If you grew up in the 80s, you were probably really excited when this song came out at Christmas, 1984.  There are lots of interesting stories associated with it.

The guys from Kool and the Gang were the only American artists recording on the song.

If you don’t know who the first guy singing is, that’s Paul Young, who was huge in the 80s.  You know, he sings that song “Everytime You Go Away” that plays on soft rock stations.  David Bowie was supposed to open the song, but couldn’t make the session (he sent in his track to be included).  I think Paul Young did an amazing job, though.

Bob Geldof phoned and woke up Boy George to fly to London (he flew on the Concorde!) to participate — he was the last one to be recorded.

The song earned $14 million for famine relief and spurred a bunch of follow-up efforts, such as Live Aid and various imitators.

Oddly enough, organizer Bob Geldof (of the Boomtown Rats) absolutely hates this song now.  Oh, well! Bob or no, it’s still a great song, and my son loves it.

The record was released on November 29, 1984, and went straight to No. 1 in the UK singles chart, outselling all the other records in the chart put together. It became the fastest- selling single of all time in the UK, selling a million copies in the first week alone.

Here’s the video…

Musicians:

• John Taylor (Duran Duran) – bass
• Phil Collins (Genesis) – drums
• Midge Ure (Ultravox) – keyboards
• Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) – guitar
• Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears) – guitar

The original Band Aid ensemble consisted of (in sleeve order):

• Adam Clayton (U2)
• Phil Collins (Genesis, solo)
• Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats, subsequently USA for Africa)
• Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
• Chris Cross (Ultravox)
• John Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Paul Young
• Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
• Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
• Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
• Jim Kerr (Simple Minds)
• Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)
• Marilyn
• Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
• Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
• Nik Kershaw
• Jody Watley (Shalamar)
• Bono (U2)
• Paul Weller (The Style Council, and previously The Jam)
• James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & The Gang)
• Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
• John Illsley (Dire Straits)
• Terry Williams (Dire Straits)
• George Michael (Wham!)
• Midge Ure (Ultravox)
• Martyn Ware (Heaven 17, and previously Human League)
• John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
• Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
• Curt Smith (Tears for Fears)
• Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
• Sting (The Police)
• Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
• Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (Kool & the Gang)
• Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Jon Moss (Culture Club)
• Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
• Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
• Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)
• David Bowie (who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)
• Boy George (Culture Club)
• Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) Recorded over the phone
• Paul McCartney (The Beatles, and then Wings) (who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)
• Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
• Bruce Watson (Big Country)
• Tony Butler (Big Country)
• Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

Are You Being Served? Original Air Date: 22 December 1975

Video description:
The staff are called to an early morning meeting to decide on ways to boost Christmas sales figures. However, Young Mr. Grace has already decided that all the floor staff will have to wear novelty costumes, something which none of them are too happy about.

Enjoy!

The key to gift giving to someone who has neurological differences is to do this it with love and acceptance, as well as appreciation for their gifts and unique and positive qualities.  If you are a person who gives lots of unsolicited advice, then don’t give them one of these presents.  It will come off as patronizing.  Give them something lovely and meaningful, instead.

But if you are someone he or she turns to for support, one of these presents may be welcome.

This post is part of a longer article I posted last year: A Merry ADHD Christmas.

Presents That Show You Care and Understand

• A month-at-a-glance calendar with blocks big enough to write in plenty of notes and appointments.  If the calendar or planner is for a woman, make sure it will fit in her purse.
• A mini-recorder (maybe for a keychain) so the person can record where he parked the car.
• A fun fidget for their purse, backpack or keychain: check out Tangle.
• A GPS system to keep them from getting lost in the car.
• Watches with easy-to-read faces are a good gift. You can’t have too many watches.
• A digital camera for recording events.  People with ADHD tend to be visual learners.
• Those lavender scented heavy pads for shoulders.
• Massagers.
• Timers to remind them to take the cookies out of the oven, or to take a break.
• A relaxing music CD, such as classical music or instrumental jazz.
• ADHD self-help books.
• Nice pens and notepads for making lists.  Post-it notes.
• Bubbles are relaxing for children, because it requires slow breathing.
• Thank you notes or other stationery, with custom printed return address labels and stamps.
• A tiny zen rock garden.
• An artificial plant (you don’t have to remember to water them).
• Key organizer (to mount by the front door)
• Desk organizers
• Closet organizers
• Cosmetic bags and jewelry organizers
• Ornaments organizers
• Checkbook organizer and budgeting tools.
• Write on/wipe off calendars and white boards
• First aid kits, car emergency kits

Busch Gardens decks out its park holiday splendor for the annual offering of Christmas Town. Now through December 31, the popular park is illuminated with more than two million twinkling lights.

Check out the shows, holiday treats, Santa’s workshop, live penguins, and the park’s 50-foot tall, light-animated Christmas tree.   Sure, it’s a little over the top, but is it ever fun!  And the lights at night are magical.  Not all of the rides will be operating, but many will be. Don’t miss taking a ride on the train because that is really special.

Now for the shows.  One tactic might be to try and see the shows when the park opens, while it is still light. Because you will want to walk around a lot when it gets dark.

I’m going to give you fair warning about one of the shows: “Rejoice” in Ireland.  It’s singing monks. In sparkly robes. They are good singers and everything but I am going to go out on a limb here and say it is delightfully ludicrous.  I was terribly entertained by it but I had to stifle my amusement because most of the audience apparently thinks this is really moving, emotional stuff.  And it is — but it also has a highly cheesy element to it.  So maybe don’t drink before “Rejoice” if you think sober singing monks walking in formation in silver lame is funny or you might get some hard stares if you collapse into giggles, like I almost did (and I was not under the influence).

Also please note, it gets REALLY dark in the park after dark.  It is easy to lose track of kids so illuminate them if you can: I bought a sparkly Christmas necklace and that did the job.  If (like me) you have a hard time seeing in the dark, just allow yourself plenty of time to navigate out of the park when it’s time to go.  My son had to help me out!

There’s LOTS to eat.  It’s like going to the fair, but in the cold.  There are “sit down” meals but I think it’s more fun to buy from the sidewalk vendors.  We liked the grilled bratwurst in Germany and the wassail in Italy.  The bakery treats were lots of fun to see.

You don’t even need a car. You can take the train from DC or Alexandria to Williamsburg, cross the street to the visitor center, and hop on the free the shuttle bus to Busch Gardens.  It takes you there in minutes.

Admission is $23.99.  Call 800-343-7946 or visit www.christmastown.com for more information, including a complete operating schedule.

First, the lights. You will need 100 lights per foot of tree.

Secondly, those light strings contain lead.  So wear plastic gloves to protect your hands, and wash your hands afterwards and before eating anything, so you don’t accidentally contaminate yourself.

Now for the decorating…

From what I’ve observed on YouTube, you can approach this a number of ways.  Some people start by wrapping the trunk with a string of lights. Some people weave the lights up and down around the tree, and others wrap each individual branch, starting at the trunk and working outward.

Here are some videos that demonstrate those techniques…

Here’s the “wrap each branch” technique from Colonial Wiliamsburg…

And here’s the “weave around the tree” approach from Home Depot…

How do you put up your Christmas tree lights?

Holiday Visual Helpers

Visual helpers, like picture cards and schedules, help the person with autism organize their day, and understand activities have been completed and what is coming up next.  They are a great way to build competency by playing on a strength that tends to be strong in individuals with autism (visual processing, visual memory).

Here are some resources for free, printable visual helpers for the holidays…just laminate the cards, attach some velcro, and you’re ready to schedule!

• Download this Christmas board of picture cards
• Visit Tinsnips for free, printable Christmas conversation boards, illustrated songs, and worksheets

Sensory-Friendly Holiday Activities

When you have a person with autism with you, you generally may want to select activities that (1) they will find engaging and (2) that you can duck out of quickly, in case of sensory over-stimulation or melt-downs.  A lot of free Christmas activities fit the bill, such as open-air or open-seating concerts, where you don’t have to stay for the whole event.  As a parent, I just think it’s nice to go to part of something and enjoy it, rather than force my child to sit through an entire event and hate it.  I have also found that his tolerance builds up over time, so I think this approach has worked well.

Here is an article reviewing several annual events and  Christmas Activities in the Washington, DC area that my son and I have enjoyed (please double-check the dates, which change from year to year).

Coping with Family and Related Holiday Issues

I don’t know a family with autism that hasn’t struggled in some way with family and friends issues, primarily with acceptance.  This can be very hard at Christmas, particularly in the early years.  I feel it does get better with time, and I have developed new traditions that have made Christmas special to me again.  It is true that when you have a child with autism, your world can become smaller, and you can feel lonely, but the people who you come to count on become that much more dear to you.

Cathy Knoll, MA, MT-BC has a wealth of suggestions for dealing with extended family, sensory issues, gifts, holiday meals, and other autism issues that are unique to the Christmas season. Check out her holiday-related FAQautism blog posts and podcast episodes here.

Altering Holiday Routines

Shopping

For Christmas shopping, keep shopping excursions, short, targeted, and fun.  People with autism like things to be predictable.  Leisurely browsing for just the right gift doesn’t work; shopping with a list of three specific things to pick up from one store (during an off time) is a much better plan.

You know when your child is ready for a shopping trip.  Only go when you are both well-rested and in a good mood.  As with any excursion, it helps if you have in mind that if you have to cut things short and go home, that will be okay with you (so don’t leave things until the last minute).

Pick small and familiar, individual stores instead of huge shopping malls, or go on off-peak times, like Tuesday nights.  A crowded Saturday at the mall is not a good choice for a child with autism.  Neither is Wal-Mart.  Instead of going to Home Depot, you can go to a smaller hardware store.  Or try a museum gift shop for most of your gifts.  Keep it simple, and work in breaks for water and looking at elevators and other special interests.

For activities like cookie baking or tree trimming, bring your child in for the last part of the process, if his or her attention tends to stray.  For example, frost and decorate together a dozen cookies you have pre-baked.  Or get a small tree and let them hang a few ornaments.

Church Services

Many churches offer alternative holiday services that are less crowded, or especially designed for children during the holidays.  For example, you can attend Vespers on the afternoon of Christmas Day instead of a late Christmas Eve mass.

Presents

Don’t overwhelm the person with autism with loads of presents.  He or she may need to open presents over a period of time, even days, if it appears overwhelming.  In my house, my child receives three presents from Santa (just as the baby Jesus got three presents from the Wise Men), plus a stocking, and that works for him.  He gets more presents from relatives, but he literally takes weeks to open them all, because it is just too much stimulation for him.

For more inspiration, visit www.christmastown.com.

Some of these tips include using florist wire to attach the ornaments to the tree, placing larger Christmas balls deep inside the branches for background, using clip on ornaments on the very tips of branches, and decorating sections of the tree at a time to create repeated patterns of design all over the tree.

A fascinating look if you are going for a designer effect this year.