'A Long Overdue Update'

 In case any of you have been wondering why this blog has fallen silent since Christmas 2020 I thought it time to post an update about just what has happened in my life since then.

Firstly, I lost my lovely Mum, Margaret Rose May on Nov 5th 2021 during the Covid pandemic. The stress of that entire 'lockdown' period and having to deal with both my Mum's illness and my Dad's battle with serious mental heath issues took its toll on me and I 'lost my mind' and ended up in a Mental Hospital...

I was in one of the two different Hospitals that I ended up in all over Christmas 2011 and had no access to the outside world at all. I am not a mobile phone user (HATE them!) and had no money on me so was 'completely out of the loop' throughout that whole period. 

The horrific things that happened to me and that I saw and felt during that period of eight weeks - I was released on 14th of Jan 2022 - will stay with me always. Though (thankfully!) most of them were hallucinations (brought on (I assume) by my illness and the drugs I was on to cure me) and not actually real they WERE real to me and I can still remember pretty much exactly what happened, who I was with, what I said etc from that period. It was all pretty scarey stuff and I believed I was 'Jack The Ripper' at one point and heard a dear female friend of mine being raped by two men multiple times and murdered (whilst she screamed my name through the walls but I could not go to her aid) on another occasion...

As you can well imagine (though I am much better now thank God!) these experiences have taken a huge toll on me and to some extent are things I feel I am unlikely to ever fully recover from...

Since that time I have been unable to function in any kind of emotional way really. Even writing birthday cards I find unpleasant! I guess it's because - having been so damaged by loss - my mind thinks it better not to get so fond of anyone anymore. However silly that is and sounds I can understand why I am that way because no-one would ever want to go through what I have been through again. I no longer watch any news reports nor read any newspapers either because it is all bad news, lies (in my opinion!) and negative stuff that either makes you feel unsafe, frustrated, angry or scared and I need to keep well away from all of those kind of feelings!

Sadly, since Mum died I haven't really been able to 'do Christmas' and have not written a single card nor bought any presents for anyone since that time. I really understand now how Ebeneezer Scrooge felt when he lost his beloved sister but unlike him I do hold hopes of one-day getting my 'festive mojo back'. For now though it all seems 'too soon' and the way that the world has changed so dramatically for me since I was ill ( I also lost my best friend, Keith Tooke 5 months after Mum died when he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly) has done a lot of emotional damage. So much so that the 'thrill' I used to get each year as the festive season approached has gone. I seem incapable of being touched now by the spirit of Christmas and all the joy of giving and receiving has simply died...

It is all very sad (if understandable) and I have lost touch with lots of people since my illness. This is in part down to the fact that (ironically!) I am not having to act as a carer for my Dad who is 87 and cannot do many of the things he used to be able to for himself anymore. I am grateful though that I am seemingly coping o.k. with that task and doing a good job in a tough situation but life is a VERY long way from what it was! You only get one Mum in this world and she is the best friend you will ever have so even if you lose her in ordinary circumstances it is life changing!

Anyway, I thought I'd post here (finally) to let you all know what the situation is (for now)...

I do send all of you my love and pray that life will be much kinder to you than it has been to me this last 4 or 5 years but then I WAS so lucky to have such a happy childhood and home life for so many years and I try to remember that...

You are all in my prayers,

Love, Tony May xx

'Merry Christmas!'

Well, how was it for you? (lol)

No, I mean CHRISTMAS! 

O.k. - enough of the ' crimbo cracker' humour - I am actually feeling quite emotional today for a number of reasons. 

The first being that I have had a nice, quiet Christmas with my Mum and Dad - something that I am only too aware of is unlikely to be something I will be able to say much longer. It hasn't all been 'rosy' though as Mum got upset at not being able to see my brother, Geoff and the rest of our family on Christmas Day and Dad has been in a lot of physical pain one way and another as well as being 'bored stupid'.

There is though and never will be any substitute for being with family at Christmas time and I myself had a 'little blub' this morning while watching the excellent Channel 5 documentary about George Michael on T.V. Having to go home for Christmas to a Dad that you don't feel able to tell that you are gay must be awful but having to do that when your lover is also dying of A.I.D.S. half the way around the other side of the world is worse than tragic. When you watch the documentary you realise why George ended up doing some of the apparently bizzarre things that he did and get a somewhat 'piercing view' into what life as a Superstar is like. As most who know me will tell you - I myself have always craved fame and (more importantly) recognition but watching programmes like this one on George make a person realise that it isn't always such a bad thing to be a 'torn out punter from Hastings'.

George Michael was a lovely bloke - something a lot of us found out in the most graphic way for the first time when he died and his generous deeds of kindness came out. I am so glad that he will forever be associated with 'the spirit of Christmas', of 'good will to all men' and also of honesty and humour. How he dealt with his 'misdemeaners' in life is an example to us all and proof that if we choose to deal with things in the right way they don't have to brand us with negative vibes forever - a genuine apology and a 'hands up' approach mean a lot to people and most of us like to forgive if given the chance...

It has also been a very odd Boxing Day for me. Usually on this day I am with my 'punting pals' and we are down the bookies and out of the house meeting 'our fellow punters' swapping tips and stories and DREAMING of a nice win to pay for our Christmas! (lol) 99 times out of a hundred I lose on Boxing Day and come home deflated but this year not even being able to get a bet on at all - let alone be with a real human being! - has really brought home my sense of loss. I think we are all going to be much more appreciative of 'the simple things' in life if and when we beat this virus and losing on the horses having spent an afternoon with the 'lads on the lash' will seem like fun - even if I come home wearing nothing but a barrel! (lol)

Typically today, when I absolutely could not get a bet on, I reckon me and my mate Paul would have won but whether we would have won a lot is doubtful. The King George at Kempton was a brilliant race and Jockey, Bryony Frost rode a BRILLIANT tactical ride on 20/1 winner 'Frodon'. We all knew that the little horse was 'tough as nails' and would give it his best shot from the front but Bryony (surely the best lady Jockey of all time so far) got her tactics SPOT ON and judged the pace of the race perfectly to give 'Fro' as she calls him the best chance of 'grinding the others into the dust'.

Yet  more tears filled my eyes when she passed the winning post and for me the spirit that 'Frodon' shows is the very same as that which we must now all show in fighting coronavirus. Attack and defence at just the right time and for just the right amount of time are the key - we may be 20/1 outsiders in a straight fight but brains can often beat brawn if a little patience is involved! Well done, Bryony! I think you should get the 'ride of the year' award for today's performance and seeing you and Frodon win in the way that you did helped to remind me just why I LOVE Horse Racing - regardless of whether I have a bet on it or not.

The cards and 'bits' you can see here are all mementoes I shall keep from this years crop of cards and tags. I have literally a suitcase full of old cards up in our loft and wouldn't have it any other way! (lol)

Enjoy the rest of Boxing Day and DO be careful from now on for a while - especially on New Years Eve - and I will see you all again next year (God willing) for some more festive blogging...

Lots of love, Tony May xx

'No Show For My Christmas Show Thanks to Mr. C'

 Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! This year has been a real bar-steward hasn't it! As I expect you found out this morning, in spite of all of our efforts planning it my Christmas appearance on C.H. R. (Conquest Hospital Radio) had to be cancelled at the last minute because of the pandemic. Jeff Belton and I were prepared to go to the Conquest and do the show but with Hastings & St Leonards in a bad way with new infections and the Conquest housing a good many Covid patients now the head of C.H.R. decided the safest thing to do was to cancel all live shows for the time being...

As GUTTED as I was to hear the news yesterday I can't say that I blame him. There might be a chance (depending on what happens with the virus) that Jeff and I will get to do the show at a later date but even if we do it won't be quite the same as doing it in the run up to Christmas.

ANYWAY, no point in dwelling on spilt milk and so I think to cheer you up a bit I will tell you a few of the 'crap jokes' I had written especially for the show - that way you will be GLAD that it was cancelled! (lol)

Here goes...

Have you ever stopped to think about how thousands of women have babies delivered each year and yet you never see anyone sign for them on the doorstep.

My mum said that she wanted something sweet for Christmas this year - so I bought her a sofa.

My Doctor always tells me that I am on a diet entirely of my own making - in the respect that no matter what he tells me to do I am determined to eat what I like until I die!

Why are Artists always tougher than the best Boxers? Because once they get their brushes out and start painting they can put anyone on the canvas!

(This one isn't mine but it's definitely crap enough to have been!) What do you call Father Christmas without any underpants on? - Saint Knickerless! 

So then,  I bet you feel better about missing out on my show now! (lol)

Still, it is not all misery here at the moment. I have had a lot more crimbo cards show up in the post and a few 'mystery' presents as well... what was that? What do I mean 'mystery present' - don't I know who they are from? Oh, I know who they are from alright it's just a mystery why anyone would want to buy me anything in the first place! (lol)

I have been a 'good boy' though so far and not 'peeked' at any of the gifts I've recieved, well, bar one that I didn't realise was a Christmas present and opened by mistake! I suspect I have a new CD to enjoy from my old mate, Dave Arnold along with a card and Jeff and Wendy Belton delived (from a social distance!) a lovely plant that they said contained a 'surprise'... Well, I wasn't sure how a plant could 'hide a surprise' so was intregued... It was a lovely, tall and green plant with funny shaped leaves and it 'ponged' a bit but I could not find anything hidden about 'it's person' at all? Just as I was about to give up on discovering the secret of its surprise there was a knock at the front door. It was two burly Policemen! Turns out my 'gift' is a Cannabis plant and the 'surprise' is about 3 months starting from January 10th according to the Cheif Inspector!  I pleaded my innocence of course but all to no avail - I guess I should have worried when I saw the little card that came with it said 'With love from Ernie The Elf' - Jeff Belton never has forgiven me for my stunt in 'making him a father live on air' two years ago! (lol)

Now, just in case you are a member of the police reading this - I am of course 'extracting the urine' with the above JOKE and do not wish to be raided! The nearest I get to 'pot' is twisting my ankle while crossing the road and the only smoke I ever see is when I burn all my old betting slips!

What? I'm talking a load of.... 

Well of course I am! I've got to fill up some space on this blog SOMEHOW this Christmas! It's not as if I can show you all pics of my 'adventures' like normal is it?

Oh well, time to love and leave you for now but as Arnie says 'I'll be back'!

'Finding Solace In The Simple Things'

 As much as I am trying to be positive about Christmas this year if I am honest I am nursing a broken heart over the loss of my beloved Debenhams and tears keep flowing every time I try to concentrate on writing my 'tribute' article for 'Hastings Town' magazine 'making life difficult'...

In so many ways for me losing Debenhams is (almost) like losing a member of my family and because I have lots of lovely memories of my Nan tied up in the place as well it almost feels like losing her all over again, you know?

In many ways I have 'retreated' into the world of the 1970's this last few weeks and taken to watching lots of old programmes from that period on DVD. Networkonair.com is a brilliant place to shop for vintage films, dramas and television series and I have been enjoying Christmas episodes of 'classic' 70's comedies like 'The Rag Trade', 'Bless Me Father' and 'Two's Company' via their 'Classic ITV Christmas Comedy' compilation DVD set. I guess we are all feeling the need to escape the world as it is at the moment and for me that means returning to a time when I felt safe and didn't really have a care in the world. Childhood is such a great thing when you are brought up in a loving family environment and I was exceptionally lucky in that regard - something for many years I took for granted was the same for everyone until I learn't more about life.

Aside from cheering me up a bit all of my 'vintage viewing' has also brought a lot of memories back. Simple family related things, 70's life related things and even the odd smell and taste. One of which being the distinctive (and thankfully timeless) taste of Jaffa Oranges! I bet most reasonably well-off families had an ornate glass bowl full of Jaffa Oranges in their front room in the 1970's - probably in the centre of the living room on the coffee table next to the T.V. Times and Radio Times!

Blissfully, the scent and taste of Jaffa Oranges today is almost exactly the same as it was then and because of that I have been eating one a day every day since I heard the news about Debenhams as a kind of 'comfort food'. Immersing myself in the past has also inspired me and the other day I wrote the following 'Ode to the Jaffa Orange' because of that. Have a read and see if my poem connects with your 'inner child'! If so, do please let me know how it made you feel and what memories it evoked for you, won't you?

Max Jaffa

When I peel an Orange

I smell memories that date back as far as I can remember

When I taste an Orange

I am reminded of the sun, of happiness and of freedom

When I roll an Orange

I am a boy again and see my Grandfather at Christmas, hear the cracking of hazelnuts and dream of tiny hammers and of the toffee tray

When I see an Orange

I am reminded of simplicity and of how the simple things in life are often the best

When I share an Orange

I think of Tiny Tim and of a re-awakened Ebeneezer Scrooge - no longer scarred by life but touched by love

When I dissect an Orange

I think of chocolate of Terry Scott and yearn for a ‘curly wurly’

And when I paint an Orange

I feel comforted and content - safe in the knowledge that when I finish my painting all of the above shall never be lost to me…

Antony May 14/12/20

'A Festive Update!'

 Hi Everyone!

So, how is your Christmas shopping going? I'm doing pretty well with mine but there are always those 'hard to know what to get sorts' that seem to be the eternal puzzle!

I have been busy preparing for my appearance on the Jeff Belton Full English Breakfast Christmas Show on C.H. R. (Conquest Hospital Radio) and have found lots of fun and Christmassy records to play you on the 23rd! A side from the music, Jeff and I are also planning to perform during a 'Stritctly Cum Christmas' section, organise a Christmas yo-yoing competition and to battle it out live on the air playing a simple little game I have invented called 'Santa's Pop-A-Pod' game! Whatever happens it is going to be fun and the nearest thing you will get to the 'office party' this year so make sure you tune in between 9AM and12 midday on Dec 23rd!

A Daft Festive Painting Of Mine!

My reputation as a 'Christmas person' (or 'nutter') also got me an invite recently to put together a short, fun Christmas Quiz for Artsonprescriptions online Christmas zoom party on the 18th of December.  I had a lot of fun yesterday doing the research and compiling the quiz and am now looking forward to being 'Honourary Quizmaster'. With 20 multiple choice questions of mirth and madness to challenge and entertain my 'subjects' I hope to put plenty of smiles upon faces AND help teach everyone a few fun facts about Christmas in the bargain! I will most likely post these quiz questions here nearer to Christmas so that you can 'all have a go at home' -as dear old 'Brucie' used to say on the Generation Game! So keep your eyes peeled for that!

For all of the frivolity to come this Christmas isn't going to be the same as normal. My Christmas perpetually starts with the St Clements Church Christmas Fair in Hastings Old Town but that like many other seasonal events had to be cancelled this year. Still, all we can do this time around is try and think of the current restrictions as a 'challenge'. 

If there is indeed more than one way to skin a cat (though I've never understood why anyone would want to skin a cat in the first place? Maybe this folk lore comes from the time of witches and witchcraft?) then there HAS to be a plethora of new ways we can get into the festive spirit, hasn't there? I have certainly found one by joining up with the Artsonprescription team and getting creative! I am never going to be 'Picasso' but drawing and painting are relaxing and fun ways to pass the time when 'Mr Johnson' says that you have to 'Stay In, Wash Your Hands, Wear A Batman Mask and an inflatable Kermit Suit and Save Lives' (or something like that!). I have even 'taken the plunge' and bought a little wooden Christmas house I intend to paint from 'The Works' (£10 - a bit overpriced but HUGE Fun) so inspired I've been by learning all about 'the colour wheel' and 'impressionism'. I'm getting better at painting and can do a half decent Baron Greenback (from 'Dangermouse') impression as well though how Rory Bremner and his cohorts helped some of the greatest impressionistic painters I don't know? I suppose Henri Matisse did have a passing resemblance to Spike Milligan...

Look, enough of this drivel, keep smiling, keep Christmas in your heart, get creative and HAVE FUN this year -whatever! x

'My First Christmas Fair Of The Year'

It was the annual Christmas Fair at St Luke's Church in Silverhill today! I always try to get along to the little churches 'festive do' as it is always a lovely event with a nice community atmosphere. The Church hall is big enough to make browsing fun but not so big that you lose the intimacy, if you know what I mean? I always associate the way that the parishioners lay out tables in the centre of the hall with Christmas table cloths on and implements for Tea and biscuits with the 'Women's Institute' for some reason (probably because my mates Mum, Mrs. Crouch was in the habit for many years of baking cakes for similar events and she was a W.I. member) and the whole event somehow evokes thoughts of a bygone age...

It is a fact, sadly that many of the generation of people who put a lot of work into running such events at local churches and community centres are now dying off. There were not as many stalls this year as last and the queue at the door before the STRICT opening time of 10AM only consisted of about a dozen or so people whereas I recall it stretching all the way back to the pavement in Sedlescombe Rd South a few years back. I always say to my Mum (who went with me) how we must all appreciate such events while we still have them because I can't see the latest 'always too busy on their phones' generation being bothered about 'Christmas Fairs' - or any social activity that involves the real world for that matter! (lol)

While there was a CRACKING selection of fresh, home made cakes to buy and sample this year and a HUGE raffle with maybe 100 or more prizes I was a bit disappointed with what was on offer on the majority of the other stalls this year. In my opinion there were far too many raffle style stalls where you had to rely purely on luck to get anything. I prefer to be able to buy items as - not being very lucky with raffles (or any form of gambling for that matter!) I often end up spending a lot of money and come away empty handed. I did have a go on the MacMillan Nurses stall though (and lost!) because that is a cause worth supporting.

My main disappointment this year though revolved around the AMAZING lady who sold home made Christmas cards to me last year. I got some genuine bargain cards last year at incredible prices and was looking to 'fill my boots (or stockings!)' again this year but though there was a card stall the cards were more expensive this time and not as nice so I didn't buy any. I do recall that the lady that sold me them last year was quite elderly so maybe she is not as fit as she was or no longer with us now...

The tea was great though! A really fresh and invigorating brew and the choccie biscuits were nice. I would have LOVED to have had a go in the raffle but it was not to be drawn until about 1pm and as I have lots of things to do at this time of year ( Reindeers to train & feed, Sleigh to get through another M.O.T etc) I wasn't going to be able to be there at that time. This is a common problem for me and spoils my enjoyment of a lot of Christmas Fairs. I know that you can write your name and number on the back of your tickets but I like to be able to choose my own prize if I win and you have to arrange to go and collect your prize from the venue as well, which can be tricky.

I DID get something (or someone!) that I LOVE at the Fair though and hope to get them to make a special appearance with me on the Jeff Belton Christmas Show on Conquest Hospital Radio on Christmas Eve! More about that in future posts! (lol)

Photo by Keith Leech

The next Christmas Fair I hope to get to is next Saturday the 23rd of November. It's the BIG ONE for me at St Clements Church in High Street and so I shall hope to pick up some wonderful cards and gifts there! I often 'bump into' people I only ever see at that event as well (hi Paul Bryant!) and am hoping that will be the case again this year so we can share a cuppa and a cake or something and have a good natter. The raffle at St Clements is always a good one but I have never won anything (yet) - mainly though I suspect because I am hard to catch by phone so even if I do win and they try to reach me I probably won't be in at the right time! Maybe this year I will try and stay to the end so that I can see the raffle drawn live!

Lastly, November the 30th sees the annual Christmas Fair at The Holy Redeemer in Upper Church Rd take place. That's another Fair I usually attend. It's not always been great for me as far as 'finding a bargain or a gift for someone' goes but the atmosphere is ALWAYS Christmassy and there are plenty of stalls of all sorts!

If you see me at any of the above do say hello!

'The Thursford Christmas Spectacular'

Well, they say that Christmas is the time of year to think about giving and I am very glad to say that a friend of mine has done a LOT of that in regard to me this year! The result of which being that I had an unexpected chance to visit the Thursford Christmas Spectacular last week!

Now, if you have not heard about the show before it is a three hour variety type stage show that features over 150 people and incorporates, music, dance, acrobatics & comedy in such a way as to paint as many beautiful, emotive and funny pictures of the festive season as possible. In many ways its a bit like crossing the Circus with 'Saturday Night At The London Palladium' and as such is a fun experience for all the family!

I went by coach with Clive Richardson Tours (thoroughly recommended!) and stayed in the Comfort Hotel in Great Yarmouth. Thursford is about a 75 minute drive from Great Yarmouth but the Spectacular has grown so popular now that it is hard to find a hotel much closer than that with enough room for a coach party at a reasonable cost. The staff at the hotel were lovely actually - full of fun and prepared to do anything for you AND the food was good - so whatever the inconvenience of the location I was well satisfied!

Sadly, you are not allowed to take any photos of the performance itself nor take any videos or record any sounds so I can't show you anything here but I will say that, as long as you can put up with being seated in fairly narrow seats for three hours (there is a 25 minute interval to help give your knees a break) then the show itself is a 10/10 experience and well worth a visit - especially as not all of the show takes place on the stage - some of the performers actually stand in the aisles and perform making it rather an 'immersive' show rather than a 'spectators only' one. I did make sure to ask if photos in the other areas on the site are permitted though and was told 'Yes' - hence the pics you can see here.

The Entrance To 'Fantasy Land'

The site itself has plenty of other attractions aside from the Spectacular including some lovely, Christmassy places to eat, a few gift-shops and a TOTAL delight for you and the kids in the shape of 'Fantasy Land' where you can meet Santa, get a glimpse into the work he and his elves do in the run up to Christmas and see a 10 minute Christmas cartoon in 4D! That's quite an experience I can tell you!

A Glimpse Inside 'Fantasy Land'

It does cost £5 to visit 'Fantasy Land' but that includes the 4D Cartoon experience. BIG kids will LOVE glimpsing Santa's little helpers at work, listening to his singing and dancing penguins and dodging the snowballs thrown at you by naughty Polar Bears! I have no idea though how much it costs to visit Santa as, obviously as I am he, the man is an imposter! (lol)

If you go to the afternoon performance it is well worth taking your time AFTER the show to soak up some of the festive atmosphere! The shops on-site close after half time in the Spectacular but once it gets dark the whole site becomes a festive fairyland and you will only take an age to get out of the car park anyway because of the amount of coaches trying to get away before the next set arrive for the evening performance. Kids will LOVE the twinkling Reindeers and the multi coloured bulbs that make the Christmas trees look AMAZING!

'The Thursford Spectacular Site After Dark'

If you are reading this in East Sussex I would also recommend you go with Clive Richardson Tours. While some of Clive's jokes may have 'retired from Christmas crackers' he is a great bloke and knows a lot of interesting things about places, buildings, traditions and the Spectacular itself that he tells you from time to time to make the traveling itself less dull. There is also a wonderful sense of community on Clive's coach and no 'nasty' technology on the backs of the seats to 'drag you back to the life you should be trying to get away from', either. No, everything about a Clive Richardson Tour is about 'being a part of it' and having fun as much as possible as a group and that is lovely, if like me, you are on your own and can use the camaraderie.

I know from speaking to, Clive that this tour gets booked up really quickly each year so my advice if you want to have the 2020 show to look forward to is to book your place a.s.a.p.

If you'd like to find out more - go to Clive's website here http://cliverichardsontours.com where you can download his latest brochure/s for free!

'Shop Local This Christmas!'

I always think that at Christmas time it is a good time to try and 'whip back in time' to a period like the 1980's when trips to your local The Town Centre or to Kings Road (if you are from Hastings) were all the rage as far as Christmas shopping was concerned.  Back then we all mainly 'shopped local' aside from the odd day trip to somewhere like Brighton or London and as a result probably knew most of our local shop keepers and traders. While online shopping is much more convenient it lacks that 'personal touch' and you really do feel good when you spend money in a local shop and see how happy your custom and support makes the owners!

This said, I do have to admit that there are some items these days that due to the loss of a lot of our High Street shops it is virtually impossible to buy 'the old fashioned way' now. One of the exceptions though are Christmas cards and in many cases (as you see here) if you take a walk around your local area you will find a good many fascinating and great value craft shops!

Take a look at these wonderful, beautifully made Christmas cards I picked up in Bexhill the other day, for example! Hand made out of really sturdy card they each feature really traditional, heartwarming Christmassy designs and have plenty of room for you to write a few words to loved ones in as well as a simple festive message inside. You won't get cards as nice nor anywhere near as good value (these were just 60p each!) in any of the 'chain' card shops you know and certainly not online!

The shop I bought them from is called 'Thingamjigz' and is run by two nice ladies who always greet you with a smile. It is in The Mall in Western Road and features a whole host of other cards, craft items and potential gift ideas so why not pop along, get yourself a bargain or two AND save yourself some money!

And yes, I do know that many of you no longer send 'proper' Christmas cards! You 'go digital' and see  one of those amazing 'Jacquie Lawson' animated cards instead. Well, I must admit they are fantastic and always nice to receive but in my experience you don't get the same 'festive feel' that you pick up when 'sorting out' who to send which one to that you definitely get when you interact with real people in a real life scenario! Postage costs are a 'passion killer' these days I grant you but you must admit surely that it is always special when you receive a hand written Christmas card from family or friends from afar rather than just an animated one in your inbox.

As I am very definitely 'old school' I will never give up on sending our real cards - even if the postage costs do make me wince! The next time you begrudge sending someone a real card or buying them a present just think for a moment about how your life would be if that person was not there anymore? Christmas is always a 'double edged sword' as far as thinking of people is concerned so make sure you do all you can while you can to let those in your life you care about that you love them is my motto!

I will understand though if you try not to befriend any new people who live in the U.S, Canada or Australia! (lol)

'A Christmas Carol Has Worked Its Magic Again!'

It is common knowledge that I consider, Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol' to be the greatest story ever written bar none and I often try to watch the Alastair Sim version of the movie once as Christmas Day draws near. There have been numerous screen versions of the story and most are worth watching but for me, Alastair Sim's 'Scrooge' is the one that I can relate to more than any other. Not only does Sim play 'Scrooge' with conviction the characters gradual repentance is believable thanks to his numerous complaints that he is 'too old to change his ways' etc. In a lot of the films I've seen the transformation from the bitter and cold man Scrooge has become thanks to the harshness of the world and the loss of his beloved sister, Fan comes too easily and thus even the elation of the 'happy to be alive' Ebenezer falls a bit flat. I ALWAYS end up with a kind smile upon my face when I see Sim's Scrooge jumping about and doing silly things like a madman after the visit of the three ghosts...

'Bob The Bauble' mimics the re-born, Scrooge!

The supporting cast are all excellent as well! George Cole plays the young Scrooge (He and Alastair Sim were very close in real life as well) and a VERY young, Nicholas Parsons appears as 'Tiny Tim'.  Well, according to IMDB, Glyn Dearman plays 'Tiny Tim' but you take a look at the film and then tell me that it isn't, Nicholas Parsons!  Patrick McNee (Young Jacob Marley) and Hattie Jacques (Mrs Fezziwig) are also in it and the elder/ghost, Jacob Marley is brilliantly played by, Michael Hordern.

The film was released in 1951 and I have seen it about 7 or 8 times during my lifetime, which is easily a record for me as I'm not generally one for repetition of any kind.

The great thing about watching, A Christmas Carol though is that it helps you to 'take stock' of your life and shows you the enormous value of the people you know to your general happiness. Money is always a difficulty at this time of year and so many people get caught up in the commercialised side of it but at the end of the day it really is 'the thought that counts'. Its such a shame that nearly all of the wonderful people who made this film are now dead but their influence lives on and shall live on for future generations via this film. Alastair Sim also features in my favourite film of all time, 'School For Scoundrels' with Terry-Thomas and Ian Carmichael so in a lot of ways he is one of my favourite Actors.

I fear I may have 'forged a chain of many heavy links' like, Jacob Marley in this world not so much through greed for money or being 'tight' but for being a bit 'closed hearted' to much of the suffering in the world. Mankind should be all of our business but I feel close only to a small percentage of it. Hopefully, I do a fair job of showing how I feel to that small percentage and try to look after people I love the best way that I can but I just don't feel able to 'throw my arms around the whole world'. Whatever fate awaits me though I wish there were more time to try and help me to experience some of the numerous things I have missed out on in this world.

Photo courtesy of allposters.co.uk

Scrooge is right in one respect that it is VERY hard to tread a new path once you have spent a LIFETIME walking down a familiar one. I would love to get married one day but just think I have 'missed the boat' on that front now and with so many possessions that remind me of cherished moments in my past I can't really see how I could 'start a new life' with someone as part of an 'us'. So sad really because I do have a lot of love to give...

Oh well, maybe just one person who reads this 'revealing and honest' blog post this Christmas will manage to change their life and become  like the 'new born' Scrooge. We all feel we are 'alone with thinking this or that' at some time or other in our lives and never more so than at Christmas time so my hope is, if not for me, that these words will help one of you in your time of dilemma...

Merry Christmas xx

P.S. If you think 'Bob the Bauble' is cute I got him in the Town Hall at the Grassington Christmas Fair.

'Less Than A Month!'

I am working hard to try and get prepared and organised for Christmas in good time this year after a couple of 'debacles' the last two years. When you fail to sort things out before the word 'December' hits the calendar you are on a very slippery slope! By GUM the time flies away from you at that point and as you become too stressed to enjoy anything you miss out on the magic of the run up to Christmas and how that can make you feel...

When you are organised, have written all your cards, sent all the overseas ones, written all of the letters to go inside them AND have sorted and wrapped up all of your presents though you can just relax and soak up the festive atmosphere. The  Christmas lights have now been switched on in Battle and there is no better a place to go - especially when its getting dark to feel the 'Disney' kind of vibe that Christmas evokes. The sight of Battle Abbey all lit up and of the tiny Christmas trees that usually hang out from above shop fronts around the Market Square is amazing and as there are also plenty of public benches to sit on in the square you can simply relax, be merry and think of favourite memories or of 'the things to come' this year.

I am soon to be 'off on my travels' back to Grassington and the Dickensian Festival there. It should be fun but I reckon this year its going to be much colder and probably damper up in Yorkshire than last year. I'm going to try and fit in all of the things I missed last year (including a trip to the little museum there) AND make the time to go and have a pint in the quaint little Pub there. Hopefully, the trip will live up to my expectations but its always a risk 'going back' to somewhere in consecutive years because if its not so good the second time you kind of spoil your overall memories of the place, you know?

I had a 'traditional taste' of High Street shopping yesterday in Hastings. It brought home to me just why most of us shop online these days because, try as hard as I might to support the High Street, I could not find the item I wanted to buy anywhere in Hastings. Every shop I went to that I thought would have it did not and in the end that is what you are up against. Time is of 'the essence' to most people these days what with 'flexible' working hours and so the average person needs to be able to find what they want quickly. Mind you, It did bring back lots of happy memories of shopping back in the 1980's when we would all be seen carrying a plethora of carrier bag fulls of stuff in town on a Saturday or at Christmas time. I used to love looking at people struggling with all their bags and  wonder who they were buying the stuff for? The snag with all kinds of shopping is that the more a person looks  - the more they buy and usually for themselves! (lol) We all know what WE want but struggle to find presents and so for every £1 you spend on someone else you are likely to spend twice that on yourself! (lol)

I did get some LOVELY Christmassy enamel badges (you can see a few of them here) though from one of the St Michael's Hospice charity shops. All of the money raised goes to help the hospice and so I couldn't resist - especially as the designs are so cute and festive. In my situation I shouldn't really be 'handing out money' but Christmas is all about 'good will to all men' (I do feel sorry for women on this occasion!) and the hospice do such fantastic work.

Finally, I managed to get a glimpse of the fabulous old Steam Train that visited Hastings Station yesterday afternoon at around 3pm. While the weather was rotten and it was raining looking down on the train from the bridge in Linton Rd was a lovely, nostalgic and emotive experience. There was quite a crowd with me, which was nice to see, and we all 'oohed and aahed' when 'the old girl' fired up and pulled away in clouds of steam towards us and we heard that (once) familiar chugging sound as she picked up speed. It was only a Steam Train but it brought back so many wonderful memories for me of my Nan and Grandad, Fish N' Chip suppers and sitting on the bridge watching the trains in their old Austin A40. Whenever a Steam Train came in or went out of Hastings Station I used to delight in getting enveloped in the smoke as it went under the bridge and would then rush over to the other side of the road to watch it gradually disappear into the tunnel. I did most of that yesterday (couldn't get really into the smoke due to the crowd) and so for me that train yesterday was like catching a glimpse of the Polar Express...

You can see a video of the Steam Train on my Youtube channel, Maybrick44. Sadly, we are not allowed to include links here anymore but if you type in 'Steam Returns To Hastings' and Maybrick44 into your browsers you should find it o.k.

Love Tony xx

'New Christmas CD's'

I LOVE Christmas shopping! Even though it often 'does your head in' trying to work out what to buy people I love the 'thrill of the chase' and often end up buying stuff for myself that I 'discovered' that I didn't intend to!

The snag is, of course, that while we all know instantly what WE would like for Christmas (cue an evening of chat about music, life and Christmas with, Kim Wilde and a romantic dinner with Claudia Winkleman!) we only really find out how LITTLE we know about our friends when its time to buy them something! (lol)

I always take a good 'scroll' down the list of new Christmas albums on Amazon.com at this time of year as well to see which artist has 'done a Mariah' this year! One thing that often irks me though is that prior to an albums release date you cannot even have a listen to 'previews' of the songs via their Mp3 choice. How silly is that! I mean, if people can get a 'sneak preview' of 30 seconds of each song or even a few songs on the album they will be MORE likely to pre-order it or buy it as soon as it comes out. Denying people the chance to hear a single bar beforehand is thus surely BAD for sales and only likely to COST artists as it is easy to forget all about something at this time of year and as Christmas albums are seasonal you are hardly likely to order it when you remember in January!

One of the CD's it would have been good to have a listen to is the new 'Fizz' (Bucks Fizz) Christmas record, 'Christmas With The Fizz'. It's due for release tomorrow and includes some 'festive favourites' like, 'Winter Wonderland', 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' and 'White Christmas' along with a couple of band written songs and rare covers of, 'I Believe In Father Christmas' by Greg Lake and even more oddly, 'Mull Of Kintyre' by Wings.

There is also a 'Christmas version' of the Bucks Fizz hit, 'Land Of Make Believe' as well. All in all, it sounds like a very curious mix and quite a 'brave' selection in many ways because both the Greg Lake and Wings songs sound VERY easy to 'butcher' to me if the wrong approach is taken. To add even more interest the album is produced by, Mike Stock of Stock, Aitken And Waterman fame. Retro is really the 'in thing' these days and so I hope the album turns out to be a triumph and not a disaster! (lol)

Another intriguing item is the 'A Very Monotreme Christmas' Various Artists CD.

Limited to just 200 copies it is going to end up a 'Christmas music collectors ( if there is such a thing?) holy grail' in a few years time. The cover doesn't look all that 'Christmassy' to me and I have no idea what Monotreme means nor have I heard of any of the artists?Being a HUGE MUD fan I have to admit that I'm intrigued to hear the 'soulful' version of their, 'Lonely This Christmas' hit on the album but with only 8 tracks and covers of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' (Jack Watts) and 'Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy' (The Favourite Bench) neither of which are my favourite Crimbo songs its a bit skinny value for me. I would like to know what the cover of , Etta James, 'At Last' sounds like though being a, Harvey Summers fan...

Talking of, Kim Wilde (I had a HUGE crush on her at school!) her Christmas album from a few years back is pretty good. I will be playing a track from it on Christmas Eve on the Jeff Belton show on CHR (Conquest Hospital Radio). In line with Christmas, Kim is releasing a DELUXE edition of her, 'Here Come The Aliens' album with a second disc of remixes, live tracks and two brand new tracks. While I have not heard the, 'Here come The Aliens' album in full from what I have heard it is a pretty 'samey' sounding set and so I won't be rushing to buy the deluxe version but if you saw, Kim live at the White Rock theatre in Hastings earlier this year you might like it as a souvenir of the tour as the three live tracks were all recorded on the tour...

Finally, HORRIFICALLY there is also a new, William Shatner Christmas CD on the way this year! Oh my GOODNESS I can only imagine how terrible that is going to sound.

The album is AWASH with 'guests' though as you may well imagine (seeing as Shatner is an AWFUL vocalist!) and AMAZINGLY quite a few of them are famous people! One of those being, Elliot Easton (The Cars) who contributes to the, aptly named no doubt, 'Run Rudolph Run'. Also on the album are, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Henry Rollins and Rick Wakeman. Well, its amazing who you can get to appear on your records when you can 'boldly go where no man has been before' is all I can say! (lol)

Oh, and poor old Captain Sensible will be 'turning in his shoes' after one look at the cover because it features a CRINGE WORTHY pic of Shatner in a Santa hat. Sadly, for the good Captain at a quick glance it looks a bit like him! (LOL)

'A Truly Magical Radio Show!'

Well, well, well I am so excited that I'm like a kid the night before Christmas Eve writing this!

In case you didn't know already I am to be a 'special guest' on Jeff Belton's 'Christmas Jamboree Bag' Breakfast Show on CHR (Conquest Hospital Radio) Christmas Eve and I have just had a personal message from someone VERY SPECIAL to tell me that he is also going to make a personal appearance on the show!

Now, before you go thinking of this person being 'a certain gent who wears a red suit' there is NO WAY that he will be able to make it! Oh no, he will be 'up to his sleigh bells' in preparation work by then! I tell you what though, 'our Jeffrey' is going to be in for a BIG SURPRISE when this person turns up, 'POOF! as if by magic" from out of nowhere! I can't wait to see the look on his face! (lol)

See, what I haven't told, Jeff yet is that I am RELATED to the Christmas Family! How else do you think I get the inspiration for all of the festive Christmas songs I write, eh? Oh yes, I'm in the PERFECT position to 'call in a few favours' when it comes to my festive activities!

Jeff and I will be 'on the air' from 9am until midday on Christmas Eve and he and I have put together a FABULOUSLY Christmassy and fun playlist that will really put you in a good mood for the whole of Christmas. In amongst the chat, fun & frolics there will be plenty of Christmas music - hits old and new - plus a few awesome festive songs you may not have heard. All era's and styles will be covered as well because Christmas is for EVERYONE, right?

Oh, and I should also tell you that it is FREE to listen in as well via the Conquest Hospital Radio website so, go on, tell all your friends and mark it on your calendar now so you don't forget!

Start your Christmas off the right way this year with the Jeff Belton Christmas Jamboree Bag Show!

'Welcome Back For Another Year!'

Hi Everyone!

I hope this post finds you and yours in good health and looking forward to the run up to Christmas this year? I've taken to leaving it a bit later (past Guy Fawkes Night) to begin posting about Christmas these days as there is so much in the media and in the shops that winds you up well before bonfire night that I didn't want to add to that.

I've been a right old, 'Scrooge' this year!

2018 has not been a great year for me but then again I don't expect it has for a lot of people. Finances have been dire this year and that has meant that I've been unable to do any recording. This has been tough for me to bear and I've had to battle depression as a result. It's also been a sad year because I lost another good friend in, Bin Kennedy and felt compelled to leave my writing club, Shorelink Writers due to 'differences' as well after 14 and a bit years. Not much good any of that, eh?

STILL, all the time you are still in the game and battling there is always a chance that a 'silver lining' to all this misery will show itself and I HAVE done wonders this year in my role as, 'The Clean Up Man' - recently receiving a 'contribution recognition' award from the 'Tidy Up St Leonards!' Group.
In the last few weeks my creative mojo seems to have returned also and I have written a number of poems and THIS MORNING a NEW Christmas song called, 'What We'd Got For Christmas'!

Considering my financial state and the fact that we are already into November, I doubt I will get the chance to record the song this year but it has been a bit of a boost coming up with something new as I really had 'dried up' the way I was feeling.

The other GOOD news is that I have booked a short break in order to return to the 'Grassington Dickensian Festival' again later this year. In DIRE need of getting away from it all earlier in the year I rather stupidly booked a holiday (when you are depressed you just think 'Oh, sod the expense!'). As it turned out the tour operators had to cancel that one and so I was due a refund. It all seemed a bit like 'Deja Vu' to me because that is exactly what happened last year! I really LOVED my trip to Yorkshire last year and so in the end decided to re-book the same holiday that I went on in 2017 again. It's not always a good idea to try and 'replicate' a great experience as you can set yourself up for a tarnishing experience but the tour operators have dropped the holiday from their 2019 brochure and so I realised that if I ever wanted to experience the Grassington magic I probably best go again this year. You can see a few of my favourite Grassington pics from last year with this post...

Lastly, we are coming around to the 'Christmas Fair' time of year again! My 'beloved' 'do' at St Clements Church in High Street Hastings takes place on the 17th of November at 10AM and so I am looking forward to that! In case you live in my area (Hastings & St Leonards) here is a short list of a few other Christmas Fairs to go to in the next fortnight or so...

10th November - St Luke's Church (Silverhill) - Christmas Market 10AM -1.30PM
17th November - St John's (Nr St Michael's Hospice) Christmas Fair 10AM - 1PM
24th November - Battle Xmas Lights Switch On (always lovely to see Battle at Christmas!) 1.45 PM
1st December - Holy Redeemer (Upper Church Rd) Christmas Fair 11AM -1PM

I'm not sure if I will be able to get to all of the above (especially St John's as it clashes with St Clement's do) but will try to get to as many as I can. If you see me there do come and say 'hello', won't you?

'So Here It Is - Merry Christmas!'

Yes, I know that I probably used a line from the Slade classic to announce Christmas Day last year but what the hell - it is the best Crimbo song ever!

I'm feeling quite emotional this morning for a number of reasons. One is that I watched a Christmas version of the EXCELLENT, 'Back In Time For...' series last night and it brought back so many happy memories of my Christmases as a kid. For those of you unaware of the series it revolves around a modern family (The Robshaws) who agree to embark on a social experiment the aim of which being to place the family in a home that has been re-decorated to mimic this era or that. The whole family are given clothes to represent that era, have their hair done up in the popular styles of the day and are supplied with a manual telling them all about the 'social etiquette' of the period etc...
In effect, the experience is about as near to jumping into Doctor Who's Tardis and whisking yourself back in time as you can get!

Well, with a remit like that you can understand why an 'old fashioned dinosaur' like me loves the programme! Watching it is not only interesting to see how the family cope with life as it was back then (the things they discover that are now long gone they love, the modern things they miss, the lifestyle and how they cope with the social changes) each programme has LOADS of 'I remember that!' Or 'I had one of those!' Moments and as such can be a bit of an 'emotional battering ram'.

In last nights episode The Robshaws had to live through a 1970's, 80's and 90's Christmas and it was lovely to see some previously familiar  household 'old friends' on screen again. Each Christmas the family have tasks to do in keeping with the era and so in the 1970's they had a large Christmas tree to decorate with as much tinsel and stuff as possible! The tree was a real one that had been specially treated (by being dipped in a special liquid of some design) to ensure that it would not be a fire risk and that it would not drop pine needles all over the place. On Christmas Day of each year the family would unwrap Christmas presents popular from the time and so in the 1970's Mrs. Robshaw got a fur coat and the presenter of the show, Giles (he pops in and out of the show) received the Evel Knievel toy that I had as a kid that you wound up and then released.

Thanks to Glenn E Walker for use of this pic

 It was GREAT fun and BRILIANT for inspiring the imagination as it came with some cones, a couple of ramps and other accessories that you could use to create 'death defying' leaps for your Evel to master! In reality, of course the toy was pretty USELESS at even travelling in a straight line as the model of 'Evel' was rather 'top heavy' and thus the motorbike had a tendency to fall over more often than not shortly after you released it from the 'winding up ramp'. Whatever its failings, however, LOADS of kids of my age had lots of fuj lining up the ramps, using some of their Matchbox toy buses to give Evel something to jump over and then trying to get him to complete a successful jump! When you think about it? The real Evel Knievel was more famous for his spectacular crashes than for his successful stunts so I guess in that respect the toy was a pretty accurate representation of the man! (lol)

If you get a chance try to catch a re-run of the 'Back In Time For Christmas' series. I missed the first part myself covering the 1940's, 50's and 60's so I will be looking for that myself.

As for 2018? Well, I don't look forwards with much positivity these days but who knows? Each new year is a fresh start one way or another and so you can never discount something magical happening!

LOTS of love to all of my family and friends this Christmas and to all of you who subsequently find this post on the Internet xxx

'It's Nearly Time!'

Well, I have had a nice, relaxing day at home today! After a busy week of visiting friends, Christmas meals, 'Tom's Midnight Garden' at The Stables Theatre (very good!) and a trip out to Pett to attend the annual, 'Carols in The Barn' event (where we all gather  in a barn, sit on straw bails and sing Christmas carols accompanied by cattle and a whole host of other farm animals) it has been nice to take it easy for a change.

I had a good time at my Shorelink Writers Christmas meal in Westfield, which is where this festive photo of me was taken. Didn't do the 'rounds' of the Westfield lights though as, with all things this year, I arrived rather late. Things have definitely been stressful regarding Christmas this year and I do feel I've let myself down in a number of areas but I guess I ought  to be thankful that I've had plenty to do and people to see.

Me in one of my 'conservative' Christmas outfits!

Tomorrow is likely to be another quiet day at home though my brother and his kids are coming to visit in the evening. It will then be time on Boxing Day for my annual tilt at the bookies! I think I only really bother now because its traditional - I can't recall EVER winning anything worth having on a personal level during the Christmas period in over 30 years! Me and my mate, Paul DID win a few quid on our joint bets last year though so I shall keep my eyes peeled for any pigs I see flying over my house in the next few days!

As I'm getting older I'm beginning to feel the lack of a 'Mrs Christmas' in my life more keenly but I am TRULY blessed with some WONDERFUL friends and more of them are female these days, which is a HUGE improvement on the previous 40 odd years! I can even count a 'funny story' regarding my 'perceived love life' amongst my 'boring life stories' to tell people thanks to his fact, which revolves around a coffee bar in Hastings I visited on three consecutive days with three different female friends! The woman behind the counter gave me some VERY disapproving looks  on the SECOND day when I turned up with someone new and on the THIRD day she gave me that kind of 'I don't know how you do it or where you get the energy' kind of glance! When my friend that day was overheard saying that she'd better, 'give her husband a ring' as we were being served I was surprised not to get my hot drink poured down the front of my trousers! (lol)

Actually, its quite un-nerving how 'universally trusted' I am with other people's wives!

Hmm, It must be the way I walk, I reckon!

(Note for the P.C. Brigade ... JOKE! ITS A JOKE! you know, HA HA and all that? LOL)

Happy Christmas folks!

'Baldy - The Gingerbread Man'

One of the Christmassy things I picked up during my time in Skipton was a VERY festive cuddly Gingerbread Man (who I've named 'Baldy' after his Dad - me!) who came supplied in a plastic bag with a few chocolate truffles. I LOVE Gingerbread Men and ALWAYS feel guilty when I take a first bite into one (Ouch!) as cakes or not I suspect Gingerbread Men have feelings! Seeing as their purpose in the world is to be a 'lovely snack' or a 'fun cake' I also know that Gingerbread Men fear going stale and being thrown away much more than being eaten. In fact, it is the duty of each Gingerbread man to maintain a 'soft and delicious upper lip' when the time comes for him to lose his head and little Gingerfolk learn all about how happy they make us all when we eat them at school - so actually, there's no reason for me to feel bad at all!

Baldy and his friends

'Baldy' is SO CUTE its unreal and I did wonder when I was in the VERY Christmassy shop near Skipton Market if I should buy one of his relations to give someone for Christmas? Knowing how important it is to the Gingerfolk, however I was worried that the recipient of my gift might not be as keen as me and I would NEVER want to be responsible for a Gingerbread Man to end up either in a bin or reduced to being sold at a boot sale! You have to be in touch with you 'inner child' to fully appreciate the magic Gingerfolk bring to your life and a lot of people I know are now WAAYY too adult to empathise with a Gingerbread Man.

I asked Baldy why there aren't any Gingerbread Ladies? Actually,  once you hear his answer the reason is quite obvious when you think about it. Baldy told me that the first person to make a Gingerbread Man was Queen Elizabeth 1 of England. His ancestry goes right back to a bowl of dough made in the 16th Century he said and Queen Elizabeth crafted the first batch herself out of love for some of her male guests. The feminine touch that created those first Gingerfolk was so full of love in fact that Gingerbread Men do not need female partners to reproduce themselves they only need for someone to copy the recipe Queen Elizabeth 1invented and for that person to follow the instructions she left behind and 'POOF!' a whole tray of new Gingerbread Men can be created!

Baldy's Pal

Isn't that great? Perhaps I would have done better had I been a Gingerbread Man? It would certainly have saved me a fortune on dating agencies - that's for sure! (lol)

Baldy has made friends with a chocolate Santa and his polar bear friend at the moment and the Christmas tree decoration I bought from L.R. Ceramics at Skipton Town Hall Market comes to life and hangs around his neck at night time when I'm asleep. I'm glad Baldy has his little decoration buddy as Santa and the Polar Bear will probably disappear over Christmas - as will many of the real Gingerfolk who are currently resting in paper bags in cupboards at home or on display in the window of your local bakers...

'Some Belated Feedback From Last Year's, 'Operation Spread Christmas Spirit!'

I was delighted the other day to receive a Christmas card from a couple called 'Lisa & Tony' that I do not actually know!

So why did they send me a card, I hear you ask? Well, I popped a card in to their house LAST Christmas on my Christmas Eve travels to deliver my 'Santa' cards in honour of the lovely Christmas light display they had put on. Seeing as initially I failed to receive a single card from any that I delivered last year that Lisa & Tony made a note to send me a card THIS year shows that my efforts WERE all worthwhile after all!

I think the snag with delivering my cards on Christmas Eve is that people think its too late to send a reply by then and so, while (I hope) I give them a smile and spread some festive cheer, I don't get any cards back. Unfortunately, it looks as if I won't be able to put 'Operation Spread Christmas Spirit' into action this year as I don't have any spare cards and STILL haven't caught up with writing cards for family and friends - let alone got all of my presents bought...

That's a real pity as Lisa & Tony's lovely card proves that my campaign was proving a success - I mean, for all I know LOADS of people may have started doing the same thing now because of me!

On a serious note, Lisa & Tony's card was a charity one and so my campaign could also help to raise a lot of extra money for good causes if it were to catch on in a big way! What a lovely thought, eh?

Typical me, I walked into town yesterday and came back to Hollington  via St Helen's Rd. I was going to 'pop in' on Lisa & Tony to say 'Thanks' for the card but was looking for 279 St Helen's Rd not 249! Well, there isn't a 279 as the last house is no 277! Instead of 'fearing I was being stalked' like (seemingly) 50% of the population would these days, however my reaction to this was to think, "Ah, HA! I bet it was SANTA who really sent me that card!

There really is no hope, is there! (lol)

'A Chatty One!'

I am in total disarray this year with Christmas! The time seems to have flown away and I have failed miserably to buy all the presents I need to get and write all the cards I need to write! For a 'Christmas person', like me this is really bad!

Thing is, not only have I been running short of cash I have been drained of energy this year by trying to keep up with an ever lengthening list of tasks I need to do. My room is a BOMBSITE with boxes all on the floor and CD's all over the place, I have been under pressure to write as many articles as I can for, 'Hastings Town' magazine (which I enjoy doing but it all takes time and energy) because the amount of people contributing has gone down at the moment, then there is my voluntary work as, 'The Clean Up Man' to do as well as housework and of course I had a few days away in Yorkshire! To add to the 'workload' this year I also had the mail out of my Christmas CD, 'A Nod To Mr. Dickens' to get sorted as well - though I managed to do a great job on that, I'm glad to say...

Reactions to, 'A Nod To Mr. Dickens' have been great in general and a friend of mine in Canada put up her Christmas tree soon after receiving the album in the post in November and posted a photo of it on Facebook so it certainly helped her get into the festive spirit! Normally, I get myself organised and ready for Crimbo in good time and aim to have all my gifts bought & wrapped and cards written ready to give out/deliver/send by Dec 1st but it just hasn't happened this time. That's a shame as I LOVE being free to enjoy all of the Christmas lights and atmosphere that there is everywhere at this time of year. Battle (a few miles from my home) is MAGICAL at Christmas and I usually make a bee line to go there, browse the shops, have a cup of tea and a slice of cake (in honour of Worzel, of course!) and wait for it to get dark so I can marvel at the twinkling lights on Battle abbey and enjoy the HUGE Christmas tree in the Market Square.

During my time in Skipton I came across a lot of BRILLIANT musical street performers and managed to get a few photos of them to share here. Sadly, I did not get names for some of them - even though I did speak to most! That's typical me, that is! One lot that I did get a name for though was, 'The Sundancers' who told me that they had a few tracks available to listen to on Soundcloud. Unfortunately, though I have found a few artists with that name I haven't been able to find them but you can hear a snippet of one of their songs in my 'Grassington Dickensian Festival Fun - Part 3' video on Youtube.

The Sundancers

The guys voice was amazing and sounded much better than it comes across on the video when you were listening live. I was gobsmacked and asked if they had any CD's for sale after just one song so I hope things work out for the band and that they get noticed soon. It never ceases to amaze me how many wonderfully talented people there are in the world - its just so sad that there isn't room for all of them to make a living out of using that talent...

Four festive lovelies are all smiles!

I also met some festively attired and smiley girls that had been playing some nice Christmas music and congratulated a BRILLIANT group of Carol Singers on their amazing harmonies.

Smiley and youthful carol singers!

I was well chuffed to note how young they all of them were! Maybe the traditional Christmas I love so much isn't on its way out just yet, eh!