Arts
In The Bleak Midwinter
This is a poem written by Christina Rossetti, set to music first by Gustav Holst in 1906 and then by Harold Darke in 1911. This is by Darke : Swiss Bob 2025
Christmas
Christianity
Christmas at Christmas With Christmas
Spending Christmas at Christmas with Christmas sounds a very Puffin thing to do. First of all, we’ll have to decide when to meet. The eagle-eyed among you may point out that we’ve missed our chance, [more…]
Hobbies
Christmas 2025 Crossword
First correct entry out of ‘the hat’ wins a Trump GP mug AND a GP keyring. Email entries to me by 6.00 pm tomorrow, subject ‘Crossword’. Contact here on email © Richard Puller 2025 [more…]
Arts
Fabulously Festive Fridays – Plank Spanking
Welcome back my friends to the flamboyance that never ends, and please be welcome to yet another of our regular sprout-fuelled snuffles around the sweaty intergluteal cleft of popular culture. I trust you all enjoyed [more…]
Arts
In search of Christmas in mainland China
Hongkonger spent the weekend before Christmas over the mainland border in Guandong province. Different to Hong Kong? Oh yes. I can recall many years ago landing in Hong Kong in December to be confronted by [more…]
Arts
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Painted in about 1470/75, it is in the National Gallery. In memory of Caroline Catherine McNicholas 2nd October 1957 – 3rd January 2022 OldTrout
Literature
A Nativity Story
Somewhere high above the earth, in what, at that time would have been called ‘the heavens’ was a light, a light with a purpose. The purpose of this light was to guide the various characters [more…]
America
More Largesse from Santa Claus Trump
President Trump has promised a $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” for the US military. This article from Military.com seems to offer as thorough an explanation of what is known so far, which isn’t much. According to the [more…]
Arts
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Rod of [more…]