A Parent\u2019s Night Before Christmas ‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house. The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds, We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat…. When what to my worrying eyes should appear, More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out, And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work, Then laying the tools away in the chest, Tomorrow we’ll cheer, let the holiday ring, Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully Though I suppose there’s something to say for those A Parent\u2019s Night Before Christmas ‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house. I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse. Instructions were studied and we were inspired, In hopes we could manage “Some Assembly Required\u201d. The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds, While Dad and I faced the evening with dread: A kitchen, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[334],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6cWjO-3S5","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8646,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=8646","url_meta":{"origin":14885,"position":0},"title":"Jon’s Notes","author":"Alan Williams","date":"28th November 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Dear All, This year the Season of Advent commences on 29th November. A traditional theme for Advent is From Darkness into Light. I cannot remember a year when this theme has ever been so appropriate. For many months we have lived in times of lockdowns and isolation. The drawing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "St Mary's Parish Church News"","block_context":{"text":"St Mary's Parish Church News","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=3"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14961,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14961","url_meta":{"origin":14885,"position":1},"title":"Organ Factory in Treorchy","author":"Alan Williams","date":"14th December 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"WOMEN\u2019S INSTITUTE October Meeting of Wenvoe W.I. On 31st Oct Wenvoe WI travelled to the Organ Factory in Treorchy for a day out. We had a grand time, and were thoroughly entertained by a fabulous display of organs, demonstrations, as well as sampling an excellent cream tea. The visit was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Womens Institute"","block_context":{"text":"Womens Institute","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16347,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=16347","url_meta":{"origin":14885,"position":2},"title":"Top Of The Christmas Pops!","author":"Alan Williams","date":"1st December 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"IT\u2019S NUMBER ONE - IT\u2019S TOP OF THE CHRISTMAS POPS! By the time What\u2019s On readers read this article Christmas music will have been everywhere for months. Many people will already be fed up with hearing Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade, Lonely this Christmas by Mud, Wonderful Christmas Time by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Disc-Cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5317,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=5317","url_meta":{"origin":14885,"position":3},"title":"THE MIRACLE OF THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE 1914","author":"Alan Williams","date":"23rd December 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"This photograph shows German and British soldiers standing together on the battlefield near Ploegsteert, Belgium, during the Christmas Truce. On the far right a football match between Allied and German soldiers was supposed to have taken place during the Christmas Truce. How much truth is there in all this? On\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/WW1-b.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/WW1-b.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/WW1-b.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/WW1-b.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12322,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12322","url_meta":{"origin":14885,"position":4},"title":"We Need More Volunteers!","author":"Alan Williams","date":"11th October 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"ADVENT WINDOWS 2022 We need more volunteers! We are planning Wenvoe Advent Windows 2022 following the success of the last two years. 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\n<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nI searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
\nInstructions were studied and we were inspired,
\nIn hopes we could manage “Some Assembly Required\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nWhile Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
\nA kitchen, two bikes, Barbie’s town house to boot!
\nAnd, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!<\/p>\n
\nLet no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
\nToo late for last-minute returns or replacement;
\nIf we can’t get it right, it goes in the basement!<\/p>\n
\nBut 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
\nWith each part numbered and every slot named,
\nSo if we failed, only we could be blamed.<\/p>\n
\nAll over the carpet they were scattered about.
\n“Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
\nSlide on the seats, and staple the stair!
\nHammer the shelves, and nail to the stand.”
\n“Honey,” said hubby, “you just glued my hand.”<\/p>\n
\nThat all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
\nTo keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
\nWith “assembly required” till morning’s first light.<\/p>\n
\nTill our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.
\nThe coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
\nBefore we attached the last rod and last pin.<\/p>\n
\nWe fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
\nBut I said to my husband just before I passed out,
\n“This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.<\/p>\n
\nAnd not have to run to the store for a thing!
\nWe did it! We did it! The toys are all set
\nFor the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!”<\/p>\n
\nwent,<\/p>\n
\nself-deluded…
\nI’d forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!<\/p>\n
\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"