'You Can't Take Christmas Away From Me'

Well folks, here it is! My Christmas video single for 2017.

It's an unusual kind of Christmas song in the respect that it is a sad one but the words in the chorus are positive and the tone of the whole thing is defiant - especially highlighted by the military drumming...

The song is dedicated to the two GREAT friends I have lost this year, Noreen Leach and Alan Gaywood and was inspired by Alan's total failure to know when he was beaten in life. Al suffered with epilepsy all of his life and was not expected to reach adulthood but in spite of everything he reached 50 and was self employed for most of his life. He was never a rich man nor was he lucky in love (because of his epilepsy) but he was ALWAYS a fighter and a very, very good friend to me. I miss him terribly and always will but no way will I let that stop me from remembering him!

This song is therefore a song about loss and how precious life truly is. There are no guarantees and things can change in a moment but what you have to do is appreciate what you have while you still have it and refuse to let sadness destroy you. In a way this song is like a 'Punk Anthem' to the universe in the respect that it is my way of sticking two fingers up to life and saying 'Screw you, I'm NOT going to let you spoil my Christmas'..

Alan and Noreen ( and all the others I have lost over the years) would want me to be happy this Christmas and I am going to be - for them if nothing else!!

The music here was composed by the VERY brilliant Mr. Harvey Summers (check out his GREAT new album 'Human' with Laura Cole) who continues to be an inspirational influence on me as well as another valued friend. Thanks mate for caring enough to make this one special.

Love to you all, be safe and HAPPY and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS xx

P.S.) I would also like to dedicate this song to my friend DALE SMITH in Michigan, U.S.A. who lost his mum this year. I'm thinking of you buddy - god bless...

'The Grinch Stole Christmas'

My Christmas feeling is starting to take hold on me now! The old '1 dose of St Clements Christmas Fair and shake well' treatment seems to have worked its usual magic!

STILL fighting to get on with Alan's CD collection but have now at last managed to start Christmas shopping for those I do still have. Knowing what to get people is always hard but in some ways it is part of the fun. As long as you get it right in the end that is! Nothing worse than spending a fortune on something nice for someone only to later find out that they did not want it. No, Christmas is a lot more about planning and calm thought than it is just outright love and affection - I reckon Santa must be the best organised businessman in the whole world - even putting Sir Alan Sugar to shame (don't like him!)...

Anyway, tired after the exerts of yet another CD sorting session, I relaxed the other afternoon by listening to the CD soundtrack of one of the best Christmas movies of all time, 'The Grinch Stole Christmas'. Jim Carrey is most certainly a man with NUMEROUS screws loose but boy is he a GREAT actor to hire whenever you need a 'kookie character'. I liked him in 'The Mask' and 'The Grinch' is almost a Christmas caricature of that same role.  The Soundtrack Cd is surprisingly awesome as well and great value with over 20 tracks. I don't care for the opening rap tune with Busta Rhymes (seemingly obligatory to have a rap tune on everything these days) but after that you get a great selection of festive originals followed by the original film score interspersed with some snippets of dialogue from the film. It all works very well and is almost like an alternative way of watching the film itself!

I LOVE the song, 'Christmas, Why Can't I Find You?' by the then 'ickle' Taylor Momsen. Now, I might be a big old BAD old Adulty type person but the sound of a little kid singing a sweet Christmas song melts my heart. No wonder the Grinch fell into a pile of soggy mush over it! Relationships and I have never gotten to know each other (sadly) and so my chances of ever having a family of my own have been nil. I often wonder what kind of Dad I would have been as I LOVE dishing out BIG hugs but somehow the emotional engagement in trying to partner someone else has just never seemed to be 'me'. I have always been a 'bit of a one man band' and I'm not sure I could ever be a 24/7 person for anyone. I do LOVE kids though and enjoy spending time in 'their world' - especially now as I know how HORRID the real one is! Got a bit emotional listening to the soundtrack CD but it is never a bad thing to feel something - far better that than to go through life without feeling anything! Don't you think?

'Christmas In My Heart!'

Some of the prizes I won...

It is beginning to start to feel more like Christmas is on the way again to me now following my much loved visit to St Clement's Church Christmas Fair in Hastings Old Town today. I LOVE this fair and HATE it when I miss it but it is always notoriously poorly advertised as far as the Internet and local press is concerned and so I have often missed it in previous years simply because I could not find out when it was on! Thankfully, a friend of mine on Facebook put me straight as to when it was this year and so I made the 'festive pilgrimage' to the church today from my home in Hollington.

Its a fair old walk from where I am in Hollington to the Old Town and few would take on the climb up all of the West Hill steps from the bottom of Queens Rd to make the short cut across the hill to drop back down into High Street that I did! Half way up the steps I was blowing really hard and had to stop for a bit. "Im getting old" I thought to myself. At the very top of the second flight of the steps I had slowed to a feeble walk... "If I carry on doing this I won't get much older," I thought to myself!

I tell you what though all of the huffing and puffing was worth it! My favourite thing over virtually the whole of Christmas is having numerous goes at the '£1 a go - win a prize every time' stall at this fair. I ALWAYS go mad and have about £15 worth each time because every year the organisers make a great effort to do all of the gifts you win up nicely and thus create some wonderfully festive little presents that you can use to display under the Christmas tree or marvel at ( trying to guess whats inside, of course!) between now and the big day. Getting older, I have very few people left these days to give me presents and a lot of those who do give me something like money or something they know I want because we have arranged it that way.

The total haul this year!

 The childish joy I used to get of 'wondering what Santa is going to give me' has therefore gone and I miss it. So, to create a bit of magic for myself and to put some of the money I save up in my Simon charity lighthouse ( a money box) to good use I love to 'let rip' at this fair and buy myself plenty of presents to look forward to opening on Christmas Day.

I usually get quite a lot of other things as well after browsing the bric-a-brac and festive stalls but unusually this year I failed to find much bar 4 Fairport Convention CD's, which I got for £5 along with a double CD of Barclay James Harvest and a Les Baxter CD. As much as I would love to try my luck at the Tombola or go in for the Christmas raffle I rarely do because the £1 a go - win every time stall seems a better bet!

They usually have a drinks raffle as well but I am very wary of those having seen people 'add tickets' into the barrel in the past (not at this venue though). That to me is wrong and fraudulent and definitely NOT in the spirit of Christmas!

I know the organisers have to make enough money from the stall to cover the cost of the drinks but to offer prizes that no-one actually has a fair chance of winning is mean and nasty in my opinion. I would rather lose money on an honest raffle than resort to such tactics but most people don't seem to see it that way...

Anyway, after a long walk and the thrill of being recognised as 'the guy who always buys loads of presents' by the stall holders I spent a good hour or so in the church looking and re-looking at everything and enjoying the atmosphere. I met an old school friend, Paul Bryant at the fair again ( he is often there when I am) and we spent a good while chatting over a cup of tea and a mince pie ( well, I had a peanut cookie instead). I gave Paul's little baby girl one of the prizes I won one year when the event was held at the All Saints Church Hall in All Saints St and was amazed to see that 'Evie' is now 11! Wow! I could not believe it was that long ago! Mind you, it was lovely to be reminded that my gesture then was obviously appreciated as Paul told me that they still have the cuddly toy I gave her indoors...

We talked about the kind of year that we have both had and I was glad that his has been a lot happier than mine. Paul went self employed this year ( he's a painter and decorator - look him up!) and I am glad to say is doing very well. He is a lovely, caring and thoroughly honest chap so if you are reading this and thinking, 'Ooh, I could do with a painter and decorator I can trust!' then you should hire Paul!
All in all I feel much more Christmassy than before now and hope to start getting my usual 'Christmas buzz' coursing through my veins as we go forward!

'The First Christmas Adverts'

Well people, I am still working flat out to try and catch up with myself at the moment! I feel like a dog constantly chasing his tail at the moment and as soon as I get one thing done and out the way another crops up and starts 'flashing red' as urgent...

I have hardly watched any television of late but did so the other evening to help me relax off. I noticed the first Christmas ad during the break and that REALLY brought it back to me how the festive season is drawing near!

Have you seen the lovely advert with 'Buster' the dog having fun on the trampoline in it yet! I'm not an animal lover but I must say that I think its a BRILLIANT and very heartwarming ad. I can honestly say now that brands like Marks & Spencer, Coca-Cola and John Lewis are helping to make Christmas Christmas for me nowadays with their festive adverts. Its almost as if they have taken to 'stepping up' to fill the void left by the Christmas singles that our favourite pop acts used to come out with each year. I hope Marks & Spencer do well at Christmas each year these days as it is they whom I attribute the current trend to. I guess Coca-Cola would have something to say about that but they are an american company and (however great and Christmassy) their ad's are their ad's are more for american audiences than british ones. Marks & Spencer seem to put the British pride back into Christmas and most of their adverts over the last few years have made my mouth water with desire for their food products AND left me with a 'fuzzy warm feeling' about the fact that Christmas is a time for love and celebration... I reckon that's quite an achievement for any brand, don't you?

Sad to see Marks & Spencer suffering so much financially but sadly, though their food products are always top quality and delicious, a lot of them are quite pricey and out of reach for the 'minimum wage' household budget. As for selling clothes I'm surprised in a way that they have not been able to continue making money doing that. Of all the things I do buy online I rarely buy clothes because of the hassle of sending things back if they do not fit or don't look quite the same colour wise when you get them. Much better to see and feel an item of clothing in store and be able to try it on and decided there and then if it is what you want. I guess the lack of finance thing comes into the equation again here though. Often when you buy something online you can 'spread the cost' of doing so over a longer period and/or get loyalty points but in store this is not always the case and even if it is when you can see other people are waiting in the queue behind you it kind of puts you off wanting to ask for things or paying by card when cash is quicker. Mind you, I say this as a 51 year old shopper - I doubt it would occur to most younger people as they are now used to doing things by card or electronically...

There is another GREAT Christmassy advert out at the moment featuring a little storyline about a carrot called 'Kevin' and it has Santa and his Reindeers flying off at the end. It is for Aldi and is such good fun! If you have a festive bone in your body it will press all of your feel good buttons!

I must admit that it sounds odd to be going on here about adverts that I really like at Christmas. I do recall getting SERIOUSLY fed up with the dull and generic ones that used to 'invade' our television screens each year at this time back in the 70's. Most were so predictable and low budget that you just got fed up with seeing them over and over. Now that brands are being forced to do more and more to stop people fast forwarding or ignoring their ads they are working much harder to produce something that is not only informative and a good selling tool but that is entertaining and engaging as well.

I truly hope that we do not see the closure of Marks & Spencer in the coming years. Having lost Woolworths and BHS to internet shopping they and Debenhams are two of the only 'traditional British high street' chains we have left...

'It's Creeping Up On Me!'

Normally at this time of year I am beginning to get the 'festive tingle' in my bones and starting to get the urge to begin playing Christmas music. I always find it odd that I perpetually get the urge to play Christmas tunes in advance of the actual festivities beginning but I guess its because getting into the right frame of mind to enjoy all that the festive season brings is an important part of the process...

This year, however, I am hopelessly behind with everything due to the urgency of sorting and getting rid of the CD's I was left by my old mate, Alan Gaywood. I have been working like stink over the last three weeks or so to sort, sell, box and send CD's to all of the online de-cluttering websites and in many ways it has been just like being back at work at Masons Music (a wholesale company) where I worked for 10 years selling music related merchandise like band t shirts, woven patches, caps and hoodies etc...

Ironically, I heard earlier this week that Masons closed down on the 4th of November. Life can be pretty cruel sometimes and even though I left in 2009 I have remained friends with my old boss and was hoping against hope that he and the business could survive the current trend and keep going. Sadly, the recent resurgence of vinyl records and the boost to the merchandising industry that shall bring has not come soon enough nor strongly enough and with mp3's taking over and rock music taking a backseat now to rap and R&B (which is not merchandisable) the writing has been on the wall for some time...

I feel very sad about the loss of my old workplace and upset when I think of the staff who will all now be looking for work again. To come out of work at any time at the moment is bad news but to come out with Christmas on the horizon and the worst trading period of Jan-Mar to come after that is even worse. Still, most of the lads I knew were good at what the do and most had good computer skills as well so hopefully they will be alright.

I have send out now over 30 boxes of CD's since I started! Alan was a lovely bloke but boy did he like a lot of C.R.A.P. music! Nothing very Christmassy about bands like 'Marduk' and 'Dark Angel' and while I like a bit of reggae now and then some CD's are INCREDIBLY samey and drive you nuts! I am getting very panicky now that Christmas is going to creep up on me this year before I am ready. I have e mails coming out of my ear holes, articles that need writing, social engagements coming up and performances that I need to rehearse for all waiting on the back burner while I try to get the CD situation under control! My bedroom has always been bad but it is SERIOUSLY bad now with boxes of CD's even stacked along the only remaining floor spaces. I can just about get in the room and round the front of the bed and that's it!

I noticed the other day that the Christmas Fayre at The Holy Redeemer in Upper Church Rd is coming up on the 26th of Nov and that reminds me that I need to find out when my favourite Christmas Fayre at St Clements Church in the Old Town is going to take place this year. I have missed out on it at least two of the last three years and will be gutted if I do so again! So much to do and so little time. Not only that but I am acutely aware that I need to spend some time on trying to build a life for myself with someone as well because time is running out for me at home - that's if I survive, of course...

Oh well, nothing more that I can do at the moment than try to keep pressing on with the CD's and see what tomorrow will bring...

'My New Christmas Video Single'

As you will know, if you follow this blog or keep in touch with my Maybrick44 Youtube channel, I am in the habit of recording a brand new Christmas song each year as a kind of homage to the days in the 1970's when a lot of recording artists did the same in order to try and secure the cherished No 1 spot in the charts over Christmas. In those days there was no such thing as the 'X-Factor' and so it was a relatively straight 'fight' fop pop acts who wanted to come up with a special single to try and capture the festive mood. Though it is not a very original choice, I personally think that the best Christmas single of all time is 'Merry Christmas Everybody' by Slade because it is not only festive but probably the most joyous, bouncy and fun rockin' party record ever made as well...

I may not always make Christmas records you can dance like that to but I have had my moments over the years with songs like 'If Santa Was A D.J.' and 'December 1973'. This years song, 'You Can't Take Christmas Away From Me', however is a rarity. Its a sad song with poignant lyrics, a defiant, 'NOTHING is going to ruin my Christmas' type attitude and a positive Christmas message all rolled into one. Having lost two long standing and close friends this year I was inspired to write it as a dedication to them both and especially to my friend, Alan Gaywood, who suffered all his life with epilepsy and yet refused to let it dominate his existence. Alan died suddenly from an epileptic attack on July and I have been struggling to come to terms with his loss ever since. it feels good to know that I have imortalised him in a song and I have now put together a video for the song which I plan to upload to 'Youtube' in early December. It would have been lovely to be able to spend a fortune on making a professional video for the song but I'm not ion the financial position to do that and so I have spent my time instead on selecting a set of beautiful, festive and often fun photos relating to the lyrics and to Christmas to tell the story instead. Amazingly, I got the idea for the video from the box of slippers I bought for Alan last Christmas that still sits upon the top of my Dad's wardrobe. Take a look at my first post here this year if you want to know why I still have those!

Anyway, I am very pleased with the video I have put together and think it is both poignant and festive. It did make me cry when I watched it back though (and my Mum!) so be warned - it might get to you as well! (lol) I do hope though that the positivity in the chorus and the defiant nature of the song will shine through for you all after the initial impact resides. Do let me know what you think when you see it - I want to remember my friends and tap into your hearts but I don't want to ruin your Christmas!

Oh well, under two calendar months to go to the big day now! Are you getting prepared yet? I have a few presents sorted out and done up but I'm a long way behind on my preparations this year due to having to sort out and sell off Alan's CD collection. Still, I'm getting 'stuck in' to that task so hopefully by mid November I will be able to concentrate on Christmas full time...

Love to you all x

'The Result Of Last Years 'Operation Spread Christmas Spirit Campaign''

Hi all!

I have just remembered that I have not yet given you any feedback on the result of my 'Spread Christmas Spirit' campaign last year. To refresh your memories, I spent most of Christmas Eve last year walking the streets popping cards signed 'From Santa' into the letterboxes of people I do not know who had made a good effort decorating their homes with lights and decorations. I also dropped off two 'Secret Santa' gifts - one of which was a nice bottle of wine - as gifts to those I thought had made the best efforts of all.

Well, I can tell you that the response I got from people last year was AMAZING! Yes, NOT ONE CARD nor acknowledgment did I get back for my 46 cards and two prezzies! I had to laugh - what a mug I was walking the ends of the earth delivering cards to (hopefully) put smiles on faces over the festive season on a cold winters night! The previous year I delivered a few less cards ( I think - can't remember now?) and got 7 back - some of which I uploaded here but last year my efforts fell on deaf ears...

To be fair, I did deliver the cards on Christmas Eve so there would not be time after that to post me a card back ( my name and address is always on the reverse of each card as I do not wish to scare anyone) but you would have thought that SOMEONE would have written me a letter or sent me a card or note after Christmas to say how much they had enjoyed it or similar, wouldn't you?

Time is going to be at a premium this year and so I don't know if I will get the chance to write out loads of cards like I did last year. I could include my e mail address in the cards or on the back of the letters to encourage a response but the whole idea of my campaign is to try and get people to engage once more in a traditional Christmas - make an effort to do something festive to interact with their neighbours! I HATE the fact that Christmas card writing is dying off and being replaced by those animated e-mail cards ( though they are lovely!) because cards on the walls or on the mantlepiece are part of what make a Christmas scene and a jolly room to open presents in on Christmas Day. Cards everywhere show that you are thought of, loved and valued and are a permanent reminder over the festive season of that. E mail cards are lovely but once you have seen them they 'live' only on the Internet and even then I'm not sure you can keep them forever, can you?

I used to put up ALL the Christmas cards I had EVER been sent when I was a kid each year! Yes, I did! (lol) The last year I did it I had cards all over the entire expanse of my bedroom walls about two thirds of the way down... The walls of my bedroom are decorated these days with posters, badges, picture disc records and all kinds of other memorabilia and so I can't do that anymore but I still have 100's of Christmas cards from my past...

Oh well, let's see how things pan out this year? Having lost two dear friends I am going to have to work at being my usual happy self this Christmas but I'm going to manage it because I know that is what they would want... More soon.