HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-12-24, Page 31KEN WARWICK
Advertising sales
When asked what my Christmas is
like, the words that come to mind are
quiet and peaceful.
With the arrival of our first child
18 years ago, my wife and I decided
that what we really wanted for our
Christmas Day was to spend it at
home, our small family, together.
There would be no rush to get to a
bigger gathering or two.
Our family has grown since then.
We have three sons now, and last
year welcomed a beautiful
granddaughter. But the tradition of
being together, my wife and I, with
our kids has stayed.
Something else that we have tried
to do together is get the Christmas
tree. It’s always been a real one and
it’s always been a family choice, or
at least as many of them as can go
along that day.
The feast on Christmas Day at the
Warwick home is the traditional
turkey with all the trimmings with
me doing the honours. When my
wife began working shift work at a
nursing home about 10 years ago, if
there was going to be a holiday
dinner it was going to be up to me.
While Karen usually makes the
desserts, the main course has
become my contribution. How
ambitious may vary from time to
time, but Christmas dinner always
features Ken’s roast turkey.
(MS) -- Today’s kids have scoresof technological games and gadgetsfrom which to choose for theirholiday wish list. How much do they differ from the
toys children requested just 10 to 20
years ago?
Here’s a look at some of the
popular toys of the 1980s and 1990s.
1980s
If you were a kid growing up
during the age of excess you were a
part of the mass hysteria explosion
for new toys. Most memorable
during the 1980s was the shortage of
Cabbage Patch Dolls that coincided
with the Christmas shopping season.
This led to fights at area stores and
bidding wars over the dolls.
Boys in the ‘80s were enthralled
by the action figure craze sparked by
favourite cartoon characters.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He-
Man and Transformers were just
some of the action figures played
with primarily by boys.
However, girls enjoyed spin-off
series, such as She-Ra and the co-ed
Thundercats and subsequent action
figures.
In terms of dolls, apart from
Cabbage Patch Dolls, kids could
choose among Rainbow Brite and
her cohorts, Popples, Care Bears and
many others.
For those looking for video game
action, the introduction of Nintendo
in the late ‘80s created mass appeal
and totally eclipsed earlier efforts by
Atari.
1990s
Advancing technology in the ‘90s
and improved marketing campaigns
turned every toy into that “must-have
toy.” There are a few toys that standout from this decade that kids wereeager to own.Rollerblades were one of the bigtrends of the era. It was no longer
cool to roller skate on four wheels.
Rollerblades took over, enticing
children and adults alike. Today in-
line skating continues in popularity.
Younger children had to have
Tickle Me Elmo, which sold out in
stores almost as fast as Cabbage
Patch Dolls from a decade earlier.
Children today still enjoy other
animated Elmo reincarnations.
Another toy craze that hit the
1990s were Beanie Babies. These
bean-filled collector’s items soonbecame very expensive and theirappeal died off.Furby was a computerizedcreature that actually “learned.” It
would acquire words and phrases if
you bestowed attention on the toy.
Furbys required a lot of attention,
feeding and sleep -- just like a
person. This could be why their
appeal quickly wore off after the first
few years.
In terms of outdoor action,
summertime fun was forever
changed by the Super Soaker, which
was more powerful than any water
gun before it.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2008. PAGE 31.
Family Christmas
‘quiet, peaceful’
Home together
Enjoying quiet family time together is the essential part of
the Warwick family Christmas. Citizen salesperson Ken
Warwick posed by the tree with his sons, from left, Brad,
Devan and Jason in 1994. (Courtesy photo)
Christmas gifts of yesteryear
email:Paul@omni-ins.com
R.R. #3 Blyth 519-523-9110
Fax: 519-523-9278
Clinton Office: 519-482-3434
Goderich Office: 519-524-9899
Lucknow Office: 519-528-3824
Farm/Commercial/Residential/Auto
Accident/Sickness/Life Insurance
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
Please accept our best wishes for a very Merry
Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
We feel truly honoured to serve this community
and appreciate your trust in us.
Paul Hallahan
Dave Werkema & family
519-526-7634
Additions • Renovations • General Repairs
New Homes
Away In A Manger
“And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his
mother and fell down and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11
Wishing all our customers a
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year
Wishing you a festive season filled with good
friends, good times and good tidings.
Thank you for your patronage this past year
and all the best in the New Year!
422 Queen St., Blyth, ON
Reg’d #11927-6129-RR0001
Pledge your support today!
Call 1-800-565-6872
Seeds of
Survival works
with young
farmers around
the world.
Visit:www.usc-canada.org
56 Sparks Street
Ottawa ON K1P 5B1
Tel: (613) 234-6827
info@usc-canada.org
Seeds of
From sowing for survival to
planting a promise for tomorrow,
(NC)—With expectations being
raised by decor gurus Martha
Stewart and Debbie Travis,
decorating the family table at
Christmas has become an art form.
Even the most seasoned host or
hostess can be overwhelmed trying
to create a unique and memorable
place setting.
But the best decorators know what
makes a setting memorable –
something from the heart. Here are
some to tips to set a table that will
leave your guests talking:
Get personal.Rather than taking
a ‘one size fits all’ approach, think
about each guest individually. Think
about what they love and what
makes them special. Use that
knowledge to create a place setting
unique to them.
Say more with a homemade
setting.Have your kids create a
place setting card for each of your
guests that not only includes their
name, but something your child likes
about each person.
Make it meaningful.Rather than
spend a few dollars on a table favour
that might end up in the garbage or
forgotten by the end of dinner,
consider providing a small donation
in the name of your guests.
Organizations like Christian
Children’s Fund of Canada, an
international children’s charity,
offers dozens of affordable gift
donations – like providing an
emergency food basket for families-
in-need or school supplies to
children that you could offer your
guests.
You can view the gift catalogue
online at www.ccfcanada.ca.
Electronic or print gift cards
available.
Better Leather For Le
s
s
Every Time
May the spirit of Christmas
touch all earth’s creatures with its
magic and warmth. Let us share with
others our most treasured gifts of
peace, love and goodwill.
This is our wish to you from the
management and staff of Bainton’s, the
original Old Mill in downtown Blyth
since 1894.
Bainton’s Old Mill is closed Christmas
day and open Boxing day,
December 26th from 10 am - 5 pm
Open year round, 7 days a week
Downtown Blyth
519-523-4740 baintons@tcc.on.ca
Create unique table favours