Wales has given us many great exports besides coal. One has been the beauty of its poetry, and the other the beauty of its music. In the video clip below, from 1970, Tom Jones does something other than sway his hips — he recites for us from countryman Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Accompanying him is The Treorchy Male Choir, singing holiday carols in the lovely sounds of the Welsh choral tradition.
(Author’s note: since I didn’t have access to some 50 Residents in the proper skin and costumes, I’m asking you to suspend disbelief on my photos, and supplement things with your own imagination. Either road, here’s a short Christmas story from the 48th Century, and my character Ariel Sherman. HG)
Ariel glanced around her at the four dozen-plus gold and silver people surrounding her. As usual, The Land of Fantasy had put on a phenomenal production of its current revue show, and everyone looked satisfied with things, no matter the changes in the script for the evening. Of course, for cyborg memories, “changes in the script” were rather small beer. It was the human pride in their craft that shone here, pride in performing in a once-a-year show to the satisfaction of both themselves and a demanding audience.
There was still a final act to go before they rang down the curtain for the next four weeks, for the show’s annual break. This would not be the usual finale, though, with its famous nudity; not on this night. For this was Day 357 on the Limlight Standard Calendar. There were children in the audience tonight, and the entire performance was much more family-oriented. Especially for tonight’s finale, the one element of this special show which had not changed from year to year. To Ariel’s demanding eye, everyone looked happy, prepared, and confident. She nodded happily back to them, said, “Alright, people; let’s do it,” and got back words and signs of agreement. “Go, Dalton,” she whispered to her organic stage manager, who grinned back, tapped at his tablet, and gave the needed orders. Recorded music began playing; the “small” curtain in front of Ariel opened thirty seconds later, and Lady Ariel Sherman entered at stage center, sweeping through the curtains in a massive ball gown of white satin.
She dropped into a stage-depth curtsey as the audience cheered and applauded and the rest of the cast and company entered behind her. Each of the feature acts took their own bows, then arranged themselves behind their star artiste. The audience quieted at last, and Ariel said into the amplification field, “Thank you all so much for coming tonight to The Land of Fantasy! It’s always our joy and pleasure to perform for you, but doubly so on special nights, such as this.”
Unlike Harper, who was exploring the spiritual side of Christmas, or Jem, who decided to freeze herself outside, Morgan and me went for a nice, warm room in Babbage.
All of the blog women have shot photos for Christmas card — which will be coming up on the 25th, by the way — and we’re also adding our dresses as fashion photos.
O holy night The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices O night divine O night when Christ was born O night divine O night, o night divine
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The details:
Head: LAQ Noelle 3.06 Bento
Body and feet: Maitreya Lara 4.1
Eyes: IKON Hope (Sapphire)
Hair: C H A R M E Roxy (available at current round of Swank)
Gown: Sascha’s Designs Snow Princess (available at current round of Swank)
Shoes: Italiano Linda
Accessories: Zuri Rayna Ariel Elite suite (necklace, earrings and bracelet); Zuri Rayna cross pendant necklace; Sascha’s Designs short gloves (white) (available at current round of Swank); Paper Couture diamonds and pearl ring (vintage); Agata Mode Carla fur stole (vintage)
Bay City in Second Life will be hosting its 2018 annual tree lighting event between 1- 4pm SLT on Sunday 9th December 2018.
The event will be taking place over at the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region where there will be live music, ice skating, refreshments and much more.
I’ve attended this event in previous years and I have to say it’s great fun generally during the Christmas festive season.
Here is the full press release…
Bay City — Annual Tree Lighting 2018
Sunday, December 9, 2018
1-4 pm SLT
It’s that most wonderful time of the year!
Once again, the Bay City Alliance will host its annual Tree Lighting event, now in its eighth outing, on Sunday, 9th December 2018 from 1-4 pm SLT.
The event will be held at the Bay City Fairgrounds, in North Channel (SLurl) and will feature DJ GoSpeed Racer as well as…
From 2016. But this year of 2017, my annual tradition has even more meaning than before. My son is now 18 years old, and my daughter 22 and newly graduated from college, and the turmoils of the world make me fear for them both. Please read all the way through for my personal message from last year.
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As always, Around the Grid upholds its Christmas Eve tradition — here is Bing Crosby and David Bowie from 1977, performing their famous duet, “The Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth.” This was the last Christmas special Bing did before his death.
Almost every time I write an article in these pages, I use my “signature” graphic, which bids you all peace. It has several meanings for me: the earthly dream, sung of by two wonderful musicians above, and the more lasting, eternal peace we greet each other with in the Episcopal Church (as well as other liturgical churches). Peace on earth has been a dream for my generation — those of us who still remember our dreams of that time — since our youth in the Sixties and Seventies, and sought by people of goodwill around the world for hundreds of generations.
Nearly forty years after these singers, now both sadly dead, performed this song — which has become a holiday classic in its own right — the world still reels on through conflict and hatred, and the dream of peace among all peoples seems elusive, more of a pipe dream than a reality. But I have to believe that there is still hope for peace — both the kind we think of, between each other, and the sharing of the true peace of God, “which passes all understanding,” no matter how each of us perceives God in our minds and faiths. Perhaps, on the day we achieve earthly peace, the peace of the Earthly Paradise will be made at last apparent to us all, and that other serenity become the true inheritance of us all ….
Every child must be made aware Every child must be made to care Care enough for his fellow man To give all the love that he can
May you and yours have a merry, meaningful and — most of all — hopeful Christmas season.
Second Life® with Harper, Conan, Jem, Diana and Morgan
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