Flying home for Christmas
How sad it was to hear of Chris Rea’s untimely passing yesterday. His Driving Home For Christmas song is one of my all time favourite’s this time of year, and after years of living away from home it has long captured the Christmas spirit for me.
Rea was a huge Middlesbrough fan, and the Gone Fishing Christmas special with fellow Boro fan Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse has to be worth another watch over the next week.
There was also a Charlton connection to Chris Rea, in that his brother, Michael, led our retail operations during the Premier League years.
The Christmas tunes have been playing in our house for over a month, I feel like I live in a shop, but my holly, jolly-other-half and daughter push for them as soon as the clocks go back.
We leave Florida tonight for home. We won’t be driving, but flying into Heathrow late tomorrow morning. It is a lightening trip and over the course of four days we will see both of the families, as well as have a little decompression time in London at the very end to remind our daughter that she is a daughter of a Londoner.
It has been a long time since I managed to escape for a Boxing Day match, but I will be in a household full of Addicks on Boxing Day as we drink mulled wine, unwrap presents and have the game on in the background.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, whether you are driving home, staying at home or visiting family and friends.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you and yours. Safe travels. Not too far for me to travel this year for the Boxing Day game. Three points would be nice!
Hi CA, sorry to hear about Chris Rae’s passing, only 74, a very self effacing man, only playing one of his albums a few days ago, very sad. On a happier note, Merry Christmas to you and your family, have a good time while your here, especially when we win on Boxing Day.
Was absolutely gut wrenching to hear of the passing of my favourite musician Chris Rea yesterday had to listen to the albums road to hell and gods great banana skin again his music will always be a huge part of my teens and beyond happy Christmas and new year to all you guys on here and think about me on boxing day as my wife is a Norwich city fan COYR we ve got this 👍
Wishing you and your family CA a lovely Christmas and exciting 2026.
It was very sad to hear about Chris Rea and I’ve had the pleasure to go to many if his concerts over the years.
I knew his brother Michael when he worked at Charlton and want to pass in my condolences to the family.
Charlton fans have been on ‘the road to hell ‘ with previous owners !!!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year CA to you and your family. Have good one!
Happy Christmas to you and yours CA and safe travels. Look forward to catching up in the New Year. Have a good one!
Merry Xmas CA. Have a good trip. Am experiencing a sunny warm Xmas this time and will be able to see next to games with a pina colada in hand. And a Happy New Year.
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Another sad loss to the music industry. R.I.P Chris Rea.
On a happier note CA, I wish you and your family safe journey’s,a happy Christmas, and a prosperous New Year;
Where are we, LP?
Canaries – appropriate for tomorrow. Irish bar sorted. Happy Christmas. Xx
Merry Christmas CA and Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year. Sad about Chris Rea a very talented & lovely person, we use to play a few of his songs in my old band, may he now be driving to the gates of his new home in the skys!
Sad news about Chris Rea. I understand he had some serious ongoing health issues for some years. R.I,P to another music legend
On a happier note CA. I wish you and your family safe passage,a happy Christmas, and a prosperous New Year.