Happy Christmas all! To celebrate this year’s Christmas festivities I would like to present a narration by Bing Crosby of a moving Christmas story called The Small One. I loved listening to this as a child around Christmas time. It was on the same LP (image above) as Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Happy Prince‘ which I posted about in May this year.
According to Wikipedia: The Small One is a Charles Tazewell story with musical accompaniment from Victor Young and His Orchestra. Charles Tazewell was a radio playwright and children’s book author, whose work has been adapted multiple times for film…..
I will be taking a break from posting for a while. I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who has been so supportive of my blog. I feel owing in gratitude to have conversed with you along the way because it has made this venture all the more satisfying. I wish you and all your families a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Merry Christmas.
You too River
Hi, Matthew. It makes sense that you, of all people, would take a break, because you put a LOT of content out there, and very steadily.
I hope it is just a break though. Because I’ve learned quite a few things on your blog on top of discovering new music and, of course, having scintillating conversation!
I also listened to The Small One above and can see how it would be a fond memory of yours. One of my childhood favorites was the Christmas episode of The Peanuts, with Charlie Brown’s little tree almost falling over with the one ornament on it and then Linus doing his speech toward the end about what Christmas really meant. However cheesy and ham-fisted the messages were (especially looking back as adults), they still warm the heart immensely.
Anyhoo, have a great new year and hopefully be seeing/talking to you later…………..!
Take care!
Stacey
Hey Stacey,
What a lovely New Years Day surprise to receive your message. Your words of encouragement mean a lot to me. I agree, our conversations have been so stimulating. I think without your regular input this little project wouldn’t have been anywhere near as enjoyable as it has been.
I’ll look up the Christmas episode about Charlie Brown. I like your sentiments regarding the cheesy XMAS messages. XMAS seems a lot about repetition, not only regarding the rituals and Christmas carols, but also those messages which warmed our hearts as children. We need those poignant reminders every so often.
You too, I hope you have a wonderful new year. My best wishes to you, your husband and family. Also, I wish you all the best on the your Book sequel. That reminds me I need to create another Amazon account, because I’m so eager to read your book.
Bye for now Amiga, take care!
Matt K
Just placed my order for Day For Night! Yippy. Can’t wait to get it.
Wow, what a special New Years gift for me! I appreciate your determination, lol !! But, God, it’s a nail-biter, Matthew. After following your excerpts from Hemingway and many other illustrious writers, well…..obviously we’re going in the opposite direction here! So just prepare to (hopefully) have some fun! HOPEFULLY ! ! ! And thanks again, amigo nuevo!
Opposite direction. You’re correct. Don Quixote is doing my head in and I lost my mojo. Fun is what I need this month in Literature – that’s for sure! No, thank you for everything.
Okay, haha. Same to you and double back.
One last thing: that’s a new picture of you with the sunglasses and shaved head, right? It used to be another one with you grinning, kind of a side grin.
Well, the new one’s very chic and dangerous-looking. Good one! Now you look like someone who not only reads Cervantes but ALSO rides a Harley !!
🙂 🙂
Yeh, that’s my current look. This will sound weird, but one day I went out searching for sunglasses similar to ones Bibi Anderson wears in the movie ‘Persona’. In fact at the top of my blog is a photo of her donning those glasses. So my photo is me ‘doing’ a Bibi in one of the coolest scenes in motion picture history. Haha
Ah……..! I see !! Cool ! ! !
Hey Matt…I know you are on a break but I was wondering if you have ever visited this blog? Ozflicks? I hope you are enjoying yourself.
Thanks for the link Max! Happy New Year. I had a quick browse earlier. I’ll take a better look later on. Cheers.
Here is a link
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/111314578