Ah, Christmas. Peace and goodwill to all men and women. Misteltoe and wine, children singing Christian rhyme, as some long forgotten star once sang. But is it all merry living out there in blogland? Not on your nelly.
On their Poliblog the Refugee Council is angry about a tabloid attack on plans by French charities to provide a festive meal to asylum seekers stranded in Calais.
"Locals are quoted as saying that the meal would encourage more refugees to flock to the town. Would the promise of one meal, once a year, really be enough to persuade people to leave their homes and loved ones to make an often dangerous journey to seek asylum in Europe? I am astounded by this logic, and sad that the tabloid journalists haven't extended 'the season of goodwill' to refugees and asylum seekers who are often the most vulnerable in society. On a more positive note, stories like these motivate us here at the Refugee Council to work harder..."
For radio producer Victoria Brignall, who is tetraplegic and blogs at the New Statesman, Christmas is an expensive business, with extra costs on top of the presents and food.
"It's an exceptionally expensive period - and I'm not talking about the usual extra costs of buying presents and food. On Christmas day, boxing day and New Year's day, care agencies usually charge double their usual rates - one agency I use even charges double plus 20%. They have to do this in order to encourage their carers to work on days when most people want to be with their families.. But that doesn't prevent Christmas being a financial headache for disabled people on tight care budgets."
As if that wasn't enough she recounts the horror of receiving Christmas gifts with a disability theme, such as Barbie's friend, the wheelchair user Becky.
"Ironically, when Becky was first manufactured, her wheelchair wouldn't fit in most Barbie houses (even the lift was too small). Moreover, she didn't have a seat belt, so she fell out of her chair easily when pushed along."
Can anyone top that Christmas horror?
