The upheavals of adolescence silenced 'A Christmas Carol' for a few years. I became a firebrand atheist. Christmas - humbug! Too commercial! Then I became an agnostic. Christmas was a pro-forma affair basically a chore. Buy mother a book dad a new tie my brother and sister small gifts. Pretend thanks for the fountain pens and shirts I received.
As to war I am and always was a great enemy at the same time a warrior the greater part of my life and were I young again should still be a warrior while ever this country should be invaded and I lived.
