(via Shutterstock) More ornaments?! Did you really buy more than 15 ornaments in one year? Readers, I bought close to 60 and while that likely suggests a tad too much compulsive purchasing by someone who’s reached an age when they should be making more sensible buys, I love how happy Continue Reading
Roar ho ho ho! It’s time for A Very Dinosaur Christmas by Adam Wallace
(courtesy Harper Collins Publishers Australia) Now, if dinosaurs hadn’t died out some 65 million years ago when a rather big life-ending asteroid – well, almost life-ending; clearly the mammals dodged a bullet there – hit the earth, then it’s highly possible yoy might have been able to invite them to Continue Reading
On 6th day of Christmas … I read Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist by Codi Hall
(courtesy Sourcebooks Casablanca) Reading a series of books, festive or otherwise, in other than the intended order, is always a risk. If the author is good at their craft, then plunging into books two then three before bouncing back to book one, isn’t even remotely the end of the world; Continue Reading
Songs, songs and more FESTIVE songs by Eurovision artists (#120): Poli Genova, Daði Freyr, Måns Zelmerlöw, Subwoolfer, Anna Bergendahl … plus “Happy New Year” by ABBA
(via Shutterstock) The artists who are selected to presented their countries at the Eurovision Song Contest like a festive song as much as the next person. When they are done with the glitter and the pyrotechnics and the big LED screen visuals, they often parlay their newfound popularity, and the Continue Reading
On 5th day of Christmas … I watched That Christmas
Saying that something “feel like Christmas” is at once profoundly and definitively true, and yet gloriously and warmly intangible too. Such is the season which all but dominates the final two months of the year, and realistically longer if you count the eagerness of retailers to make the most of Continue Reading
Festive novella review: Highlands Christmas: Wishes Come True by Amy Quick Parrish
Christmas has been long revered for its capacity to bring about new beginnings. Well, imagined new beginnings, anyway; while we might want it to fix reality and reshape our lives in the festive buoyancy and hopeful possibility of the season, the truth is that it often doesn’t do that outside Continue Reading
On 4th day of Christmas … I listened to Holiday Soirée by George Kahn
(courtesy George Kahn) There’s just something about jazz to put you in the festive mood isn’t there? Maybe it’s the chilled yet emotionally buoyant vocals, the relaxed but propulsive melodies or the sheer exuberant artistry of talented musicians losing themselves in the moment; whatever it is, and it’s likely all Continue Reading
First two sci-fi episodes: Reviews of Skeleton Crew season 1 (E1-2), and Silo season 2 (E1-2)
(via Shutterstock) Skeleton Crew S1 (courtesy IMP Awards) Star Wars has always been about good old fashioned adventure and fun this long-time watcher of the franchise. Ever since I sat down with my mum back in 1977 in a one-screen cinema in the country town near where I lived to Continue Reading
On 3rd day of Christmas … I read Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
(courtesy Penguin Books Australia) If you have ever wondered, and if not, why not, what might happen if Agatha Christie suddenly turn into a self aware meta murder solving detective, then you need to run, not walk, avoiding pools of blood from the victims, to the wonderfully funny but immensely Continue Reading
Family Guy Christmas special 2024: “Gift of the White Guy” review
(courtesy IMDb) SNAPSHOTPeter must recover Lois’ Christmas brooch after gifting it away in a White Elephant exchange. Stewie changes his attitude upon learning he’s on Santa’s ‘Naughty List’. (courtesy Variety) The first thing out of the prettily wrapped Christmas present box is that Family’s Guy’s 25th anniversary festive special, “Gift Continue Reading