Present and future

Published: 1:14 PM December 13, 2006 Updated: 9:50 PM February 22, 2021

I USED my free bus pass to take me to the centre of Cambridge to do some Christmas shopping. Christmas is about children. So I thought I would look for some presents for my grandchildren. I knew what they were hoping for. Toys! So that is what I hoped to

I USED my free bus pass to take me to the centre of Cambridge to do some Christmas shopping. Christmas is about children. So I thought I would look for some presents for my grandchildren.

I knew what they were hoping for. Toys! So that is what I hoped to buy.

What I had not bargained for was all the toy shops in the middle of Cambridge had closed and now none were left.

I could imagine some modern day Scrooge saying "Christmas! Humbug! Only comes once a year. Not worth investing in. Close them all down, Let us have luxury leather shops instead." Christmas Present is a miserable affair.

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But what about Christmas Future? In my dream I saw myself trying to visit Toys 'R Us in Bedford, travelling by bus and encountering all manners of problems. Listening to the talk on the bus, I became aware of the problems with local hospitals.

In my dream I saw Tiny Tim die in a vain attempt to reach hospital in time to save his life. Perhaps any moment now I would wake up and find that it was still possible to bring tears of happiness to Tiny Tim's face. If only!