'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'

Thinking about how hectic trying to organise a normal - no-frills Christmas is while I love this Christmas classic by 'Wizzard' I have severe reservations about the wonderfulness of a life spent in a continuously Christmas atmosphere!

Though I have been quite good at sticking to my game plan this year and now have all of my Christmas presents either on the way or wrapped and labelled there always seems to be something pressing that needs doing at this time of year which adds a stressful element to things.  One of the biggest handicaps I have when it comes to getting the most of of the festive season is that the remainder of my family either hate Christmas, find it 'boring as assholes' or simply make no effort to get into the Christmas spirit whatsoever! If at any time of the year you are surrounded by negativity it makes trying to get the most out of something you enjoy difficult. When I was at work I would often book up a Christmas holiday somewhere in order that I could be with people more inclined to have some fun. This has a double-edged sword feel about it though as Christmas is essentially about family and as lovely as new found friends might be they are have no history with you...

One year I went to Chester and stayed in a hotel there as part of a coaching holiday. The food was absolutely awesome and I took part in a fancy dress competition and met loads of interesting people including an ex- policeman who had a mutual interest in the Whitechapel murders of 1888. Not the most Christmassy of things to talk about over your Turkey and stuffing I will admit but it was a good ice breaker at the time!

Which one is the tree? HA HA- Chester, 2005.

This morning I have been trying to catch up on my Christmas card writing. I don't actually have enough cards which is a problem. Not having been able to get to as many Christmas Fairs this year It has not proven easy to get hold of really nice, home-made cards that I can afford. Some people at craft fairs charge in excess of £4 for a single card these days. That is way too much for someone like me who is out of work and so, however nice the cards are, I have to pass stallholders like them by...

'Bah Humbugism' does seem to be in full flight this year I have to say. There doesn't seem to be anywhere near as many Christmas trees in front room windows about the place nor as many fairy lights. Battle in East Sussex has turned out to be a kind of 'Mecca' for me this year.  Not only is it ablaze with festive lights the spirit of Christmas seems to hang in the air there. I wish I could get a hammock and spend a few nights sleeping in the shadow of the Abbey in front of the Christmas tree in the market square...

Oh well, at least Roy Wood was right with the festive feel when he wrote 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'. Like a lot of Christmas songs he actually recorded it in the summer of 1973 so the fact that he was able to tap into all of the great things about Christmas at that time of the year proves what a star he is!

Thank you Roy and a Merry Christmas to you!

'December '73'

I had a great day yesterday in the recording studio with Harvey Summers and have now completed a decent demo of another Christmas song, 'December '73'. The song is not as Christmassy as some of my others in  traditional respect (there are no sleigh bells or church bells on the record) but it has got a bouncy, 70's pop feel about it and plenty of baritone sax blasts which give it a 'Wizzardy' feel a la 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'. I am trying (over time) to record enough songs for a Christmas album but unemployment and dwindling savings will probably put paid to that project unless I can get back to earning decent wages again... Still, for now, I will just try to record the odd thing here and there to keep my hand in and see what happens.

My Youtube Christmas single (I 'release' one every Christmas) this year though is now likely to be a cover I did of David Essex' 'A Winters Tale'.

I have already put together a video for my version and will upload it to my Maybrick44 channel first week of Dec. Even though I love Christmas I do dislike the way all of the trees and decorations are put up in public places long before December. If those who currently say they hate Christmas hate it for one thing with a passion it is because the whole thing now starts earlier and earlier each year and has become so commercialised. I have to agree with them about that and think we really all ought to campaign more for Christmas to be confined to December.

Now, I know that is going to sound hypercritical seeing as I started this blog in the middle of October this year but I wanted to have plenty of festive musings here for those who catch on to this blog by the time Christmas actually comes. Christmas is as much about the build up as it is the BIG DAY and I just wanted to connect with a few like minded individuals to share in that build up.

I guess to be fair though that is the dilemma that faces most of the big companies and town councils as far as decorations go. I mean, if they leave it until the Christmas rush is beginning they don't have the time to put up the decorations or cope with it all, do they?

Oh well, ONE CALENDAR MONTH to the big one tomorrow! I hope you are doing well with getting all your presents in order early? I've only got two or three more to sort out so I'm relatively stress free! Hoping to spend next Sat in Battle, East Sussex enjoying the spectacle of Santa's arrival and the switching on of the Battle Christmas lights so Nov 30th will be when the official Christmas season starts for me this year!

Love to all. xx