I gave my godson a book about

making paper aeroplanes for Christmas.
He was allowed to open it early. I suspect that this was because his parents and grandparents wanted to access the tin of home made shortbread I sent them.
Last Sunday he and his cousin made paper aeroplanes out of their pew bulletins (service sheets) at church. They also "rescued" the "spare" sheets and made yet more paper aeroplanes. When I told my father this he laughed and said it was the best use yet for a pew bulletin. I think even his father, a notoriously upright elder of the Presbyterian church would have smiled. Like my father he understood boys.
I doubt the two boys will be given the same opportunity tomorrow. They will probably be inspected for stray sheets of paper beforehand. Their grandparents' house (where they are currently staying) is apparently littered with various sorts of planes which need to be parked in an aircraft hangar before Christmas Day. I think the present was a success.
I do like it when that happens.
There is a very, very small Indian community in Adelaide. It is so small that the sight of sari or turban causes people to look twice. It is all so very different from the area of London I lived in for seven years. I still miss the cultural diversity of London. It is quite different from the "multicultural" ethic here.
The sight of an Indian face at the checkout in the supermarket is even more unusual. There was a pleasant young girl in the "fast" lane yesterday. As people went ahead of me I could hear her dutifully saying the obligatory "Merry Christmas". Some people would say "Merry Christmas" back. Others would nod, too busy to care about something said meaninglessly.
When I reached her and she said it to me I asked, "Do you celebrate Christmas?"
She looked surprised by the question and then admitted, "No, not really."
So I said, "Well it is really much too late but would it be more appropriate for me to say I hope you had a happy Diwali?"
Her face lit up. "You know about that?" I do.
Now, instead of the professional smile there was a genuine one which reached her eyes as she said, "It was wonderful. Thankyou - and I really do hope you enjoy Christmas."
If I happen to see her next Diwali I will give her good wishes at the appropriate time. I like it when that happens too.