Christmas 1972. My mother and I lived at my grandparents’, and my grandad had had a stroke.
I wanted Father Christmas to bring me a castle for Christmas.
I did not realise this was essentially asking my cash-strapped mother for an extra and expensive gift. But Father Christmas delivered the castle, and it was waiting in the morning. Working portcullis. Raised ramparts. Perfect. We lived next door to an old Scottish carpenter with bad eyesight, and budgies. “Go next door and thank Mr Archer for making your castle,” said my grandad. “I thought Father Christmas made it?” I said.
My grandad hastily concocted a cover. “He did. But Mr Archer helped him with it.” I was only four, but I realised that if there was a Father Christmas, he wouldn’t be subcontracting castles to Scottish carpenters. He had elves for that. Ever since, I’ve been an atheist sceptic, but I never lacked a sense of wonder.
What is more inspiring, the flying sled gift man and the barn-born baby, or the retired carpenter, knocking together a handmade castle for the boy of the divorcee next door?
Last Christmas I unboxed it, and gave it to my son.
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Al Murray, Comedian
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Stuart, Chortle
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter