On the Christma s thing.......I remember the Scatcc watch I was on all wanting to do Christmas day . We had a full dinner,secret Santa and double time. There was also virtually no traffic.
When I moved to the airfield side of the house we were usually required only in cases of emergency or something like ambulance flights. That was a case of being on call and was rotated through the holiday season with everyone getting some time with families (when possible). At the end of my career I (as Watch Manager) and having no kids usually was on standby.
Over 36 years it has changed dramatically. ..but I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Plazbot......give it a bloody rest.