Christmas but once a year so getting out of bed not really being asleep for much of the night I am up having smelt the grump's turkey, well basted, cooking overnight and am opening the presents.
There is only on batch of main presents this year thanks to a three year delay from getting he licence to issue them in the States which comprises of the first four Dire Straits albums remastered and issued on Super Audio cd.
They were not cheap and will be reviewed at some future point but the sheer expense cut into my Christmas allowance my folks allow but as the reviews at other sites were so positive trading my original cds from the 80's for these seemed to make sense.
Back to the future with annuals connected to christmas of the past with the boys, girls and pets of which we laughed our heads off reading the Beano and Dandy Comics.
Being straight reprints they take you back to the past you knew which is why as with last year there's no current Beano annual simply because while some of the favourites of the past are still there, the contexts are different and the newer series of cartoon strips don't connect that much with me.
I do have a copy of the Dandy Annual though to plow through.
I did pick up the Christmas Beano Special which is the christmas themed regular edition which covers the comic as it now is which is enough to enjoy the way the comic has moved.
Let's put it this way, last weeks regular comic for Christmas week was a plastic festooned edition with bits for pranks while in the past the stories would be enough to get you reading what might be happening to Walter and his Softies chums from Dennis and Gnasher and so on.
I had some money from relatives that I can use towards some books or Blu ray discs in the future.
Hope everyone's enjoying Christmas and it won't be long before I tuck into our Christmas meal.
Regards Caro.
Yes my friends, we have reached the last edition before Christmas on this slightly more groan up blog where I take a rest from posting as it does consume a fair bit of my time running my portion of the blogisphere and there are many thing that need to get done in order for Christmas to happen.
That means I'll be pausing this blog other than a combined edition around Christmas itself looking at the day as there's no point in duplicating entries trying to reword what is essentially the same thing.
I plan on doing an entry for around the New Year so it just falls on me to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2020.
Week two of Advent, a day after the General Election so it's too early begin anything about the outcome of although I did go out and vote myself.
One thing getting on for some thirty-five years ago reminds me a little of this time of year is the original release of the compilation lp/tape Now That's What I Call Music 4 which came out in Late November of 1984 which I did buy at the time on record.
As some people may be aware it appears the original albums of this 104 plus special editions series are slowly coming out on cd because while cds were a thing in 1984 there were not many issued plus they tended to be a lot more expensive than records and tapes.
There was a kind of Now 4 issued on cd in a very limited release but only ten tracks from the 30 on album plus a few from Now 3 and 2 so I was pleased to pick this new cd version up recently.
I say version of because there are a few different versions compared to original which is an issue in trying to replicate a series that had a few one of a kind mixes on apart from licensing issues today that didn't apply back then.
The good news is that the Special Remix of No More Lonely Nights by Paul McCartney was used even though a shorter version of Nick Heyward's Warning Sign minus two raps somehow got selected. It's always good to hear Too late For Goodbyes by Julian Lennon, son of the former Beatle.
The original album had some earlier Motown hits as by this point they'd agreed to let songs that were hit singles go on such compilations so we get Lionel Richie's unforgettable Hello.
On the whole though I think it does a good job of replicating this set that many of us had at the time
This member of the series didn't do too well as two tracks by Gary Glitter and Bob Marley on the original lp and tape from early June 1984 were removed on this cd and there were a number of significant version mix ups
February 1984's NOW 2 which took in the Christmas 1983 and winter of 1984 hits had a few errors that would irritate those 'in the know' but was generally okay apart from a totally different version of Joe Fagen's That's Living Alright
The one that showed the series concept was a winner from early December 1983,in time for the iconic tv advertising on ITV and Channel 4was a virtual Greatest Hits of 1983 with hits by Kajagoogoo, Limahl, Duran Duran, Culture Club and Genesis amongst many others.
The sleeve does list the missing number ones of 1983 too.
There had been a short lived card sleeve double cd of this issued in 2003, the thirtieth anniversary but that had been out of print for a while.
While the series on cd has its issues and would of better issued earlier in the day to catch sales of those who may of wanted to replaced their lps or tapes, it does help fill the gaps for those of us who bought the later cd issues from Now '86 onward.
Just about two weeks and a bit to go before things happen so this week I've had me hair all tidied up ready at the hairdressers who are all ready for it with their own decorations and that up.
By this time next week we'll know pretty much what if any direction this country is likely to be going with us going to the Polls next Thursday having listened to all the debates, read the leaflets, seen the 'fact checker' posts and the like.
I have been continuing as a certain person knows making some more cassettes as I have had a few more arrive which in view of having to toss out some expensive ones because someone had stored them in an ill ventilated damp place leaving them badly mildewed was no bad thing.
Sometimes I feel I have to be a bloodhound, sniffing everything to check it is okay just because some people cannot do this before listing them for sale.
That said, I intend to leave that side of things outside of the odd recording which I can start and return to later as Christmas does eat time up with family and that plus obviously buying tapes costs money which is needed more for other things like presents.
As well Mom's brother in law and my Uncle is in bad way so things there may well take time and even headspace away from Christmas so it's best to concentrate on getting everything done ready to run no matter what.
It's not I'd want - this time of year does have it's fair share of bad memories - but happens happens no matter what and you have to get on with things the best you can.
There should be a special edition next week all being well and then it's the one before the day.
