The Official Christmas 2021 Thread

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

Like Carly Simon once said: "It's coming around, again".

Yes, folks, it's that time of the year.

I'm wondering how JWfaners are preparing for the festive season?

Me? My decorations went up, last Thursday, but, truth to tell, I've been getting that "ginger bread feeling" since October. I'm not sure why, but I'm really looking forward to Crimbo, this year.

I know that my Christmas has, officially, begun, because Ken Bruce played Run With The Fox, this morning, on BBC Radio 2.

So...how are you all planning your celebrations? Are you planning anything?

Do you ignore the festive season? Would you rather it didn't happen?

Answers on.

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

[Bellosh 4,525]

I straight up love December and Christmas/New Years time.

 

Besides the usual Christmas music (pop and orchestral), I love to watch 'comfort' movies this time of year (Temple of Doom, Jaws, anything Spielberg really, Empire Strikes Back)

 

They might not be Christmas movies, but it is the best time to watch them.

 

It's funny, but I will never not be fascinated with the way Hollywood and commercials just destroyed the perception of Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' to the general public. It's basically a meme to hear any of that in a movie nowadays.  I'm not offended obviously.  I only mention it because I still find the ending of the Trepak Russian Dance to be SURREAL.

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

2 hours ago, Bellosh said:

I straight up love December and Christmas/New Years time.

 

Besides the usual Christmas music (pop and orchestral), I love to watch 'comfort' movies this time of year (Temple of Doom, Jaws, anything Spielberg really, Empire Strikes Back)

 

They might not be Christmas movies, but it is the best time to watch them.

 

It's funny, but I will never not be fascinated with the way Hollywood and commercials just destroyed the perception of Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' to the general public. It's basically a meme to hear any of that in a movie nowadays.  I'm not offended obviously.  I only mention it because I still find the ending of the Trepak Russian Dance to be SURREAL.

 

 

 

There's so much amazing music Tchaikovsky left out of the Nutcracker suite, but yeah in a way I'm glad he did because it means that those parts can stay much fresher sounding.  I'm talking stuff like the Pine Forest in Winter, Decoration of the Christmas Tree, etc.

 

And if you're looking for a fresh way to listen to The Nutcracker, I love this album where Stewart Goodyear plays the ENTIRE ballet transcribed for solo piano.  It's fantastic!

 

[Not Mr. Big 4,955]

[Sweeping Strings 3,381]

This tree decoration isn't my work, but it made me chuckle - 

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

Great stuff!

Ps, loving the Crimbo Daleks avatar.

[Bespin Copilot 10,731]

The Official Christmas 1962 Thread? Yesss!!!

 

Conducted by "our" John Williams... probably arranged too...

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

17 hours ago, Not Mr. Big said:

 

I'm just about to finish up this exact WoodWick scent (but a tall one, not a short)

[Not Mr. Big 4,955]

3 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

 

I'm just about to finish up this exact WoodWick scent (but a tall one, not a short)

To my horror, I found that my Woodwick was low.  Thankfully I looked in the closet and found another one that was mostly full

[Bespin Copilot 10,731]

Terribly sorry to hear your woodstick is low. I hope everything will be fixed soon my friend!

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

He'll get his wood back by morning 

 

No idea why, but I am sooooo looking forward to Crimbo, this year. I'm jacked. I'm jacked to the tits!!!!!

[bollemanneke 4,321]

Our tree is up but dangerously unstable. I orrdered myself a nice DVD collection (Australia, POTC1, Sense and Sensibility and Far from Heaven). I really should start listening to carols now, but already went through  Home Alone and part of 2. And I went to two carol services in Bath and London.

[Disco Stu 15,517]

4 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Our tree is up but dangerously unstable

 

Has it considered medication?  Counseling?

[bollemanneke 4,321]

I'm trying to talk it intot therapy, yes, but it's pretty stubborn.

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

4 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

I'm trying to talk it into therapy, yes, but it's pretty stubborn.

Maybe it's "pining", for something?  

 

 

4 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

 I went to...carol services in Bath...

Bath's nice, isn't it?

Is there still a high-end hi-fi shop called Audience?

Go to Bristol, as well. It's better.

[bollemanneke 4,321]

Not sure about Audience. Bristol, one day.

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

I've just checked. Audience is still there.

@bollemanneke, have you eaten at Sally Lunn's? Also, there's a brilliant fudge shop, within a stone's throw of the abbey.

[bollemanneke 4,321]

Yup, I had tea at Sally Lunn's last year!

[Disco Stu 15,517]

There's a local chain of tea shops in that area called Boston Tea Party, which is outrageous cultural appropriation if you ask me!

[Positivatee 327]

It's (probably) not cultural appropriation if it's Western whites stealing from other Western whites.

 

But it is hilarious: a permanent reminder of colonial rebellion in the mother country. 

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

11 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

There's a local chain of tea shops in that area called Boston Tea Party, which is outrageous cultural appropriation if you ask me!

Yes. There's a Boston Tea Party at the top of Park St., in Bristol.

[bruce marshall 1,968]

My Xmas gift to Fart:

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

Why, thank you, my good man!

[Disco Stu 15,517]

One of my favorite heirloom Christmas decorations is this music box of carolers that plays "First Nowell" that I got from my grandmother

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

@Not Mr. Big

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,361]

On the holiday music scene...

 

Been listening to An Oscar Peterson Christmas quite a bit, as it's just the right tempo (and temperature!) for the season. Lovely bunch of warm and jazzed-up selections that I discovered for the first time only last year.

 

Also: I know that classical guitar can be a real "yea" or "nay" thing depending on who you ask, but there's a cool bit in this take on "The Little Drummer Boy" (a tune I'm not even crazy about to begin with) that really caught my ears.

 

 

Kinda makes me want to listen to Prisoner of Azkaban, although I really don't mind this album either.

[Not Mr. Big 4,955]

37 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

@Not Mr. Big

I've been meaning to try out a cinnamon Christmas candle.  The green candles are great and everything but they kind of get old after a while

[Sweeping Strings 3,381]

My candle is an Apple And Spiced Berries one this year. Quite nice.  

[Disco Stu 15,517]

Scented candles, one of life’s small pleasures

[Jay 45,801]

My wife's favorite candle scent, at least this time of year, is Frasier Fir. Santa always brings her one every year.

 

Does any company make a scented candle that smells like a wood stove? 

[Positivatee 327]

Woodwick candles are great because they sound like a crackling fireplace. 

 

https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3750297/product.jsp

 

Etsy has some homemade candles that say wood stove. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/907236423/wood-stove-soy-candle-12oz-fireplace?ref=share_v3_lx

 

But homemade + fire = let the buyer beware. 

[Marian Schedenig 11,600]

 

 

On Instagram, I also pick some details and publish them as stories with matching music, but I don't see a way to share or replicate that here.

[Deacon Blues 67]

My work's started playing Christmas music over the radio. No Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé yet thankfully.

[Positivatee 327]

7 hours ago, Deacon Blues said:

Mariah Carey

 

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,517]

Somebody needs to make it their life's purpose to make sure Patrick Stewart watches that

[Positivatee 327]

It's 11 months old, so we're forgiven for not watching this last year. 

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

That was a lot more fun than the cat-strangling original.

[Positivatee 327]

I wouldn't kick Mariah Carey out of bed for eating Christmas cookies. 

[mstrox 7,339]

Mariah Carey is great and her first Christmas album is terrific! 
 

 

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

58 minutes ago, mstrox said:

Mariah Carey is great and her first Christmas album is terrific! 
 

 

She's made more than one???!!!!!

Angels and ministers of grace defend us.

[bruce marshall 1,968]

[Disco Stu 15,517]

I hate modern pop (and by modern I mean post 1950s) Christmas music.  I can't think of a single exception at the moment.

 

Note I say modern pop Christmas music, not all Christmas music made since the 50s.

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

23 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

I hate modern pop (and by modern I mean post 1950s) Christmas music.  I can't think of a single exception at the moment.

... and a happy bleeding Crimbo to you, too (!).

[Disco Stu 15,517]

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

Top gif!

[Deacon Blues 67]

17 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Don't give me that! You've been smooching with everybody! Snuffy, Al, Leo, little Moe with the gimpy leg, Cheeks, Boney Bob, Cliff. I could go on forever, baby!

[Marian Schedenig 11,600]

On 14/12/2021 at 5:13 PM, Disco Stu said:

I hate modern pop (and by modern I mean post 1950s) Christmas music.  I can't think of a single exception at the moment.

 

How about this one:

 

[bruce marshall 1,968]

"2000 Miles"

The Pretenders

 

Great song.

Find it yourself😍

[Naïve Old Fart 12,881]

Yes, it's a good song.