Austerity Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching, and the over consumption is something I'm always uncomfortable with. The level of spending needed to keep pace with what's supposed to be a season of giving seems bizarre to me, particularly as my own expectations as a possible recipient of gifts are so low. The shops are geared up earlier than ever this year it seems, and there are already trees on every street corner.

I like the family time, and as a lover of food I'd be a liar if I said the eating wasn't for me, but I'm mindful this year that society around me is in worse shape than ever. There are two food banks in my neighbourhood I know of, are probably more, and there shouldn't be the need for any. As a people (our politics like it or not are reflecting us) we are on the wrong path. By all means celebrate how you please but do something too for the growing numbers of people who can't afford to feed themselves, and start voting for parties who offer a genuine solution to the growing nightmare of poverty.