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After last week’s Celtic Foundation bucket collection at Celtic Park, my 12-year-old, who was collecting, was amazed that someone put a £20 note in his bucket.  He wanted to know why people do things like that.

There are lots of possible reasons.  It’s the right thing to do, there are many in our community who are need, and who we would happily help if they were standing beside us.  A lot has to do with upbringing, not everyone believes fraternal help services the common good, but for some, it’s part of their core values.  More precisely, it’s part of the values they acquired when they took to do with their football club.

In the early decades of Celtic Football Club, people literally ‘clubbed’ together to build the first, and then second, Celtic Park, mostly without pay.  An informal collection of labourers dug foundations and shovelled earth to create bankings.  Many got involved years after Walfrid left for pastures news, but the way in which the community claimed ownership of the club, without actually owning a share, of course, gave you and me an enormously privileged heritage.

We have a back narrative which most 21st century organisations could never dream of attaining.

I know that £20 is a lot of money to put into a bucket, but this year I’ve seen many people do this, and so much more, in the name of Celtic.

A year ago the CQN community told Mary’s Meals that we would build a school kitchen for them in Malawi.  We booked the Kerrydale Suite for CQ10 and hoped we could sell more than 30 tickets.  The night was sold-out and you raised over £23,000.  Before the night was finished the two guys from Mary’s Meals knew they had enough money to build three school kitchens!

The money was soon put to action, all three kitchens were completed by May.  Each day over 2000 primary-age children eat what is often their only meal of the day in a facility you paid for, prepared with utensils you bought.

The UN reckon Malawi is the 17th poorest country on the planet, but it is fertile for development work.  93% of the money raised by Mary’s Meals reaches the target communities.  The kids being fed in CQN kitchens for the last 7 months are heavier and healthier than before.  School attendance has increased by over 30%, so kids who previously had to labour for food are now getting an education instead.

They will have better life-choices as adults and more of them will be alive long enough to become adults.

The CQNers who started our charity activities nearly a decade ago are the golfers, they did so again in July, then there was the runners, the badge collectors and the many who were just touched by one story or another and stepped forward.

One of the reasons many of you should be proud of yourself is the Kano Foundation.  Kano – Martin Kane – was one of the original CQNers, who got up in the middle of the night in Perth W. Australia to watch his team, and argue with his pals on here.  When he suffered an enormously debilitating illness a community grew up around him, which became the Kano Foundation, and has since brought thousands of kids to see Celtic.

This week we learned Kano is seriously ill in hospital, so the seasonal cheer is tempered.

Whatever your memories of 2014 are, they will also be tempered by the challenges Wee Oscar and his family went through.  I know there are people who made an enormous difference to his life who first read about him here.  The stories of the work they put in will never be told, because that’s the way they want it, but they made a profound impact on the world.

2015 has a hard act to follow, but we’ve told Mary’s Meals we’ll build them another school kitchen, and we’ve just told Celtic to book the Kerrydale Suite for Friday 13th March for CQ11.  It’s St Patrick’s weekend, it’s League Cup Final weekend and it’s the week of the 50th anniversary of Jock Stein taking over; it has the making of a memorable night…..

Why do people put £20 into a bucket, why do thousands give anonymously throughout the year, why do hundreds go above and beyond the call of duty?  If you think Celtic is a football club, you’ve not been paying attention.  It is the most powerful social movement most of us will ever become involved with.

It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the family and humbling to see it in action.

Have a great Christmas, you deserve it.


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  1. Taurangabhoy on

    hrvatski jim no worries like water on a ducks back, jelly and ice cream for desert?. I admire you and yours thinking about downtrodden souls and those less fortunate at this time of year. Do you have a Christmas rebel cd? Waking up to a drizzly Boxing Day. Mrs T sister has organised a boat trip and three hour hike on Kapati island to walk off some of the Christmas fare. Have a great one everybody. Hail hail

  4. cliftonville celt from belfast on

    Wee quick look in just to say merry Christmas to all

     

     

    Thanks to everyone on here for just being on here 8-)

     

     

    God bless

  5. pigalle on

    Paul67

     

     

    Hats off to you, sir, on this Christmas Day.

     

     

    CQN is the stone cold best.

     

     

    Many thanks from this long time lurkaholic and infrequent poster.

     

     

    And a totally cool Yuletide to everybody on here.

     

     

    Glass raised.

     

     

    Thoughts especially with the George Square families and friends.

     

     

    God bless.

  7. San Diego Bhoy on

    Just finished a delicious breakfast, prepared by my lovely wife. We’re headed out for a beach stroll in the sunshine, then back to prepare the feast. The missus has opted to pilfer my rapidly deteriorating, raggedy “Maloney 13” long sleeve jersey for the walk. I’d have that wee lad back in Hoops for a season, or two.

     

     

    Comforting thoughts today sent to the families suffering their loss from George Square.

     

     

    Jamesgang, I trust you are revelling in happy reminiscences today.

     

     

    TravellerBhoy, we have not spoken before, but I have followed your stories from my lurkdom. You indeed do not walk alone. Delighted you are surrounded by family and laughter on this day and I hope forever more.

     

     

    A very merry Christmas to all Tims everywhere.

  8. 16 roads - Celtic über alles... on

    Thanks Ger57, Nollaig shona duit mo chara.

     

     

    A true Celtic gentleman, God bless you Sir and may 2015 be your best year yet.

     

     

    Slainte.

     

     

    HH.

  9. ToffeeTim on

    Merry Christmas to all my fellow Tim’s and brothers in CQN .

     

    Luv Yeez All !!

     

    Oooofffttttt I’m paying for that last Chipolatta now ;)

     

    Hail Hail NSNO !!

     

    Ps They’re deid am tellin ye they’re Deid !!!!

  10. Kilbowie Kelt on

    As a lover & sometimes critic of Paul’s blessed site, I have frequently grown weary of the members of our Celtic family who have lost respect for our great club & who feel comfortable about constantly criticising the Celtic men who are charged with governing the club & the guys we bring in to manage us, & who are all too ready to make definitive judgements on the never ending tide of young talent which inevitably comes to Celtic Park. I have never in my life made a hasty judgement on a young guy who has arrived at Parkhead… Never will.

     

    Nor have I ever written off any young player without giving him every chance to prove himself.

     

    If a player eventually fails then I will accept the situation & wish him well wherever he goes.

     

    I will still always care what happens to his career.

     

    Every one of them has become a member of my family.

     

     

     

    Today is a wee oasis in CQN.

     

     

    Some beautifully human contributions.

     

    Special posts by Old Tim & Traveller Bhoy, amongst many others, have caught the very soul of CQN.

     

     

    Seasons greetings to every single soul who has been lucky enough to have CELTIC as his passion.

     

    Condolences to those who have shared their recent bereavements with us.

     

    You know that each one of us is deeply touched by your loss & by the terrible tragedies which have blighted our great city.

     

     

    My thanks to Paul & to every single person who has been part of sustaining this great site.

  11. Taurangabhoy on

    Travellerbhoy thanks for sharing the real spirit of Christmas. Have a magic time with your family. Hail hail.

  12. sipsini on

    Travellerbhoy,

     

     

    I’m so glad for you mate and tell your bhoy hail hail from me.

     

     

    Jamesgang,

     

     

    Keep it lit big chap.

     

     

    Just a wee mention for my daughter, she did a grand job with the Christmas dinner today, her first time of trying, just me and the cat in now, he’s turkeyed and hammed out and stole my couch.

     

     

    Ach well, think I’ll have a wee drink and chill. Hail Hail tims.

  14. sipsini on

    ger57,

     

     

    Cheers mate, yip I’ve had a grand day, kids away out to party now, I might pop over to Jonnythetims, then again, it’s just him and his mrs in, they probably want a romantic night alone :)

     

     

    Hope yours went well ger and enjoy the night ahead. Hail Hail

  15. jamesgang on

    san diego bhoy

     

     

    You and I are separated by half the world but united in Celtic. Thank you for remembering me remembering my Mum. We’ve made just the day she’d have loved. That’s the greatest tribute we can offer.

     

     

    Sips

     

     

    Peace n love to you my favourite CQN fruit loop!

     

     

    KettlePotBlackCSC!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  21. Vmhan - YNWA Wee Oscar on

    travellerbhoy

     

     

    13:57 on 25 December, 2014

     

    ………….

     

    Just popped in for a read of your post, really chuffed for you and wish you all the very best for 2015.

     

    Hx2

     

    Offski again

     

    V

  27. NZB on

    Travellerbhoy,

     

     

    we dont know each other but after a comment from fellow posters the other week I was also wondering after you. Really great to hear things are good at this special time and a I thoroughly agree on the nature of our fellow tims and also the ethos of this site.

     

     

    Although we of course have our squabbles and disagreements, I am really grateful to learn from the experience, thoughts and reasoning of fellow posters and to see the warmth, openness and humanity of many.

     

     

    Happy Christmas to you and yours. To be honest you are too many to mention.

  32. ciarans dad 2 on

    Merry Christmas all from sunny Texas. CQN Annual and Caesar and the Assassin amongst the presents. Ciaran’s mum got the less than subtle hint.

  33. Dubaibhoy-Ur they still deid? on

    Paul,

     

     

    It’s a wonderful blog you have created (despite the ocassional bickering) and the work you do is a credit to yourself and your family.

     

     

    Merry Christmas to Tims everywhere and in particular Roger Milla and Awe Naw.

     

     

    Dubaibhoy

  36. dode on

    Merry Christmas to everyone on cqn, Paul you should be proud of yourself for giving us an opportunity to view our thoughts on the Celtic we all love

     

    my bhoy is over in Sydney this year for the first time,Christmas not the same this year but i know he is loving it so that’s all that matters.

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