Bob Cratchit

I have often read A Christmas Carol and thought of Bob as my Victorian counterpart. Work wise he is the everyman of the time. Overworked, dispensable and older than his years. In his day you were dependent on your boss for a good or bad experience and it was overwhelmingly the latter. Things improved for a while when personnel departments were set up to look after the employees in mind, body and spirit. Then the name was changed to human resources and business began moving back to Bob Cratchit’s days as we once more became resources for the firm to use up and wear out for the benefit of shareholders. (End of Rant!)

However, Bob and I share more than that as people. Like Bob, my money is only valuable to keep a roof over my family’s head, food on the table and extra treats for birthdays and especially Christmas! I do spend money on myself but like Bob it is far more rewarding for me to spend money on my family and to see them succeed and be happy. We may not have a hearth and we may not mix up Christmas punch these days but, bar these superficial differences, my family gather round us like his did and give me the same joy and pride.