Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas to everybody - and a Happy New Year to the WORLD!


I'm a big fan of A Christmas Carol (we did a podcast on it last week), and my favorite version is easily George C. Scott's. Partly, it's because of this song:

The past of man is cold as ice:
He would not mend his ways.
He strove for silver in his heart
And gold in all his days.
His reason weak, his anger sharp,
And sorrow all his pay,
He went to church but once a year,
And that was Christmas Day.

 So grant us all a change of heart,
Rejoice for Mary’s son;
Pray, Peace on earth to all mankind,
God bless us everyone!
 The present man is full of flame:
He rushes here and there.
He turns away the orphan child,
The widow in her chair.
He takes from them he merely meets,
Forgets how brief his stay,
And stands a-jingling of his coins
In church on Christmas Day.

 So grant us all a change of heart,
Rejoice for Mary’s son;
Pray, Peace on earth to all mankind,
God bless us everyone!

The man to come we do not know:
May he make peace on earth,
And live the glory of the Word,
The message of the birth,
And gather all the children in
To banish their dismay,
Lift up his heart among the bells
In church on Christmas Day.

So grant us all a change of heart,
Rejoice for Mary’s son;
Pray, Peace on earth to all mankind,
God bless us everyone!



Merry Christmas - and may you keep it in your heart all the year,
Longish

6 comments:

  1. And a very merry Christmas to you, too, Hannah!
    God Bless us everyone!

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    1. In keeping with tradition, there were several packages under the tree from Hercule Poirot, Charles Dickens, and (new this year), two from Gene Hunt. Perhaps I should say happy Christmas. :)

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  2. I saw Life on Mars (years ago), but I still had to look up Gene Hunt. I guess I can't remember everything. The research did lead me to see Ashes to Ashes--the "sequel" to LOM. Another thing I didn't know. Happy Boxing Day!

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    Replies
    1. I'm currently on the third episode of Ashes to Ashes. It's pretty terrible - Glenister is trying his best, but Keeley Hawes is turning in a performance which feels like a cross between a militant feminist and Willie from Temple of Doom. I've read reviews which said it gets better after episode 4, but I'm not holding out much hope. Luther seems like a far better way to while away the last days of my Hulu Prime trial.

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    2. Having seen all the Luthers, that show had its ups and downs as well. Check out the last two series of Being Human (UK), if you get the chance. It might be a nice palette cleanser as you watch Luther.

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    3. Just finished the first season of Luther, and I see what you mean. Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson are terrific (Steven Mackintosh was also surprising - though watching him and Paul McGann together in Our Mutual Friend will never feel quite the same again), but it loses itself in needlessly drawn-out conclusions.

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