Wednesday 24 December 2008

'TIS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS...

Don't forget, dear readers, that - right now - Santa is going through those lists to find out who's been naughty and whose been nice! If you doubt it, check out this report - c. 1932 - from Santa's Workshop...



Here in Venice...

Children are obviously more nice than naughty since there are clearly enough of them to require Santa calling on the assistance of a couple of look-alikes...


Elsewhere, the question remains: how on earth (and all around the earth) does Santa manage top get all those deliveries made in just one night?

Well, at long last - courtesy of a couple of penguins and my friend, the illustrator GORDON FRASER - I can now reveal the secret, for so long hidden, behind Santa's extraordinary annual efficiency!

Click image to enlarge


You can see more of Gordon Fraser's fun artwork on his blog Empire of the Gothtwinz.

Now, off you go like good little children and get to sleep and if you happen to hear any unusual bumps in the night, tonight --- no peeking!!

***

As for any grown-ups who've got time on their hands today - unlikely though that may seem - you may care to tune in to my Christmas radio dramatisation of P L Travers' seasonal fable, The Fox at the Manger, starring Dame Wendy Hiller and Alec McCowen, which is receiving a repeat on BBC Radio 7 at 10.15 am and 9.15 pm today and at 2.15 am tomorrow morning, Christmas Day.

To help you, here's all you need to know about BBC Radio 7; what you need to know about how to listen to Radio 7; the current 'What's On' page for Drama and how to listen again on-line via BBC iPlayer where the play will be listed on this page following its first transmission and can be heard for the following seven days until New Year's Eve.

Images: Venice Santas by Brian Sibley and Santa & Tardis by Gordon Fraser

For more Venice imagery, visit my website to view the album Venice Observed and then follow the links at the foot of that page to three further albums of photographs.

9 comments:

Andy Latham said...

Blimey, Christmas in Venice! It's alright for some!

Have a great Christmas Brian! I hope Santa finds you there!

Brian Sibley said...

Thanks Andy... It's actually a bit of a Last Fling before year of hospital activities and strenuous belt-tightening... (Hope you got my note telling to that your letter to Dick W has been dispatched -- and thanking you for the Sibley Portrait!)

Happy Christmas!

Boll Weavil said...

Hope you two are enjoying yourselves away from the maelstrom !
GOMASI : A warm feeling conjured up by reading the Sibley Blog just before Christmas - traditionally a time when it comes into its own and is at its very best...

Andy Latham said...

Ahh well enjoy it even more then!!

Actually I haven't had the note, but thanks a lot for sending my letter on! I hope the "portrait" wasn't too offensive! ;)

Brian Sibley said...

It was an e-mail, so maybe I have an old e-address... Anyway, it's gone to the Maestro and I LOVED the portrait - David said it captured me perfectly! So there you are... ;-) Thanks, Andy!

Brian Sibley said...

Thanks, BOLL, for your kind words... But this blog would be NOTHING without the blog commentators of which you are shining example!! Love to you all for a Great Christmas! :-)

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas! hope you have a wonderful time. I'm all for Last Flings,If I followed my dad's example I would never have holidays & great memories, just a savings book & what might have been!

ABIRA: what you drink before a Bellini

Brian Sibley said...

I'll just take the Bellini... ;-)

Rena Fan said...

The recording of the "Fox" has been Brian's "good gift" to us...