the-street-twas-the-night-before-xmas–20151222-gltun6.html
    The ACCC has a virtual win that will lead to lower retail fuel prices in the new year.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/accc-chairman-rod-sims-chances-his-arm-and-racks-up-a-win-on-petrol-20151223-glu1mn.html
    We need to become more aggressive when it comes to very expensive pharmaceuticals.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-we-all-have-a-problem-with-expensive-drugs-20151223-gltza9.html

40. Section 3 . . . Cartoon Corner

    Alan Moir takes Turnbull to the movies.
    
    Ron Tandberg goes underwater at Abbot Point.
    
    David Pope gives Zed a good serve.
    
    Mark Knight and the Christmas secret.
    http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/3debc82507c73e5d763ca29c4bb70fe6?width=1024&api_key=zw4msefggf9wdvqswdfuqnr5

41. Right, well I’m officially on holiday now. I’ll probably still lurk a bit because I can’t seem to stay away from this place. But for a couple of weeks I’ll be commentary-free. Have a great festive season, everyone, thanks for all the interaction and analysis this year, it keeps me sane!

    Onward and upward to 2016!

42. Aguirre

    Have a nice break, will miss your insights. Merry merry and Happy happy.

43. Add this item to the news of investigations at St Patricks. Will Pell return for questioning now?

    Priest John Walshe who defended George Pell accused of sexually abusing John Roach

    A Catholic priest who gave evidence to the child abuse royal commission in defence of Cardinal George Pell was himself the subject of a historical sexual abuse claim, the ABC can reveal.
    Father Walshe denies he abused Mr Roach

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-23/john-walshe-accused-of-sexual-abuse/7051050

44. Tlbd

    [I think the theme with the snow is brilliant.]

    Looks like the snow has let up for now.

45. Christmas: most violent time for women:

    

    http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/it-s-christmas/christmas-the-most-violent-time-of-year-for-women-1.2471262

46. Ctar1,

    It’s still snowing up top.

47. Puss likes snow too:
    

48. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all Pubsters and Lurkers, especially
    Joe6pack for making the site possible. Also to Fiona for her wonderful moderator role. May the site continue for years to come.

49. Leone,

    investigations at St Patricks

    Do I detect a touch of mutual ‘protection’?

50. Hi Pubsters

    The blog looks fantastic!

    Wishing you all a safe and fabulous holiday season and a fantastic 2016!