You know that Chris Rea song, ‘Driving Home for Christmas’? Well I hate it. Whenever it comes on the radio, I reach for the tuner and change channel pronto. I think it’s his gravelly, dour voice. He turns the most positive message into a depressing dirge. I can think of nothing more depressing than being stuck in a festive traffic jam with Mr. Rea. It’s ‘no, no, no’ as opposed to ‘ho, ho, ho’ as far as he’s concerned.
I did travel today, however. To pay a pre-Christmas visit to my mother. I dragged myself off my death bed, a la Lazarus, and made the hour long car journey with my very own Christmas elf, Rebecca. The weather was foggy and drizzly but we made good time. Even better, Chris Rea was nowhere to be seen. Or heard. My old home town of Omagh was busy, busy, busy with last minute shoppers.
Hopefully, this is my last long trip before the big day itself. Fionnuala is taking the kids to see the new ‘Mary Poppins’ movie tomorrow but, much as I love all things Emily Blunt, I’m going to spend the day resting at home and hoping this illness clears before Tuesday. I hope that wherever you travel over the Christmas break, it is a safe and incident free journey. Chris Rea or no Chris Rea.
Will you be travelling over the festive period?
Do you like or loathe Chris Rea’s ode to Christmas?
What’s your favourite festive jingle?
We travel an hour up to my parents’ house; we did my husband’s parents yesterday.
Haven’t heard it. 😀 Now I’m certain I don’t want to.
I love the traditional, old versions of Christmas carols and have to listen to a variety.
I found a YouTube list of 20s, 30s, and 40s Christmas songs and (ads aside) love it!
LikeLike
You live in a Chris Rea free universe? I want your world. Please.
LikeLiked by 1 person
All right, but there’s no honeycomb ice cream.
LikeLike
This could change things between us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Just bring your own when you visit.
LikeLike
No traveling in December. We will visit grandkids for Christmas in January.
I don’t know Chris Rea.
Jingle Bell Rock is fun. And the Hawaiian merry Christmas is fun.
LikeLike
You should never, ever know Chris Rea. I speak the truth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Roger Whittaker’s I’ll be Home for Christmas. Feliz Navidad y prospero año!
LikeLike
Is that Spanish? 🤨
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sí 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to hear you’re still sick – hope it clears up soon. I don’t intend to travel much – I am going to put my feet up and let my offspring come to me. We will likely visit my brother at some point, but it’s only a 10 minute drive. I have too many favorites when it comes to Christmas tunes (like food, I cannot pick just one) but Bing Cosby’s White Christmas sure makes me nostalgic – my parents loved Bing! At any rate I hope you and Rebecca had a nice visit with your Mum and that you can enjoy the rest of the holidays despite illness. God bless you and yours!
LikeLike
Thank you. Yes, we are back in one piece. White Christmas was playing on the car radio on the way back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome – I worked to day and the last song playing on the radio was My favourite things -from the movie, the sound of music
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you feel better soon. I like Chris Rea but not so keen on this track. Hope he is ok after he collapsed last Christmas.
LikeLike
Oh, I never knew that. I hope so too.
LikeLike
We will be doing some local travel on Christmas Eve and staying put with our open house Christmas Day. I do not know who this Chris Rhea person is but many an artist have butchered my favorite Christmas songs over the years. I am talking to you Taylor Swift with the Wham remake. My favorite Christmas album of all time is Phil Spector Christmas album. Creepy though he may be…..that is pure nostalgia!
LikeLike
Phil Spector and Christmas. Never thought I would find them in the one sentence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a Christmas miracle??!! Lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can drive to Daddy’s house in two hours, but I won’t. He doesn’t come out of the woods during deer hunting season. So we’ll celebrate Christmas next month. And yes, even though I’m 55 years old I still call him Daddy. It’s a Southern thing.
I’ve never heard the Chris Rea and will keep it that way. I tend to avoid Christmas music because most of it isn’t really music.
I suppose I’m ready for Christmas, though. I’ve been practicing this month, so now I can pick up my guitar and play Feliz Navidad and You’re A Mean One Mr Grinch. Just the intros, though. I’m too cheap to buy the sheet music.
Merry Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Christmas Michael. I still refer to my parents as Mummy and Daddy. We do it in Ireland as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ll be staying at home for a quiet, although reduced, family Christmas. As children grow up and get married we lose a portion to their in-laws. I’m more than happy to let them deal with holiday travel and airports. As for Christmas music I have to say that by November 2nd I’ve heard far too much! However, there are a couple of songs that I love dearly. My Dad was a bit of a crooner, though he’d never admit it. One of my first memories is of him singing “Winter Wonderland”. I hear it today and I can picture him singing as I sat in his lap “driving” to my Grandmother’s house. Christmas doesn’t seem the same without him. Merry Christmas to you all.
LikeLike
That’s a lovely memory to have of your father. He will always be part of your Christmas. Happy Christmas to you as well.
LikeLike
I too apparently have been spared of this Chris fellow. We will be traveling on New Years it seems.
LikeLike
You are a very fortunate woman 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you feel better. Sorry but I am old and have never heard of Chris Rhea. I do love the Pentatonics doing Mary Did You Know?
LikeLike
Thank you. Chris Rea is old lol. We were listening to Penatonix on You Tube the other day.
LikeLike
Never heard of him😬
My favorite Christmas songs are This Christmas by Donny Hathaway. He’s the exact opposite of your guy. You’ll want to stand up, sway and singalong💕
LikeLike
Pulled the plug too soon! The other one is The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m all for a bit of swaying 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No more travelling for me and I will let you decide if I like Chris Rea or not 😂 I hope you feel better by tomorrow.
LikeLike
I think you’re a Chris Rea kind of girl 🙂
LikeLike
Got it in one 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that song. And especially his voice.
Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas!
LikeLike
The same to you Padraig 🇮🇪🇯🇵
LikeLike
I don’t know that song. If it’s like most modern pop Christmas tunes, I’m probably glad I don’t know it.
I’m not traveling anywhere for Christmas but my son’s father arrived yesterday from Florida. I think he was a tad disappointed that it wasn’t colder here in Buffalo & we weren’t covered in snow.
I still have a small bit of shopping to do but it’s all neighborhood stuff & I will be done by noon. I will be baking the rest of the day.
LikeLike
You sound on top of things over there. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
LikeLike
I’m definitely of the love Chris Rea “Driving Home for Christmas” camp – here’s a link to my old blog explaining why I love it so much (http://dormouse.wibsite.com/2012/12/14/pause-in-advent-2-driving-home-for-christmas/) But I think my favourite Christmas song is Run with the Fox (link to new blog: https://fatdormouse.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/christmas-song-n3/ In fact, this year I’ve linked to 8 favourite Christmas songs/ carols (and don’t worry, Chris Rea is – surprisingly – not among them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooooooh! Lots of Christmas Eve reading. And listening! Thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had never heard of Chris Rea, so I looked up the song on YouTube. Eh.
I wouldn’t call them my all-time favorite Christmas tunes, but two songs in heavy rotation for me right now are Spiraling’s version of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and Relient K’s “In Like a Lion (Always Winter).”
LikeLike
I’m sorry you had to be subjected to that. My most sincere apologies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!!!
LikeLike
My all-time favorite is “O Holy Night,” but in light of your recent experience, you might get a bang out of this one
LikeLike
Oh. Thank you very much 🙂
LikeLike
Traveling about 4 miles to my daughter’s house. Don’t even know who Chris Rea is. My favorite song is Joy to the World
LikeLike
Best keeping it that way, Barbara. Happy Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The new Mary Poppins movie was a lot of fun! I hope they enjoyed it and that you start feeling better soon!
LikeLike
Thank you. They all loved it. I’m still struggling but meh.
LikeLiked by 1 person