Christmas changed is here

Christmas got made after the messy one of 2022 and this years events that impacted many of the rituals as you notice that missing face, the usual conversation around wrappng, card writing and the like.

So it was different but with some certainties which showed in presents.

Somethings are repeats from original childhood such as the Dandy annual or reprints from classic Beano and Dandy comic strips making perfect sense in the world of this adult sissy gurl

Today's Beano is almost a magazine comic mash up with much in the modern child's world where for some of us including children comics that just humour still cut it so rather than getting this years Beano annual I had the Christmas Special, a good representation of the modern Beano.

We wrote about the cd version of enlarged classic Beatles 1962-1966 compilation but I had from Dad the record version which has the extra tracks on a third disc.

I had this compilation of Erasure a very popular synth pop duo that covers all their hits and is fairly up to date too. 

I bought the singles but never got an album of theirs until this was obtained from Mr Claus on Monday.

It's been absolutely ages since there's been any Moody Blues records here, at least the mid 1980's and this two lp set has some of their best moments in chronological order which will put that aright

Classical music is something I like and as I had been getting some brand new records I was given a copy of this classic 1970 account on vinyl which will replace the record I bought in 1979 which disappeared when much of my classical music collection got replaced by cds.

I tend to forget things so this very vintage Winnie the Pooh A5 dairy will no doubt prove most useful to note visits and things to remember to do

I had some money and vouchers for the New Year which I can spend on some new clothes but while it was difficult emotionally I was glad we had Christmas again.

Christmas be a coming sissy gurl!

 Christmas it must be said can be trying time for the kind of sissy that others don't know or chose not to recognize when it comes from things like not using your "sissy" name, having to spend time with family very drab to getting presents that just aren't what sissies like you really would love.

And yet you love the idea behind Christmas, the spending of time together, exchanging cards and gifts and for those who are more little sissies  like me everything around Santa Claus, singing carols and little girl dresses and presents.

There will be a pause of sorts on this blog as I have things to do just before Christmas Day and that day this year lands upon when normally I'd be finalizing the usual Wednesday post.

*** Have a HAPPY SISSY GURL CHRISTMAS ***

Christmas is coming

After last weeks music post we'll start the countdown toward Christmas as I work the blogging schedule as I'm usually pretty busy but i think it should be two full posts and something on or around Christmas Day.

 At the start of last week, our Christmas tree came which in this age of elf and safety had to planted and wired by people with certificates not sophisticats lest somebody either climb up it or try stealing the bulbs whilst turned on.

The people here have a collection to  pay for the tree which is as well as we do want something like this at Christmas and keeps the lights that have to put on it.
I think every town and estate should have one.

Obviously it isn't going to be the same as Mom's not around anymore as messed up as last Christmas was with both of us very unwell although I have got daddy to bring out the Christmas tree and the Nativity scene Mom and I so looked forward to setting up plus things like the milk and a Turkey have been sorted out.

One of the last things we did together was wave to Santa last year as he came around in his sleigh.

It's just the memories of going around the shops looking for gifts, trying out clothes, seeing Santa Claus on the district shopping centre and walking to visit family and friends with presents and cards that I'll miss.

I was always Mummy's gurl.

Courtney's Clean Caps

It's been a cold snowy weekend so I restored a post conceived in 2012 as it does belong on here.

It’s not gone unnoticed by me that many of you appreciate various kinds of caption sites where images are added to text often around themes by the those irritatingly funny LolCats ones that festoon most of the social networks in their repostings to your wall or for us G+ people the Stream to trans related caption sites.

I greatly admire anyone who can put together a funny storyline with chosen images  well but there is a TG caption site that I really love that is a good fit for what this site is more about and it’s called Courtney’s Clean Captions.

One of the first things you’ll notice at it is the clear unfussy layout that loads up well and the other is she’s into keeping her captions ‘clean’ so were talking G to 13+ on the ratings  so while they may make the odd head subjectwise turn, there’s nothing really graphic going on.

I”m not a prude my any means but I don’t generally enjoy the more graphic – especially visually – sorts with bits on display for little real reason other than titillation so if you’re interested here’s a link.

Courtney's Clean Caps

Advent 2023

While I'm wrapped up with fleecy top and bottoms with hot cocoa with the minus temperatures here waiting for the postman to call collect a parcel return as Amazon goofed up totally and being smartphone free return options as most now use QR codes at the collection point it kind of reminds you we have only so many days to go before Christmas.

Usually like most littles I countdown the days and traditionally that involves an Advent calendar with chocolate to be revealed as the days get fewer and fewer.

This years is a little different for being that of the arch nemesis of Christmas, the Grinch who as you'll remember tried to steal Christmas but included with this is a Happy Christmas greeting.

Perhaps the Grinch gets the point?

In Brownies you may make a "Reverse Advent Calendar" which focuses more on what you can give rather than what we may wish to receive or a wreath you could put on your front door.

Anyway get set to enjoy the countdown yourself!

The remaking of an old friend

On November 10th, as we were gearing up to Remembrance Day after the release of the "new" single Now And Then a week before two very different versions of albums we've known for all our leaves appeared in both vinyl record and compact disc.

Originally coming out in 1973 the Beatles 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 compilations known to a number of us as the RED and BLUE albums were either gateways into their music growing up in a post Beatles pop world or neat resumés for original fans.

What made them so essential was they took all the hit singles and added a good selection of notable tracks from their albums in chronological order capturing well the essence of the Beatles appeal and their musical development plus  added the lyrics for every song on the inner sleeves.

Short of putting them in a box with a glossy booklet wrapped up with ribbon they could not of been better so over fifty years they've always been around in a variety of formats from records, cassette and 8 track tapes to the compact disc and being given copies for many of us was a rite of passage musically.

One thing they cannot be ignored is however the stereo mixes especially of many of the songs on RED are rather primitive with vocals and backing at the far sides of the stereo image and nothing in the middle which doesn't work too well on headphones.

Compared with today there were only a handful at best of individual tracks to create a stereo mix from and in any event that just wasn't the main aim in how the recording session was done as in the early sixties especially mono was king with most recordings being played on mono portable record players apart from the more well to do grown ups who bought classical, show and film soundtracks who quickly brought into stereo sound.

Used initally in assembling the Get Back film and then in the new edition of Revolver last year using Artificial Intelligence so it would "learn" all the elements which then gives you lots of seperate tracks you can remix this has been applied to every song on RED for this edition.

Thus for the first time ever we get "true stereo" Love Me Do from the original singles version too and She Loves You which have only ever existed in mono.

Many of those irritating hole in middle vocals on one side mixes have been redone totally and even generally good stereo mixes like Ticket To Ride have the drive reduced in stereo album mixes restored that the original mono 45 had.

Yesterday's string quartet is now spread across both channels which as long term classical music fan I can say is how they appear.

In the main this works and especially well on the Rubber Soul tracks which bolds well for the much looked forward to remixed stereo version of that album easily the worst in stereo in the catalogue.

Observant eyes will have noticed there's more tracks on the rear cover - 34 not 26 - which allows for a better selection from albums as the beatles generally didn't have singles on albums unless they came out before or were tied in things like the films.

Overall it works well on compact disc as amazingly no cd ever had the album as originally issued with stereo track issued in mono and others in very poor echy laden remixes from the 80's.

I'm not tossing my vinyl original out but this is a great new envisioned version.

Remembrance thoughts

There are some things that are more constant core things with me and one is the aims, practise and ethics of scouting.

I enjoy a bonfire night as much as anyone but the other thing GirlGuiding is involved in around this time of year is Remembrance  which will be marked today with Armistice Day and in two days time on Remembrance Sunday.

Having taken part in Parades it has a bit of a sombre nature because we think about what men (and women) did both at home and on the battlefield to preserve the liberty, freedom and way of life we have and the sacrifice of lives given to have succeeded in it against great odds in WW2.

It is important for people, especially children to know about this so in guiding with the help of people such as the Royal British Legion, girls are taught about this as in a good number of schools they are too.

This years theme is Service which includes the services of all in scouting such as GirlGuiding not just in the services but at home helping on the home front and recognizes that in that service it isn't that people died but many more bear the scars of injury both physical and mental 

Here we see Brownies at the cenotaph as many will this weekend ,placing their wreath upon it as a symbol of our respect and appreciation of what those people, often young gave for us and our country.

We will remember our war dead.