The Best Christmas Was One I Couldn't See

Christmas Eve and they'd ordered me back for guard duty the next day.
In those days people stopped for soldiers. By 10pm, I stood by a roundabout at Stroud, in a blizzard, as white as my surroundings.
It was past midnight and there was scarcely any more traffic.
A car stopped.
Their farm was nearby and they gave me hot coffee and a plate of delicious curry, then made a call for me. I was so grateful.
My dad drove 347 miles, there and back, overnight.
Christmas was more visible in that 'white out' than it has ever been since.