From darkest Cymru.
I’ve just sat down with a cuppa after returning home from a cold and miserable night spent dispensing warm drinks and a little human succour to the roofless and forgotten. Rhyl in December is worse than Rhyl in July. Not by much but enough to make a depressing difference.
I didn’t realise our small team of six, five volunteers and a professional outreach worker would be “going down the coast” so that was a surprise. I think Santa gives Rhyl the swerve. Sensible chap.
So my Christmas swag this year. Some chocolate, some loose tea and a bottle of vodka but the best gift by far has been the privilege of spending a few short hours amongst some truly resilient and quietly noble fellow human beings.
It’s very late now or very early and I’m going to bed before the dawn catches up with me.
Happy Christmas my friends. Stay quick.
@pencilsqueezer Happy Christmas and a fine New Year to you too, pps.
For Christmas my better half gifted me a booking at a short residential course in water-colour painting; 3 days in Devon (my home county) down on the coast in May, based in a small hotel.
Usually I sketch things with a thin black architectural pen, and the water-colours are added afterwards – I’ll still be doing that, but I’ll be glad to get some new ideas from the course and the others who are in the group – five or six of us I believe.
It’s quite possibly the best present I’ve ever received. We will turn it into our main holiday for the year I suspect; it may be five months distant, but I’m already really looking forward to it!
A wee bit of advice. Ditch the pen. I know it feels safe and you’re comfortable using it but the line it produces is too rigid. Use a dip pen and a bottle of ink. You can make far more expressive marks that way. Vary the pressure on the nib and let it run dry now and again. Proper drawing.
Thanks – I’ll have to give that a try. Next time I’m in Bristol I’ll look at getting a pen and some ink to experiment with.
The convenience of a Rotring (or rather a cheapo version thereof) has always had some appeal due to the fact that I’m often sitting in an intermittently damp landscape when the sketch pad comes out, and speed of retreat has to be a consideration!
They are seductive and useful for certain tasks but they are at the end of the day a technical implement, designed for a specific task. Carrying a dip pen, some nibs and a small bottle or two of ink isn’t that inconvenient and it will free up your drawing. Also try drawing from different parts of your arm apart from the wrist and the fingers. Try standing back a bit and bringing your elbow and shoulder into action. You can’t do that with a technical pen but you can with other media. Try chalk and charcoal or even just load a big brush up with paint and have at it. Loads of messy expressive fun.
The boy has taken to drawing lately – he’s never shown any interest (indeed, he hated art at school) but has suddenly started drawing Manga warriors as part of his Dungeons and Dragons group. We got him some nice paper and some pens plus a Huion drawing tablet which allows you to draw on the PC with amazing detail. Early days but I love it. I can’t draw a convincing pin man, much as I wish I could.
The D&D thing is interesting, as a side note. There are 6 of them that play and they get these super detailed books with all the characters etc, then invent their own quests, rules and challenges and basically the whole thing is one massive creative exercise involving taking over the dining room for days at a time, communicating exclusively at full volume to be heard over carefully compiled playlists of nu metal. Looks brilliant fun.
Champion. I can’t say I am at all conversant with drawing tablets for obvious cost reasons but they look fabulous fun. I also know absolutely bugger all about D&D apart from a vague understanding that it is some sort of role playing game (steady the Moose). I have read somewhere or other that it has become hip again amongst the younger set in a way that thankfully the Tull never will do.
Small mercies and all that.
And the first time some hot young babe scoffs at the very idea of D&D, they’ll drop it like a hot turd and start buying Simon & Garfunkel records. Or something.
A few things I has asked for (Clive James’ Larkin book, Booksmart on DVD, a couple of other culture items), and a few I hadn’t (various bits of processed sugar, a nice scarf, a less nice jumper (with receipt) among others). As usual the best gifts are getting a couple of days off work and knowing that gifts I gave out were appreciated.
Through the post I received a pair of ballet shoes and a rather skimpy onesie sent from the Languedoc region of France. I don’t know anyone in the Languedoc region of France.
I was somewhat taken aback when opening a package postmarked Italy. Not sure what I’m going to do with a pair of ballet shoes and a rather skimpy onesie
Good grief – I thought I had discovered the Face of Our Lord and now you tell me it’s a stain! It is however an admittedly rather impressive stain – many hands and all that?
A week in Cornwall in August.
A framed photo collection of us from 40 years ago when we were childhood sweethearts.
Must marry that girl sometime soon.
A wonderful ‘Son of Hibachi’ BBQ. Funny thing is I bought the same for my wife 15 yrs ago which we had stolen from a garage this year. We go camping quite a lot and we really missed it. She has bought one for me now! When I first bought it my wife thought it was an odd prestent for xmas. It was but it was a fav’ of ours over the years. I’m happy we have another one.
A new SSD for my PC – much needed.
All my family are over for Xmas dinner which is great too.
So I’m going back to the kitchen to prepare…………
Well. I’m certainly no connoisseur of Bourbon but my favourite is Jim Beam.
This was way more expensive.
Could I tell the difference?
Absolutely.
I tried it neat first off and the aroma and taste knocked me off my feet.
Too strong though, so I added some ice and sipped it slowly for half an hour or so.
Delicious. An occasional treat for me at this price though.
Beautiful bottle by the way and a lovely keepsake.
New togs, a Laphroaig and some books, including a couple of Clive James. I don’t allow music gifts, but we are listening to Lana/NFR as we Fanny and Johnny in the kitchen.
Very niche, but I got a signed copy of Mark Carwardine’s new field guide to the worlds cetaceans. It’s nothing short of incredible.
I have a couple of others yet to open.
It has indeed.
Beautifully illustrated too, all sorts of things other guides don’t give you.
Thoroughly recommended.
It’s been years in the pipeline and worth the wait.
Not something I received but something I gave. My mum was confused and thrilled in equal measure. …
My mum's memory isn't what it was, she is 90 after all. To help her I found this today and framed it. It was her favourite album when I was a child. That photo haunted me for years to be honest. Can't wait to see her face on Christmas day #vynyl#vinylrecords@ehumperdinckpic.twitter.com/6oxS3h7UQ9
Did you know that John McLaughlin played guitar on ‘Release Me’? Seemingly recorded on the same day he played on Tom Jones’ (rather more guitar-tastic) ‘Detroit City’.
Me and my brother in law give each other 2-3 CDs at Christmas. In 25 years of doing this, we’ve only previously bought each other the same CD once (the first Cigarettes After Sex CD, although I actually bought him the vinyl version, come to think of it). However, this year I bought him a Copy of a CD I that I own, but remarked to him that I was jealous, as the copy I’d bought him was a remastered version that was better than mine (although at that point I hadn’t told him what the album was). So, fan my brow if I didn’t open my present this morning to find the self-same remastered CD that I was jealous about! Not only that, but he’d also bought himself a copy when he bought mine! And it’s not as if it’s a well known album – Vs. by Mission of Burma. Great album though.
I’m lucky. I always am. I get given nice things every year. This year The Police studio albums box set and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin DVD box set. I still like CD’s and DVD’s.
Plus, the usual sillies and a good swathe of decent cool clothes.
This year though I get to keep Mrs Beezer. If you follow me on civilian social media you may perhaps know I almost lost her to illness earlier in the summer. She fell ill on the last day of our holiday in Greece. We assumed it was food poisoning but on our return and a visit to our GP she was admitted to hospital and underwent a lengthy emergency op and a subsequent stay in intensive care. Long story short, after 3 months in recovery I brought her home in October and she’s mending slowly but surely. Even drivin’ the bleedin’ car now!
So, that’s a nice present. The best in a long time.
That’s the sort of present that puts all our CDs and books and stuff well into the contextual shade! Very happy to hear your news – all best wishes for the New Year now!
Chocs, nice bottle of artisan (so it tells me) gin, TMT Stormwatch, strange furry/fleecy giant snood thing, latest Robert Galbraith/Strike novel, hammock for the garden (in due course), coffee table book of cool vintage Harley Davidsons, box of Camden pale ales… Not bad as we’re supposed to be cutting back.
Odd time of year, really. I have two sisters, whose birthday is the 24th, and my partner’s birthday is the 25th. I’m not that fussed about Christmas, so more than happy to go large on the birthdays.
I did get a Disco Antistat though, so tomorrow will be a vinly cleaning frenzy.
Oh, and I bought myself a 1970s Matchbox Superfast set. Ebay bargain, Ostensibly for partner’s nephews kids to play with, but in reality. . .
The Disco Antistat is the best 40 quid I have ever spent. I now have a vacuum machine, the main advantage of which is quicker drying time.
I bought a Dexys 12″ in Oxfam last week (99p – the chap behind the counter was leaving and had gone demob happy with the pricing gun) and, even after a vacuum clean, it sounded like wasps in a jar. Ten rotations in the Knosti and a vacuum finish, it now sounds as good as new.
Quick summary of “Pimip my Knosti”: pull one of the brushes up so it cleans the run-out groove, and push the other down so it cleans the run-in groove. And swap the vinyl round so it does both to both sides.
Your Knosti basin must be different from both* of mine, because the brushes are long enough to cover the whole record.
*I was lucky enough to find a second set (’70s vintage, lovely shade of brown) at a boot this year for a fiver. So handy having a second basin for stage 2.
Be careful as well of tangerines and satsumas. You don’t want to fall on one accidentally in the nude, and end up in A&E, where they’ll think you’re a ‘shover’.
In one of Adam Kay’s books he says that he was almost ready to be convinced that a patient really had fallen of the sofa and landed awkwardly on the TV remote, until he retrieved said remote and discovered that it was inside a condom.
Well, the vacuum arm is only the length of the edge of the label to the outer edge of the record so, what, about 5 inches? And the slot is about quarter of an inch wide. Write your own punchline here.
Um, slippers, socks etc which I’m perfectly happy with. They’re excellent slippers, v solid and comfortable with a sole which allows me up the garden path. And I’m really looking forward to culling my old socks and introducing my new.
Plus my wife has told me she’s taking me to a fine dining (copyright Masterchef) restaurant complete with tasting menu and accompanying wines. Which should be nice.
Finally a year when friends and family listened to what I always wish for…I got seven books. 😉
Also two tea mugs, a very nicely framed photograph, a very pink plush pig, and a huge battery operated Christmas lantern/snow (well, glitter) globe that is so mesmerisingly ghastly that I’m starting to almost like it. When turned on it lights up and the glitter is whirling around in the liquid without having to shake it, and a small Santa figure with a Christmas tree is standing in the centre of it. His (completely white) face looks like a combination of the Grinch and Pennywise the Clown…and it was not given ironically. Oh well; it’s not the worst gift I’ve received from that particular friend, so I’m not complaining! 😀
All in all a very good year for gifts.
Book – Awopbopaloobopawopbamboom by Nik Cohn
CD – Once Upon A Time In Hollywood soundtrack
DVD – Blow Up
And a bluetooth keyboard to type on my phone/tablet.
In other words, a random assortment from my Amazon wishlist, which suits me fine!
Spoilt rotten I’m afraid. My son and his girlfriend gave me the Western Stars Blu-Ray, Freedom by Jimi Hendrix and The Abominable Showman by Nick Lowe….my daughter got me theTim Hardin Complete Verve recordings, and my sister the Roy Orbison Black and White Night Blu-Ray/Cd set. I also got the Hepworth Quiz book and a Beatles book, along with new PJs, a leather messenger bag and a drill from Mrs. T.
We had a great day with the family, the dinner was declared a ‘triumph’, and we ended up playing a daft game called Scrawl, which entails drawing something, passing it on to the next who has to describe it, then the next person drawing that and so on…huge fun in a really childish and rather dodgy way. Tomorrow will see bubble and squeak for breakfast, followed by Boxing Day Monopoly..
Music wise I think I win with a vinyl copy of The Carpenters “Old Fashioned Christmas”. Also Marianne Faithfull’s autobiography and a book about Billy Wilder.
I cooked an excellent, very late Christmas dinner if I say so myself and then we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life”, first time for my 13 yr old daughter. She may have said it was the best Christmas ever.
Books: Kenny Jones, Ben Folds, Goldmine’s essential guide to Record Collecting, a biog of Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin (time to dig out my Serge CD box set), Around The World in 80 Record Stores.
Books included the Elton John one, the Prince one and Michael Palins book about North Korea which I had my eye on.
Music wise the Alabama 3 deluxe of Exile on Coldharbour Lane and Tony Joe White Swamo monument rarities.
However the main gift my wife and I clubbed together to pay for Beatles Love tickets for when we are in Vegas in the summer.
Shatner Claus LP
Unthanks – Mount The Air CD
Christmas Cocktails CD (lounge-y stuff, marvelous)
A very scholarly and detailed book about Elevator Music
Plus an absolute avalanche of tapes, CDs and records from Twitter chums, including my secret Vinyl Santa. Am currently auditioning some of the festive ones, after a cleaning session yesterday.
The next generation of the family failed to understand my heavy hints, and I just got a thoroughly practical but in no way Afterword-friendly pair of oven gloves. I drowned my sorrows with the accompanying bottle of Bruichladdich.
Seems the Bruicladdich is popular – which one did you get ? I have (just) the Classic – I’ve had my eye on a bottle of their Black Art series, but any bottles still left are going for silly prices.
Just before last Christmas our beloved ancient golden retriever passed away. Despite the dog-shaped hole in our lives, we’d decided that perhaps we’d wait a few years before getting another one. But then, via a friend of a friend, we found a puppy – same breed so standard mix of cleverness and stupidity – and on Christmas Eve a 10-week old cream retriever arrived. She’s already pulled the Christmas tree over, crapped on all the carpets and tried to eat most things in the house and garden.
Hours of fun and, as ever, very needy – good job we have five adults at home at the moment to look after her.
@Morrison Brilliant! Our little rescue Jack Russell came to us to stand in the paw-prints of her predecessor and to keep our old JRT fella (16 years and still going) company last February. She was around 6 months old when we picked her up, and had never seen much outside of a cage in her short life to that point. She was puzzled by the feel of grass under her feet, but soon took enthusiastically to daily walks with me and the old fella. Every day has seen some new experience for her, and she’s been an utter joy all year. This Christmas, then, was her first proper family Christmas, and she’s thrown herself into the swing of things with aplomb. She spent most of yesterday evening asleep on my chest while we watched the telly – knackered but content from a day of present opening, food scrounging and general seasonal mayhem.
She and her pal the old fella send their seasonal Russell greetings to your new arrival, with a tip for the Christmas clear-up:
Books – lots of Books.
Fonts, maps, London underground, British leyland, history of booze in britain.
Booze – Belgian beer, IPA, and woodford’s reserve bourbon
Mrs D issued a dictat that NO CDs will be given as presents. Fortunately some of my extended family did not get the memo, so I did get the cherry red punk 1977 box set and the latest pixies album.
Re: Andrew Lincoln’s retirement plan: please tell me if it’s worth persevering? Really? I lost interest after the gross-out at the start of, what was it? Series 7? or thereabouts. I took the whole lot to the chazza as a result. A Prime account gives me the option of carrying on the TV-stress-fest, but I haven’t heard anyone yet tell me that I should. You may of course be talking about the fat paperback, but just in case you mean the boxed sets of DVDs, I thought I’d ask.
I should have made clear this is the Comic which came to an abrupt and unannounced end earlier this year. It’s the fourth fat volume and in my view the quality never dipped.
I baled out of TV show a while ago, it seemed to be going nowhere incredibly slowly.
Thanks for the clarification – I suspected that the printed version probably still had more going for it than what the ulimately execrable TV series had gradually morped into. Moving more slowly than a ‘walker’, and with as much life behind its eyes as the disconnected head of a zombie, the telly version staggered slowly into a Georgian swamp of plot confusion and desperation until I could take it no more, whereupon I gladly self-euthanised my watching experience.
Books – Elton John, Debbie Harry
( she’s surprisingly heavy, but I’ll manage, thanks) and Billy Connolly.
Whisky x 2 – an Islay single malt and the Haig one that David Beckham recommends.
Case of various festive German ‘winterbiers’.
Chocolate
L’Oreal Men Expert stuff, because I’m worth it.
And money to go towards an imminent purchase of a Rega Planar 1 turntable.
I was in John Lewis this morning as Mrs F was showing me cushions or a winter coat or something. I found myself drifting away, towards a white Rega Planar 1…
Sorry, dear, what were you saying? Yes, it looks lovely. Let me buy it for you. Then can we please go home?
From a sunny but very wet Los Angeles: Hank Wangford’s ‘Rodeo Radio’ and Van the Man’s ‘Veedon Fleece’, to replace the records that the new puppy chewed recently. Some jeans, a sweater, plenty of chocolate and a mini hamper from my sister that contained a jar of Dundee marmalade. Yum!
Another ker-ching for the Elton book here ‘The’ must have Afterword gift of 2019 – very readable, high velocity rock thrills so far. Alexis Petridis has done a cracking job.
I’ve also got Steven Morris’s book (wondering if he’ll mention Twang!), and Sir Lenworth of Henry’s recollection of his early showbiz days from B&W Minstrels to Tiswas.
Music wise I’ve got one of those excellent Cherry Red compilations – Further Perspectives & Distortions which hooks together experimental avant garde/post punk music from the late 70s/early 80s – so that fringe stuff where This Heat meets the likes of Henry Cow, ATV, Swell Maps and Nurse With Wound – I’m fascinated with that era of forgotten weirdness- you can smell the damp!
I’ve also got a copy of the Gene Clarke ‘No Other’ reissue (on 4AD no less), the Aphex Twin Peel Sessions and the Echo & His Bunnymen Peel Sessions. So all heady stuff which I shall enjoy with the Chocolate Orange and ripe stilton.
An early Xmas present (3 weeks ago) was a spare Netflix login from my great-nephew’s family account. Much appreciated.
Apart from that, nothing but a few assorted cards and a 50cl bottle of nondescript Italian Merlot from my neice, which she drank the other half of when I opened it on Boxing day.
In anticipation of this, I bought myself a few books (Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, Olivia Manning’s Balkan Trilogy and The Scarfolk Annual). Also a bottle of Rhubarb Vodka and a small supply of beer. I also intend getting a new (to me – from the charity furniture place) desk and most importantly a more comfortable office chair than the crappy old one I’m currently sitting on.
Every year my stepdaughter goes into Ray’s Jazz on the third floor at Foyle’s and asks the man to help her choose three second hand jazz albums. ‘He likes saxophones’, she says. This year I got two great Charlie Parker albums and one by a chap called Lucky Thompson whom I had never previously heard of (but is actually very good).
Lady G got me ‘Live at the Roxy’ on rather startling pink vinyl, Wagner’s ‘Gotterdammerung’ on CD (the James Levine version), Elton’s book (which I had already got) and the vinyl de-luxe version of ‘Abbey Road’.
The Tubby Hayes 13CD ‘Complete Fontana Albums’ box set – released on December 20. Mrs H had to choose between buying locally (assuming that were possible) before Christmas or saving £20 and buying direct from Universal and having it arrive post-Christmas. Wisely, she chose the latter. It arrived today – and sounds fantastic 🙂
Not much, which suits me: I’ve got better versions of everything I want than anyone else would get me, and I’m sure the same applies to people I would buy for. So it’s a big chunk of change to Crisis/Alzheimers’ Society instead of nice wine for the relations.
Finally the penny has dropped among the relations too, so I got a replacement copy of “Just My Type” and a Leeds centenary year training top from Mrs E. Now to sort out me toe and get running again…
Not really a present, but my parents gave me their Dot. They got it with their Amazon Prime account and don’t want it. I don’t have one and haven’t a fucking clue what to do with it.
Chrisf says
Moving westwards, Santa has now passed Singapore and left a nice bottle of Bruichladdich and some Sunspel T-Shirts / Polo Shirts.
Now off to stick a turkey in the oven….
Black Celebration says
Elton’s book
Very nice Socks
Very nice slip on shoes
A sodastream!
Rigid Digit says
A soda strem turned up in my house too.
We have been drinking lots of soda ware, just because we can.
It tastes so much better home-made.
pencilsqueezer says
From darkest Cymru.
I’ve just sat down with a cuppa after returning home from a cold and miserable night spent dispensing warm drinks and a little human succour to the roofless and forgotten. Rhyl in December is worse than Rhyl in July. Not by much but enough to make a depressing difference.
I didn’t realise our small team of six, five volunteers and a professional outreach worker would be “going down the coast” so that was a surprise. I think Santa gives Rhyl the swerve. Sensible chap.
So my Christmas swag this year. Some chocolate, some loose tea and a bottle of vodka but the best gift by far has been the privilege of spending a few short hours amongst some truly resilient and quietly noble fellow human beings.
It’s very late now or very early and I’m going to bed before the dawn catches up with me.
Happy Christmas my friends. Stay quick.
Vulpes Vulpes says
@pencilsqueezer Happy Christmas and a fine New Year to you too, pps.
For Christmas my better half gifted me a booking at a short residential course in water-colour painting; 3 days in Devon (my home county) down on the coast in May, based in a small hotel.
Usually I sketch things with a thin black architectural pen, and the water-colours are added afterwards – I’ll still be doing that, but I’ll be glad to get some new ideas from the course and the others who are in the group – five or six of us I believe.
It’s quite possibly the best present I’ve ever received. We will turn it into our main holiday for the year I suspect; it may be five months distant, but I’m already really looking forward to it!
pencilsqueezer says
A wee bit of advice. Ditch the pen. I know it feels safe and you’re comfortable using it but the line it produces is too rigid. Use a dip pen and a bottle of ink. You can make far more expressive marks that way. Vary the pressure on the nib and let it run dry now and again. Proper drawing.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Thanks – I’ll have to give that a try. Next time I’m in Bristol I’ll look at getting a pen and some ink to experiment with.
The convenience of a Rotring (or rather a cheapo version thereof) has always had some appeal due to the fact that I’m often sitting in an intermittently damp landscape when the sketch pad comes out, and speed of retreat has to be a consideration!
pencilsqueezer says
They are seductive and useful for certain tasks but they are at the end of the day a technical implement, designed for a specific task. Carrying a dip pen, some nibs and a small bottle or two of ink isn’t that inconvenient and it will free up your drawing. Also try drawing from different parts of your arm apart from the wrist and the fingers. Try standing back a bit and bringing your elbow and shoulder into action. You can’t do that with a technical pen but you can with other media. Try chalk and charcoal or even just load a big brush up with paint and have at it. Loads of messy expressive fun.
Twang says
The boy has taken to drawing lately – he’s never shown any interest (indeed, he hated art at school) but has suddenly started drawing Manga warriors as part of his Dungeons and Dragons group. We got him some nice paper and some pens plus a Huion drawing tablet which allows you to draw on the PC with amazing detail. Early days but I love it. I can’t draw a convincing pin man, much as I wish I could.
The D&D thing is interesting, as a side note. There are 6 of them that play and they get these super detailed books with all the characters etc, then invent their own quests, rules and challenges and basically the whole thing is one massive creative exercise involving taking over the dining room for days at a time, communicating exclusively at full volume to be heard over carefully compiled playlists of nu metal. Looks brilliant fun.
pencilsqueezer says
Champion. I can’t say I am at all conversant with drawing tablets for obvious cost reasons but they look fabulous fun. I also know absolutely bugger all about D&D apart from a vague understanding that it is some sort of role playing game (steady the Moose). I have read somewhere or other that it has become hip again amongst the younger set in a way that thankfully the Tull never will do.
Small mercies and all that.
Vulpes Vulpes says
And the first time some hot young babe scoffs at the very idea of D&D, they’ll drop it like a hot turd and start buying Simon & Garfunkel records. Or something.
pencilsqueezer says
On the slippery slope to text adventures if you ask me.
Vulpes Vulpes says
lol
You are in a darkened room…..
pencilsqueezer says
Go East…
You are dead.
Kid Dynamite says
Vulpes sits down and starts singing about gold
Twang says
TJ has acquired a TJette who sits and admires while they bellow like buffalo. I’m mystified why but then I’m not 15.
Gatz says
A few things I has asked for (Clive James’ Larkin book, Booksmart on DVD, a couple of other culture items), and a few I hadn’t (various bits of processed sugar, a nice scarf, a less nice jumper (with receipt) among others). As usual the best gifts are getting a couple of days off work and knowing that gifts I gave out were appreciated.
Gary says
Through the post I received a pair of ballet shoes and a rather skimpy onesie sent from the Languedoc region of France. I don’t know anyone in the Languedoc region of France.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I was somewhat taken aback when opening a package postmarked Italy. Not sure what I’m going to do with a pair of ballet shoes and a rather skimpy onesie
Gary says
Sorry about the stain.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Good grief – I thought I had discovered the Face of Our Lord and now you tell me it’s a stain! It is however an admittedly rather impressive stain – many hands and all that?
badartdog says
A week in Cornwall in August.
A framed photo collection of us from 40 years ago when we were childhood sweethearts.
Must marry that girl sometime soon.
Tiggerlion says
To paraphrase the film, Elf, what she wanted for Christmas was a Tiffany wedding ring and for her boyfriend to commit already!
badartdog says
Sadly, what she got, was some Tupperware boxes and a dustpan and brush.
Tiggerlion says
Bad dog!
Lunaman says
A wonderful ‘Son of Hibachi’ BBQ. Funny thing is I bought the same for my wife 15 yrs ago which we had stolen from a garage this year. We go camping quite a lot and we really missed it. She has bought one for me now! When I first bought it my wife thought it was an odd prestent for xmas. It was but it was a fav’ of ours over the years. I’m happy we have another one.
A new SSD for my PC – much needed.
All my family are over for Xmas dinner which is great too.
So I’m going back to the kitchen to prepare…………
Junior Wells says
Those little hibachis were ace then they seemed to disappear ,at least down here. I wonder what the story was/is.
John Walters says
Books:
Elton John autobiography
Wichita Lineman – Dylan Jones
Records:
Dylan – Bootleg series, Travellin’ Thru
Jethro Tull – Stormwatch 40th Anniversary Set
Booze:
Bob Dylan – Heaven’s Door Bourbon Whisky.
Junior Wells says
Interested in Your assessment on the whisky
John Walters says
Well. I’m certainly no connoisseur of Bourbon but my favourite is Jim Beam.
This was way more expensive.
Could I tell the difference?
Absolutely.
I tried it neat first off and the aroma and taste knocked me off my feet.
Too strong though, so I added some ice and sipped it slowly for half an hour or so.
Delicious. An occasional treat for me at this price though.
Beautiful bottle by the way and a lovely keepsake.
Black Type says
Don’t drink twice, it’s alright.
retropath2 says
New togs, a Laphroaig and some books, including a couple of Clive James. I don’t allow music gifts, but we are listening to Lana/NFR as we Fanny and Johnny in the kitchen.
bobness says
Very niche, but I got a signed copy of Mark Carwardine’s new field guide to the worlds cetaceans. It’s nothing short of incredible.
I have a couple of others yet to open.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Ooooh, that’s been on my wish-list for most of the year! Thanks for reminding me – it’s only just come out hasn’t it?
bobness says
It has indeed.
Beautifully illustrated too, all sorts of things other guides don’t give you.
Thoroughly recommended.
It’s been years in the pipeline and worth the wait.
bigstevie says
A huge framed poster for my music room. Link below.
https://www.juniqe.co.uk/records-premium-poster-portrait-3279381.html
Sewer Robot says
I asked Santa for a body to hold and he got me The Body by Bill Bryson. I must admit it does fit neatly in my hands..
Dave Ross says
Not something I received but something I gave. My mum was confused and thrilled in equal measure. …
Vulpes Vulpes says
How many times have you had to hear it so far this Christmas, Dave? Hope you and your mum had a lovely Christmas, Dave, even with the Hump!!
Dave Ross says
Ha ha. No I’ve kept it firmly inside it’s frame. Next time I’m round at mums I’ll take my little portable player and give it a spin for her
Colin H says
Did you know that John McLaughlin played guitar on ‘Release Me’? Seemingly recorded on the same day he played on Tom Jones’ (rather more guitar-tastic) ‘Detroit City’.
Paul Wad says
Me and my brother in law give each other 2-3 CDs at Christmas. In 25 years of doing this, we’ve only previously bought each other the same CD once (the first Cigarettes After Sex CD, although I actually bought him the vinyl version, come to think of it). However, this year I bought him a Copy of a CD I that I own, but remarked to him that I was jealous, as the copy I’d bought him was a remastered version that was better than mine (although at that point I hadn’t told him what the album was). So, fan my brow if I didn’t open my present this morning to find the self-same remastered CD that I was jealous about! Not only that, but he’d also bought himself a copy when he bought mine! And it’s not as if it’s a well known album – Vs. by Mission of Burma. Great album though.
Sitheref2409 says
A bottle of gin from Colorado, and a couple of very nice books that I’ve been after for a while.
And my son’s delight at seeing some of the rubbish I got him that dates back 25 years…
Beezer says
I’m lucky. I always am. I get given nice things every year. This year The Police studio albums box set and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin DVD box set. I still like CD’s and DVD’s.
Plus, the usual sillies and a good swathe of decent cool clothes.
This year though I get to keep Mrs Beezer. If you follow me on civilian social media you may perhaps know I almost lost her to illness earlier in the summer. She fell ill on the last day of our holiday in Greece. We assumed it was food poisoning but on our return and a visit to our GP she was admitted to hospital and underwent a lengthy emergency op and a subsequent stay in intensive care. Long story short, after 3 months in recovery I brought her home in October and she’s mending slowly but surely. Even drivin’ the bleedin’ car now!
So, that’s a nice present. The best in a long time.
Sewer Robot says
Delighted for you both, Mr B..
Beezer says
Thanks @Sewer Robot
badartdog says
Great news – best present. Good news about the Missus too.
SteveT says
That’s a mighty fine present @Beezer
Twang says
Blimey @beezer I didn’t know. Thank Clapton she seems to be getting better.
Beezer says
Thanks @Twang. Thank him indeed. She’s more of a ‘Steps’ girl, I’m afraid. This place makes literally no sense to her.
Twang says
Best she doesn’t know.
Tiggerlion says
Best wishes to Mrs Beezer! Is she your usual source of smashing jumpers?
I got a smashing jumper today. Along with Dylan. Who could ask for more?
Beezer says
She surely is! Another one this year! My smash has never been so ing’d.
minibreakfast says
Cor blimey, Beezer. Glad she’s recovering so well.
Vulpes Vulpes says
That’s the sort of present that puts all our CDs and books and stuff well into the contextual shade! Very happy to hear your news – all best wishes for the New Year now!
Rigid Digit says
All the best after tough times.
Careful with the car though
Twang says
Chocs, nice bottle of artisan (so it tells me) gin, TMT Stormwatch, strange furry/fleecy giant snood thing, latest Robert Galbraith/Strike novel, hammock for the garden (in due course), coffee table book of cool vintage Harley Davidsons, box of Camden pale ales… Not bad as we’re supposed to be cutting back.
GCU Grey Area says
Odd time of year, really. I have two sisters, whose birthday is the 24th, and my partner’s birthday is the 25th. I’m not that fussed about Christmas, so more than happy to go large on the birthdays.
I did get a Disco Antistat though, so tomorrow will be a vinly cleaning frenzy.
Oh, and I bought myself a 1970s Matchbox Superfast set. Ebay bargain, Ostensibly for partner’s nephews kids to play with, but in reality. . .
fentonsteve says
The Disco Antistat is the best 40 quid I have ever spent. I now have a vacuum machine, the main advantage of which is quicker drying time.
I bought a Dexys 12″ in Oxfam last week (99p – the chap behind the counter was leaving and had gone demob happy with the pricing gun) and, even after a vacuum clean, it sounded like wasps in a jar. Ten rotations in the Knosti and a vacuum finish, it now sounds as good as new.
GCU Grey Area says
I’ve bookmarked a couple of past threads on this site about vinyl cleaning, and will reread before use.
fentonsteve says
Quick summary of “Pimip my Knosti”: pull one of the brushes up so it cleans the run-out groove, and push the other down so it cleans the run-in groove. And swap the vinyl round so it does both to both sides.
minibreakfast says
Your Knosti basin must be different from both* of mine, because the brushes are long enough to cover the whole record.
*I was lucky enough to find a second set (’70s vintage, lovely shade of brown) at a boot this year for a fiver. So handy having a second basin for stage 2.
Moose the Mooche says
“Vacuum finish” – as many guys who have ended up in A & E will tell you, be careful out there.
GCU Grey Area says
Be careful as well of tangerines and satsumas. You don’t want to fall on one accidentally in the nude, and end up in A&E, where they’ll think you’re a ‘shover’.
Gatz says
In one of Adam Kay’s books he says that he was almost ready to be convinced that a patient really had fallen of the sofa and landed awkwardly on the TV remote, until he retrieved said remote and discovered that it was inside a condom.
fentonsteve says
Well, the vacuum arm is only the length of the edge of the label to the outer edge of the record so, what, about 5 inches? And the slot is about quarter of an inch wide. Write your own punchline here.
Gary says
No, she went of her own accord.
MC Escher says
“Supplies!”
Freddy Steady says
Um, slippers, socks etc which I’m perfectly happy with. They’re excellent slippers, v solid and comfortable with a sole which allows me up the garden path. And I’m really looking forward to culling my old socks and introducing my new.
Plus my wife has told me she’s taking me to a fine dining (copyright Masterchef) restaurant complete with tasting menu and accompanying wines. Which should be nice.
Locust says
Finally a year when friends and family listened to what I always wish for…I got seven books. 😉
Also two tea mugs, a very nicely framed photograph, a very pink plush pig, and a huge battery operated Christmas lantern/snow (well, glitter) globe that is so mesmerisingly ghastly that I’m starting to almost like it. When turned on it lights up and the glitter is whirling around in the liquid without having to shake it, and a small Santa figure with a Christmas tree is standing in the centre of it. His (completely white) face looks like a combination of the Grinch and Pennywise the Clown…and it was not given ironically. Oh well; it’s not the worst gift I’ve received from that particular friend, so I’m not complaining! 😀
All in all a very good year for gifts.
Arthur Cowslip says
A nice little haul….
Book – Awopbopaloobopawopbamboom by Nik Cohn
CD – Once Upon A Time In Hollywood soundtrack
DVD – Blow Up
And a bluetooth keyboard to type on my phone/tablet.
In other words, a random assortment from my Amazon wishlist, which suits me fine!
Lando Cakes says
A 1,000 piece Hieronymus Bosch jigsaw puzzle. That’s my 2020 sorted out.
NigelT says
Spoilt rotten I’m afraid. My son and his girlfriend gave me the Western Stars Blu-Ray, Freedom by Jimi Hendrix and The Abominable Showman by Nick Lowe….my daughter got me theTim Hardin Complete Verve recordings, and my sister the Roy Orbison Black and White Night Blu-Ray/Cd set. I also got the Hepworth Quiz book and a Beatles book, along with new PJs, a leather messenger bag and a drill from Mrs. T.
We had a great day with the family, the dinner was declared a ‘triumph’, and we ended up playing a daft game called Scrawl, which entails drawing something, passing it on to the next who has to describe it, then the next person drawing that and so on…huge fun in a really childish and rather dodgy way. Tomorrow will see bubble and squeak for breakfast, followed by Boxing Day Monopoly..
Junior Wells says
A drill from Mrs T. I was tempted to go Moose on that.
retropath2 says
Arf, me too.
Moose the Mooche says
Any hammer action?
NigelT says
Oh, you guys….
dai says
Music wise I think I win with a vinyl copy of The Carpenters “Old Fashioned Christmas”. Also Marianne Faithfull’s autobiography and a book about Billy Wilder.
I cooked an excellent, very late Christmas dinner if I say so myself and then we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life”, first time for my 13 yr old daughter. She may have said it was the best Christmas ever.
Twang says
Sounds like it.
fentonsteve says
Books: Kenny Jones, Ben Folds, Goldmine’s essential guide to Record Collecting, a biog of Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin (time to dig out my Serge CD box set), Around The World in 80 Record Stores.
And a Grumpy Old Man tin (think: swear box).
SteveT says
Books included the Elton John one, the Prince one and Michael Palins book about North Korea which I had my eye on.
Music wise the Alabama 3 deluxe of Exile on Coldharbour Lane and Tony Joe White Swamo monument rarities.
However the main gift my wife and I clubbed together to pay for Beatles Love tickets for when we are in Vegas in the summer.
fentonsteve says
And I forgot, one for you Francohpile Afterworders: a CD/DVD best of Les Rita Mitsouko from my BiL.
minibreakfast says
Shatner Claus LP
Unthanks – Mount The Air CD
Christmas Cocktails CD (lounge-y stuff, marvelous)
A very scholarly and detailed book about Elevator Music
Plus an absolute avalanche of tapes, CDs and records from Twitter chums, including my secret Vinyl Santa. Am currently auditioning some of the festive ones, after a cleaning session yesterday.
Moose the Mooche says
Mount the Air – that’s what they call twerking in in Northumberland.
You had a vinyl-cleaning session on Christmas day? Mrs Cratchit would be so proud…
thecheshirecat says
The next generation of the family failed to understand my heavy hints, and I just got a thoroughly practical but in no way Afterword-friendly pair of oven gloves. I drowned my sorrows with the accompanying bottle of Bruichladdich.
Chrisf says
Seems the Bruicladdich is popular – which one did you get ? I have (just) the Classic – I’ve had my eye on a bottle of their Black Art series, but any bottles still left are going for silly prices.
thecheshirecat says
Classic Laddie
Morrison says
Just before last Christmas our beloved ancient golden retriever passed away. Despite the dog-shaped hole in our lives, we’d decided that perhaps we’d wait a few years before getting another one. But then, via a friend of a friend, we found a puppy – same breed so standard mix of cleverness and stupidity – and on Christmas Eve a 10-week old cream retriever arrived. She’s already pulled the Christmas tree over, crapped on all the carpets and tried to eat most things in the house and garden.
Hours of fun and, as ever, very needy – good job we have five adults at home at the moment to look after her.
Vulpes Vulpes says
@Morrison Brilliant! Our little rescue Jack Russell came to us to stand in the paw-prints of her predecessor and to keep our old JRT fella (16 years and still going) company last February. She was around 6 months old when we picked her up, and had never seen much outside of a cage in her short life to that point. She was puzzled by the feel of grass under her feet, but soon took enthusiastically to daily walks with me and the old fella. Every day has seen some new experience for her, and she’s been an utter joy all year. This Christmas, then, was her first proper family Christmas, and she’s thrown herself into the swing of things with aplomb. She spent most of yesterday evening asleep on my chest while we watched the telly – knackered but content from a day of present opening, food scrounging and general seasonal mayhem.
She and her pal the old fella send their seasonal Russell greetings to your new arrival, with a tip for the Christmas clear-up:
http://offtheleashdogcartoons.com/off-the-leash-dog-cartoons/pre-wash/#.XgSOCfzgoUE
Rigid Digit says
I love them off the leash cartoons.
Non dog owning friends just don’t get it.
JRT (x3) owner too
http://offtheleashdogcartoons.com/off-the-leash-dog-cartoons/christmas-present/#.XgSrp5Cny9c
Vulpes Vulpes says
Thumbs up icon here.
Rigid Digit says
Books – lots of Books.
Fonts, maps, London underground, British leyland, history of booze in britain.
Booze – Belgian beer, IPA, and woodford’s reserve bourbon
Mrs D issued a dictat that NO CDs will be given as presents. Fortunately some of my extended family did not get the memo, so I did get the cherry red punk 1977 box set and the latest pixies album.
ip33 says
A book about Britain’s best railway stations, the final Walking Dead compendium, a 1982 Fall CD box set and Jonny Trunks Rare Record Top Trumps.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Re: Andrew Lincoln’s retirement plan: please tell me if it’s worth persevering? Really? I lost interest after the gross-out at the start of, what was it? Series 7? or thereabouts. I took the whole lot to the chazza as a result. A Prime account gives me the option of carrying on the TV-stress-fest, but I haven’t heard anyone yet tell me that I should. You may of course be talking about the fat paperback, but just in case you mean the boxed sets of DVDs, I thought I’d ask.
ip33 says
I should have made clear this is the Comic which came to an abrupt and unannounced end earlier this year. It’s the fourth fat volume and in my view the quality never dipped.
I baled out of TV show a while ago, it seemed to be going nowhere incredibly slowly.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Thanks for the clarification – I suspected that the printed version probably still had more going for it than what the ulimately execrable TV series had gradually morped into. Moving more slowly than a ‘walker’, and with as much life behind its eyes as the disconnected head of a zombie, the telly version staggered slowly into a Georgian swamp of plot confusion and desperation until I could take it no more, whereupon I gladly self-euthanised my watching experience.
Black Type says
Books – Elton John, Debbie Harry
( she’s surprisingly heavy, but I’ll manage, thanks) and Billy Connolly.
Whisky x 2 – an Islay single malt and the Haig one that David Beckham recommends.
Case of various festive German ‘winterbiers’.
Chocolate
L’Oreal Men Expert stuff, because I’m worth it.
And money to go towards an imminent purchase of a Rega Planar 1 turntable.
fentonsteve says
I was in John Lewis this morning as Mrs F was showing me cushions or a winter coat or something. I found myself drifting away, towards a white Rega Planar 1…
Sorry, dear, what were you saying? Yes, it looks lovely. Let me buy it for you. Then can we please go home?
GCU Grey Area says
Our Record Store Day Rega is white, and I wasn’t sure at first about the colour. But it sounds wonderful through the NAD amp and Mission speakers.
Black Type says
Yes, it’s the white one I’m after. A thing of beauty.
Billybob Dylan says
From a sunny but very wet Los Angeles: Hank Wangford’s ‘Rodeo Radio’ and Van the Man’s ‘Veedon Fleece’, to replace the records that the new puppy chewed recently. Some jeans, a sweater, plenty of chocolate and a mini hamper from my sister that contained a jar of Dundee marmalade. Yum!
Moose the Mooche says
Jogging with Jesus to kickin’ off from centre-field….. cool…
Junior Wells says
That puppy is lucky they weren’t my records.
Billybob Dylan says
My wife told me to “suck it up” when I found out what the dog had done. I was livid!
Then she (the dog, not my wife) chewed up an expensive pair her (the wife’s, not the dog’s) shoes. Ha! Suck it up, indeed.
Tiggerlion says
Did you replace the expensive shoes for Christmas, too?
The Good Doctor says
Another ker-ching for the Elton book here ‘The’ must have Afterword gift of 2019 – very readable, high velocity rock thrills so far. Alexis Petridis has done a cracking job.
I’ve also got Steven Morris’s book (wondering if he’ll mention Twang!), and Sir Lenworth of Henry’s recollection of his early showbiz days from B&W Minstrels to Tiswas.
Music wise I’ve got one of those excellent Cherry Red compilations – Further Perspectives & Distortions which hooks together experimental avant garde/post punk music from the late 70s/early 80s – so that fringe stuff where This Heat meets the likes of Henry Cow, ATV, Swell Maps and Nurse With Wound – I’m fascinated with that era of forgotten weirdness- you can smell the damp!
I’ve also got a copy of the Gene Clarke ‘No Other’ reissue (on 4AD no less), the Aphex Twin Peel Sessions and the Echo & His Bunnymen Peel Sessions. So all heady stuff which I shall enjoy with the Chocolate Orange and ripe stilton.
Moose the Mooche says
I didn’t know No Other was now on 4AD. I think once upon a time that would have been unthinkable. Like Kraftwerk on Parlaphone. Er…
The Good Doctor says
@moose-the-mooche This Mortal Coil covered Gene Clark – so there’s the 4AD connection
MC Escher says
“you can smell the damp!” – excellent. The best summation of early 80s for a teen/twentysomething I’ve heard in a while.
mikethep says
My sister gave me the new Julian Barnes, The Man in the Red Coat.
I gave my sister the new Julian Barnes, The Man in the Red Coat.
How we laughed!
Moose the Mooche says
Dude’s written a book about Butlins. That’s versatility.
Mike_H says
An early Xmas present (3 weeks ago) was a spare Netflix login from my great-nephew’s family account. Much appreciated.
Apart from that, nothing but a few assorted cards and a 50cl bottle of nondescript Italian Merlot from my neice, which she drank the other half of when I opened it on Boxing day.
In anticipation of this, I bought myself a few books (Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, Olivia Manning’s Balkan Trilogy and The Scarfolk Annual). Also a bottle of Rhubarb Vodka and a small supply of beer. I also intend getting a new (to me – from the charity furniture place) desk and most importantly a more comfortable office chair than the crappy old one I’m currently sitting on.
eddie g says
Every year my stepdaughter goes into Ray’s Jazz on the third floor at Foyle’s and asks the man to help her choose three second hand jazz albums. ‘He likes saxophones’, she says. This year I got two great Charlie Parker albums and one by a chap called Lucky Thompson whom I had never previously heard of (but is actually very good).
Lady G got me ‘Live at the Roxy’ on rather startling pink vinyl, Wagner’s ‘Gotterdammerung’ on CD (the James Levine version), Elton’s book (which I had already got) and the vinyl de-luxe version of ‘Abbey Road’.
My mum bought me a woollen hat.
Mike_H says
Woolen hat weather is on it’s way, probably.
Colin H says
The Tubby Hayes 13CD ‘Complete Fontana Albums’ box set – released on December 20. Mrs H had to choose between buying locally (assuming that were possible) before Christmas or saving £20 and buying direct from Universal and having it arrive post-Christmas. Wisely, she chose the latter. It arrived today – and sounds fantastic 🙂
MC Escher says
Not much, which suits me: I’ve got better versions of everything I want than anyone else would get me, and I’m sure the same applies to people I would buy for. So it’s a big chunk of change to Crisis/Alzheimers’ Society instead of nice wine for the relations.
Finally the penny has dropped among the relations too, so I got a replacement copy of “Just My Type” and a Leeds centenary year training top from Mrs E. Now to sort out me toe and get running again…
Moose the Mooche says
Not really a present, but my parents gave me their Dot. They got it with their Amazon Prime account and don’t want it. I don’t have one and haven’t a fucking clue what to do with it.
(oh yes, verrrrrry funny)