A Christmas Carol? Bah, Humbug!

Unusual Christmas lights at Joanne's chippy on Massey Road, who are celebrating 111 years of business. 

Although fish and chip shops are not my cup of tea, I confess to quite liking the aroma of chips emanating from within as I pass by here on a Friday evening.

"Bah, humbug" is of course the phrase uttered by Charles Dickens' most famous character, Ebenezer Scrooge, who always steps into the limelight at this time of year. Possibly the most endearing character in A Christmas Carol though, is that of Tiny Tim. Tiny Tim was actually based on the son of a factory owner in the Ardwick area of Manchester, who was a friend of Charles Dickens. However, my Dickens' reading recommendation for this period between Christmas and New Year is The Chimes.

I am sure that the great man would have been taken aback by the year long celebrations throughout 2012 that have marked the 200th anniversary of his birth.