It’s a weird year and it’s winding down wrong, which is to say not at all. Maybe it’s brutal heat and humidity, but they’re pretty standard parts of Christmas in the subtropics, so probably not. It might just be all the fin-de-siecle horror of the news and the accelerating collapse of civilisation. But then again we’ve been doing that for a while now too. I think we all know where it’s headed, and when. (Jan 2025 is my pick for Peak Civilisational Meltdown).
I think that for some, Christmas has gone from being an occasion, something to draw a line through from a seasonal yearly thing, to a slightly glammed up special episode, an item to partake in, but once done, tick it off the list and then move onto the next one.
Previously Christmas was snoozing on the couch for days wondering how long can you eat leftovers before you give yourself food poisoning. Now it is do the presents, have a big meal, see the family whilst wondering how much work is piling up and how behind are you going to start the new year.
Running a book on Peak Civilisation Meltdown? Kinda like a Deadpool for most of us? I am going to take mid-May 2025.
I have no real time off as I have no leave left and need some to have a week in NZ Jan/Feb. But all in all, Christmas is quite dead for me now without the Olds. Used to love it, loved the long held traditions but that's fallen apart for my side of the family. The usual family shenanigans. :(
How would one unambiguously define ‘peak civilisation meltdown’ to the satisfaction of all pool participants? I still haven’t seen my $10 out of Birmingham after a pretty narrowly defined bet on the demise of one Malcolm Turnbull from the leadership of the Libs (the first time, in 2009). I seem to recall some haggling over the definition of the first day of summer, even thought we’d taken the time to agree a definition at the time the bet was made … December 1st (which just happened to be the day he was torched).
So something as subjective as the ‘peak civilisation meltdown’ might be a little tough.
Maybe you you list ten objectively observable markers and define the threshold as having been met if six of them are observed by the date you nominate?
Yeah with the compulsory 'you will take annual leave between the end of Christmas and the new year edict from management this week there is a lot of 'that sounds like a 2024 problem talk' in my workplace. But as you have alluded to it doesn't feel like a ending, well more I have felt like an ending for a while now, probably ever since I realised that the global pandemic of Sars-coV-2 is dissapearing down our societies collective memory hole.
"It doesn’t feel like there is a finish line this year."
THIS. I've spent the last six weeks waiting to collapse over the finish line, and now that it's theoretically in sight it doesn't feel like I'm actually going to be stumbling over it 😫
I started a month off last friday (first time ever having/being able to use LSL). But it wont be for resting - i have to tidy up chateau Simon for sale. We are moving into town to be closer to emergency services. Going to be a hard goodbye for all those trees i planted and had hopes of drinking under the shade on a hot summers afternoon.
But i'm also having a bit of a break - got 51mm of rain overnight (and still going). Stuck inside so putting that seconds bag of cherries i got going through Young last week. Have piled up the alcohol infusion bottles - a litre or more of cherry/sugar/vodka/brandy (the mix is two thirds/one thirds). Then a an experiment with creme caramel (that has been sitting on the shelf as undrinkable - no idea what possessed me to buy that awful stuff) - mixed with brandy and sugar with cherries so hoping the flavour will mellow. Then another lot of experiments with cherries/raw sugar/spiced rum. Hoping those will turn out well. Have just pitted a massive amount to make cherry sauce ala cranberry that chef Andy Hearnden suggested to go with the meats for xmas. About to watch some tv while i pit another massive batch to make cherry ripe and that should get me close to the end of the pile.
So it turns out (checked elgoog) cherries soaked in grappa is a long held tradition. Seems pretty simple - i guess grappa is already fruity so a lot of them basically call for cherries to be washed and dried thoroughly then soaked in grappa in an air tight jar from anywhere between 6-12 months in a cool dark spot. Then they sip the grappa infused with cherry and also chomp the alcoholic cherries (whereas i usually squeeze the life out of mine and chuck the remains in the compost trusting the worms wont go near it). But looks like people riff on that with things like cinnamon and cloves, or lemon or orange zest to give it some extra tang. Patience is definitely the key here though - i find the longer i leave my versions the better they are. 2 mths minimum but longer if i forget them is better. Just stick them up the back of the cupboard and put a little 'x' on the calendar 6mths down the track :)
I think that for some, Christmas has gone from being an occasion, something to draw a line through from a seasonal yearly thing, to a slightly glammed up special episode, an item to partake in, but once done, tick it off the list and then move onto the next one.
Previously Christmas was snoozing on the couch for days wondering how long can you eat leftovers before you give yourself food poisoning. Now it is do the presents, have a big meal, see the family whilst wondering how much work is piling up and how behind are you going to start the new year.
This feels like a very accurate analysis.
Running a book on Peak Civilisation Meltdown? Kinda like a Deadpool for most of us? I am going to take mid-May 2025.
I have no real time off as I have no leave left and need some to have a week in NZ Jan/Feb. But all in all, Christmas is quite dead for me now without the Olds. Used to love it, loved the long held traditions but that's fallen apart for my side of the family. The usual family shenanigans. :(
How would one unambiguously define ‘peak civilisation meltdown’ to the satisfaction of all pool participants? I still haven’t seen my $10 out of Birmingham after a pretty narrowly defined bet on the demise of one Malcolm Turnbull from the leadership of the Libs (the first time, in 2009). I seem to recall some haggling over the definition of the first day of summer, even thought we’d taken the time to agree a definition at the time the bet was made … December 1st (which just happened to be the day he was torched).
So something as subjective as the ‘peak civilisation meltdown’ might be a little tough.
Maybe you you list ten objectively observable markers and define the threshold as having been met if six of them are observed by the date you nominate?
Can I put a lazy Ten on 5 Jan 2025.
Yeah with the compulsory 'you will take annual leave between the end of Christmas and the new year edict from management this week there is a lot of 'that sounds like a 2024 problem talk' in my workplace. But as you have alluded to it doesn't feel like a ending, well more I have felt like an ending for a while now, probably ever since I realised that the global pandemic of Sars-coV-2 is dissapearing down our societies collective memory hole.
I blame the late start to the test cricket season. Feels like mid-late November as we’ve only had the Perth test.
"It doesn’t feel like there is a finish line this year."
THIS. I've spent the last six weeks waiting to collapse over the finish line, and now that it's theoretically in sight it doesn't feel like I'm actually going to be stumbling over it 😫
Jan 25? Ain’t that when One Day Dumbfuck takes over, although I see some court in the US disqualified him from running, so there’s hope yet.
I started a month off last friday (first time ever having/being able to use LSL). But it wont be for resting - i have to tidy up chateau Simon for sale. We are moving into town to be closer to emergency services. Going to be a hard goodbye for all those trees i planted and had hopes of drinking under the shade on a hot summers afternoon.
But i'm also having a bit of a break - got 51mm of rain overnight (and still going). Stuck inside so putting that seconds bag of cherries i got going through Young last week. Have piled up the alcohol infusion bottles - a litre or more of cherry/sugar/vodka/brandy (the mix is two thirds/one thirds). Then a an experiment with creme caramel (that has been sitting on the shelf as undrinkable - no idea what possessed me to buy that awful stuff) - mixed with brandy and sugar with cherries so hoping the flavour will mellow. Then another lot of experiments with cherries/raw sugar/spiced rum. Hoping those will turn out well. Have just pitted a massive amount to make cherry sauce ala cranberry that chef Andy Hearnden suggested to go with the meats for xmas. About to watch some tv while i pit another massive batch to make cherry ripe and that should get me close to the end of the pile.
I scored some home made grappa a while back… would that work with cherries? If so, would be grateful for a recipe please.
So it turns out (checked elgoog) cherries soaked in grappa is a long held tradition. Seems pretty simple - i guess grappa is already fruity so a lot of them basically call for cherries to be washed and dried thoroughly then soaked in grappa in an air tight jar from anywhere between 6-12 months in a cool dark spot. Then they sip the grappa infused with cherry and also chomp the alcoholic cherries (whereas i usually squeeze the life out of mine and chuck the remains in the compost trusting the worms wont go near it). But looks like people riff on that with things like cinnamon and cloves, or lemon or orange zest to give it some extra tang. Patience is definitely the key here though - i find the longer i leave my versions the better they are. 2 mths minimum but longer if i forget them is better. Just stick them up the back of the cupboard and put a little 'x' on the calendar 6mths down the track :)
Thank you kindly
Fingers crossed