'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)

'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!

'It's Creeping Up On Me Again!'

"There HAS to be an easier way of NOT making a living" is a phrase I have repeating to quite a few people of late!

What with FINALLY getting all of my 'A Nod To Mr.Dickens' CD's off to friends and family around the world, WORKING MY SOCKS OFF writing and researching a VERY ambitious article for 'Hastings Town' to do with my 'Festive 50' local music records that 'define Hastings musical history so far' AND continuing my voluntary work as 'The Clean Up Man' the time has just disappeared of late!

I have had some GOOD news though as 'The Clean Up Man' has been nominated for an award! I'm up for the 'Against All Odds' award from HVA (Hastings Voluntary Action) having been put forward by Pete Shoesmith M.B.E., who is involved with the Hollington Youth Centre across the road from where I live. I regularly clean up the Youth Centre car park and grass verges and have done now for almost 6 years. Whether I actually win the award or not, its lovely to get some recognition from somewhere - thanks Pete!

The pics you see with this post are 'festive' ones I took a couple of weeks ago out near Sellindge in Kent. While they are autumnal rather than snowy I think they are pics that make you feel really festive and depict the kind of 'idillic Christmas' scenes you see in ads by 'Marks & Sparks' on T.V. each year...

Its my FAVOURITE Christmas Fair of the year again this Saturday! Yes, folks I will be off to St Clements Church armed with my usual bags full of 50ps in search of loads of their '£1 a go win a prize every time' stall again! I always get some good prizes every year, lots of chocolate and the odd 'WTF' kind of prize! Last year on Christmas Day I unwrapped a tin of pilchards! NOT the greatest of presents to receive, eh? Makes 'socks, pants and handkerchiefs' sound like 'Harrods finest hamper', don't you think? Anyway, I am a well-known character at the Church at the event these days and each time I go I feel the spirit of Christmas within me and come away knowing that my special time of the year isn't far off now...

Sadly, I'm often unable to sustain the high that St Clements Christmas Fair gives me as 'much as I love them' most of the rest of my family are NOT Christmas people and can be 'old miseries'. Last year the '£1 a go etc' stall sold out completely thanks to me! When other people see me having loads of go's and see the smile on my face they all want to join in. I always think that alone sums up Christmas for me and how it should be - if we were all to be happy and smiley at Christmas the joy would be infectious! I like to think of myself therefore as 'the Murray Walker' of the festive season! Even if I am an bit of a misery the rest of the year round! Trust me to be 'out of step' with every one else, eh?

'MERRY CHRISTMAS! And An Update On 'Operation Spread Christmas Spirit'

Here we are again folks! As Noddy Holder would scream ...It's Christmasssssssss!!! HA HA HA

Well, it may not be the dream Christmas Day outside (grey, wet, miserable) and there may not be a hint of a snow flake but last night I had a rollicking lot of fun delivering 46 'Santa cards' and two 'Secret Santa' prezzie drops!

Oh yes! I was out for a good couple of hours under the cover of darkness 'delivering' cards to the houses of people I've never met. Why? Well, when people go out of their way to put on a lovely, festive light display or put a beautiful and welcoming looking Christmas Tree in their living room window I think its nice when someone also makes the effort to let them know that they have seen and ENJOYED their efforts! It really does make my Christmas special when I walk along the streets and see all of the funny displays, 'Santa stop here' signs and homes 'glowing' with festivity each year. I can often imagine the wonderful family get-togethers and meals that will ensue and almost get a charge to my 'human battery' when I think of how so many people are going to be happy in that environment over the next few days.

I know that not all 'get-togethers' or parties are happy ones and not all families get along well over the festive period but when, like me, you do not have a family of your own, do not own your own house, do not have a job or a proper place in society it is heart warming to see that at least in this world there ARE some who HAVE managed to achieve those things. I may be a lot of things (and I am certainly an awkward git) but I have never 'done jealousy' preferring instead to choose to be HAPPY for that person or persons. Things are never always what they seem, however, and those I look at who appear to have everything often do not or are unhappy. Well, I like to make sure that my actions at least put a smile on faces at this time of the year and 'creeping about at night trying to deliver cards allegedly from Santa himself' is my way of doing that!

I tell you what was SUCH fun the other night. Oh my GOODNESS! Today's letterboxes are C_R_A_P! (HA HA) How a lovely house worth zillions and zillions can have all the best mod cons and a swanky driveway and then have a really AWFUL letterbox is beyond me! Most of the letter boxes I discovered last night were REALLY hard to get letters through! No wonder most of people's mail arrives bent or damaged - you try being a Postman and see how you get on! (HA HA)

Then of course there are the other 'hazards' like being torn to shreds by Dogs or putting the letter through the box using your hand and not being able to free your hand again! When you are DESPERATELY trying to deliver to a house without making a sound or attracting any attention its NOT GOOD when the pesky security light comes on, followed by a dog biting your hand as you try to put the card in a SQUEAKY and ULTRA STIFF letterbox! By the time you as 'Santa' have managed to deliver your message of good will the Police are on the way and there is a searchlight and the sound of a S.W.A.T. team jumping out of a van ringing in your ears! Trying to tell the secret services that there is only a 'box of fruit jellies' in the box while you are flat on the ground with your hands behind your back is REALLY not in the festive spirit!!!

It was FUN though last night 'sculking about' in the shadows of people's homes! I felt like a right villain even though all I was trying to do was 'deliver a smile and some happiness'. At one house I was just about to sneak up the drive when I saw a man get out of the car parked in it!!! EEKK!!!
I nearly did a 'Jim Carrey' and dived into the nearest hedge but AMAZINGLY he didn't see me! After he went into the house, I carefully slid open the door and got into the porch. I had a bottle of wine dressed up to look like a Christmas cracker and a card for him (I felt his house was the best effort of all) and so I carefully laid it at the foot of one of the decorations he had put outside his front door!
There was a notice telling me to smile as I was on CCTV but I just had to trust in the magical fairy dust of good will I had sprinkled that I would not get rumbled!! HA HA

Mind you, if there is such an offense as 'delivering more Christmas spirit than is allowed' or 'being nice without a license' I will be the happiest man in court in January!!

All in all I dropped 46 Santa cards on doormats ready for discovery this morning in peoples homes and left another home a box of fruit jellies and a card on their doorstep. I also had a LONNNNGGG chat with a friendly fellow by the name of Andy who just happened to be passing. We talked a lot about Christmas, God, Religion and faith and shared some interesting views and ideas. Was it fate that I should run into Andy (a Christian) doing 'Santa's work' on Christmas Eve? Well, I guess you could see it that way!!!

Have a LOVELY day today people and keep rockin'!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!