Tis the season to be jolly eh? What a big fat porker

DECEMBER 8, was traditionally the day country people travelled into towns to begin their Christmas shopping.

The local butcher was an obligatory stop to order a ham to go with the turkey for the festive dinner.

Arrangements were made to collect the meat on Christmas Eve as the shops closed for the holidays. But, yesterday, the Church holiday was different, sad and gloom- filled.