The Christmas Squirrel's Nephew

The forest folk all knew the story of the Christmas Squirrel, how one of their own went off with Father Christmas to help to deliver presents to all folks everywhere on that special night. But memories fade and pass into tradition and tales.  While some creatures spoke of the squirrel who went off with Santa, others talked about the horticultural squirrel who looked after his trees and had the best harvests. The Christmas Squirrel became a family tradition passed down the generations in his family since the young squirrels always seemed to have a special, exotic nut tied with a red ribbon when they woke up on that special morning. The old squirrels who spent more time snoozing than scampering would look at each other and nod wisely, remembering the delicious nuts they'd woken up to when they were young. And the years passed and the memories faded.

The young squirrel moved into the den he'd inherited in the middle of the old woods. It was quite spacious and had many larders and comforts, especially the large bed in the small room off the reception area. This part of the woods had always been a flourishing area but had fallen into ruin and the squirrel knew that his first job was to look after the trees and bushes and bring them back to their best. His family was known for their horticultural skills so it would be a privilege and a joy to carry out this work. Even before he was settled he started pruning the tree, much to the approval of the hedgehog family that lived in the roots of the tree.

He was very industrious and it didn't take long for him to start pruning the blackberry bushes and the hawthorns to encourage them to produce more berries and that autumn he soon had a full larder. He visited neighbours to offer them berries and nuts that were more than he needed, to the hedgehogs, the mice and even to Mr Fox (there is always a Mr Fox).  

The frost arrived, making everyone shiver, and then the snow. The squirrel wore a bright red muffler his mother had made for him and that kept the chill at bay. He was delivering a succulent blackberry to the hedgehogs who lived at the base of his tree when they mentioned that their ancestor had known his ancestor. They mentioned that they remembered his ancestor always wore the scarf in all the colours of autumn and winter when the snows arrived and how he had scampered onto Santa's sleigh one night and never returned. 

The squirrel had heard the family stories but didn't realise that others of the forest folks still remembered his ancestor. He hurried up the tree and into his warn bed as he thought of his great, great oh so great uncle, and he fell asleep. At some point in the night he vaguely heard bells and turned over in his bed to go back to sleep. He had forgotten that it was the special night.

After a deep sleep the squirrel woke up and stretched and opened the front door to his den to find a nut outside on the doormat. Tied with a red ribbon and a bow. He looked at the nut and its shiny ribbon and remembered when he was younger and found a nut on that special morning and here it was again. He looked around so he could thank whoever had left it but there was no-one around so he picked it up and added it to his larder to eat for his lunch. It was the special day, after all. 

That was a long, hard winter, with deep snows and the Great Sickness affecting the forest folks but the squirrel visited his neighbours and always took a small gift of berries or cordial or nuts. He felt it was important to keep in touch with his friends even though it meant going out into the cruel weather rather than keeping snug and warm in his cosy den. And then, one day, he noticed new shoots on his tree and leaves emerging on the bushes on the forest floor and he knew that Spring was arriving. 

He was soon busy once again, as the blossom started to show and the fresh green of new leaves started to fill his vision. He always found time to chat to his neighbours and visitors who came to marvel at his trees and all the colour and growth he encouraged from them. It wasn't long before summer arrived and the squirrel lolled in his trees and watched the life of the woods pass by, with the hedgehogs and dormice and Mr Fox. And suddenly it was Autumn and the busy-ness started again as the squirrel filled his larders and started giving the bounty from his trees to other woodland creatures.

When it became colder the squirrel took his red muffler from the drawer and wrapped it round his neck when he visited his friends. It was surprisingly warm, even on the frosty mornings. The leaves fell and the world was golden. Then the snow turned the world white. The squirrel snuggled deep into his warm bed and drifted off to sleep but then he was woken by a jingling and a merry laugh. 

He looked out of his door and saw a bright, gleaming sleigh in the snow in the clearing outside his tree. He saw a big man in red with a white beard and a squirrel sorting out colourful boxes, some wrapped with ribbons and he remembered it was the special night. He grabbed his red muffler and ran to his larder to pour some cordial into two acorn shells and hurried down the tree to offer them to the two strangers as a welcome to the woods.

The man gulped down the cordial and said, 'I haven't tasted that in years!' while the strange squirrel savoured the taste and said 'Blackberry and gooseberry!' and smacked his lips. The squirrel was wearing a scarf in all the colours of autumn and winter and his bushy tail whisked from side to side. 'Thank you, nephew' said the squirrel.

The squirrel blinked as he realised that this was his great, great o-so great uncle from the family stories. 'O gosh' he said quietly. The squirrel smiled and handed back the acorn cup. He said 'You're doing an excellent job with the trees and I've never seen that bush over there have so many berries. Keep up the good work!' Then he produced a small red and green kerchief full of seeds and handed it to his nephew saying, 'I picked these seeds myself from far off places and all will grow here. The bees will love them!'. With a final whisk of his tail he scampered back onto the sleigh and it climbed up into the clear sky as the man gave a great laugh into the night. 

The squirrel woke up and, after breakfast, he open the door to see a nut wrapped in a red ribbon and another parcel wrapped in colourful paper. He opened the parcel to find a scarf in all the colours of autumn and winter and he clasped it to him. It was true, the old stories were true. The Christmas Squirrel was his uncle and he had visited and left him a special scarf.

The squirrel sat in his armchair clutching the scarf to him, more determined than ever to treasure his uncle's memory and legacy and care for the trees, the bushes and the forest folk. He said out loud, 'Until next year, Uncle...' and then headed to his larders to take his gifts to his friends at the bottom of the tree and show them his new scarf. 

Merry Christmas!

The Tale of the Christmas Hedgehog

The hedgehog lived at the bottom of a beautiful tree. It was beautiful because the squirrel who lived in the branches was attentive and regularly pruned the branches and harvested the nuts. He was a good gardener. Mr Hedgehog often saw the squirrel scampering along the branches, and the branches of neighbouring trees, but he looked forward to Sunday afternoons when he'd settle down with the squirrel for a good old gossip about what was happening in the wood and what their neighbours were up to. The squirrel lived high up in the branches of the tree in a penthouse apartment. 

Then, one night, Mr Hedgehog saw his friend chatting to a man sitting in a sleigh in the clearing in the wood and, oddly, he found a great big raspberry outside his door the next morning. He saved it for dinner on what he understood to be that special day. The squirrel didn't mention his new friend, the man in the sleigh, and the hedgehog was too polite to raise the subject. But he did comment on the lovely new scarf in all the colours of autumn and winter the squirrel sported.

So the year continued, turning brighter and warmer and the hedgehog busied himself tidying up underneath the tree, keeping it all spick and span. He met Mrs Hedgehog and babies started appearing, more hungry mouths to feed but Mr Hedgehog enjoyed his work and still spent time chatting to his squirrel friend who brought him succulent berries from the nearby bushes. And it got darker and colder and the first frosts appeared and then the snow. 

After telling his babies a bedtime story on that special night the hedgehog looked out of his door and there was the old man again, chatting to his friend and eating some nuts. He saw the squirrel scamper up onto the sleigh and start rummaging through piles of boxes and be-ribboned goodies and start to deliver them to the smallest homes. Gosh, thought the hedgehog, and closed his door and went to his warm bed for a good sleep. He woke up the following morning to a feeling of great joy and, looking outside, saw a big, succulent raspberry wrapped in a deep red ribbon and a basket of fruits for his family. The family had the best breakfast ever that morning.

A couple of days later the friends met for a gossip and the hedgehog asked his friend if he'd delivered the fruit to his door. The squirrel shyly said 'yes' and the hedgehog hugged him in thanks. The squirrel explained that he liked helping the old man deliver his gifts on that special night and he was good at finding the littlest of doors. He blushed. 

The seasons passed and winter arrived again. The hedgehog and squirrel both started wearing their mufflers and then, one day, the squirrel wore his special scarf in all the colours of autumn and winter and the hedgehog knew that this was the special night. He ushered his children into their beds and sat with a warm mug of tea in front of their fire. Then went to bed, waking in the morning to find a raspberry in a red ribbon and a hamper full of fruit. 

And so it went on, season after season, and the hedgehog's children grew up and started their own homes and their own families and the old hedgehog's spines became grey-tinged and he wore his muffler earlier and earlier to keep warm. But still he bustled through the leaves at the bottom of his tree to find the stray nuts that had landed to put into his larder. He enjoyed his cups of tea with his squirrel friend and then, one day, he was wearing his special scarf and his tail matched the colours in his scarf. Later that night he saw his friend sitting in the old man's sleigh and the old man brushed his tail back into it's old red colour. The hedgehog sat back down in surprise. 'Gosh!' he said as he watched his friend flying off in the sleigh. 

The next morning he found the usual raspberry in a red ribbon and basket of fruit outside his door but when he called up to his friend there was no reply. He called up again the next day and still there was no reply. What could've happened, thought the hedgehog, he hasn't come back yet. Another day went by and he trundled over to the next tree he knew a squirrel lived in and asked him to pay a visit to his friend in case he was ill. The neighbourly squirrel soon scampered down to the first floor and said the apartment was empty and hadn't been lived in for a few days.' O dear' said the hedgehog, and shook his head sadly, and told the squirrel about what he had seen on the special night. He told the tale to everyone he met.

The seasons flew by and with only a few blinks it was that special night again The hedgehog knew it was because of the twinkling stars and the far off echoes of whale song. He made himself a strong cup of tea and pitched his chair outside his door, sitting on a cushion and rug pulled over his knees, muffler tight around his neck. He waited.

He heard the faint jingling sound just as he was nodding off and as it got louder he perked up. Then the sleigh appeared with the old man and suddenly he saw his friend, the squirrel scampering about, sorting out boxes and ribbons. The hedgehog smiled. The squirrel scampered around the homes of the folks of the wood leaving presents and then he came up the hedgehog's door with a basket full of fruit and a raspberry tied with a red ribbon. The hedgehog had a tear in his eye as he said, 'Hello old friend' and hugged the squirrel

'Where have you been?' asked Mr Hedgehog and the squirrel replied, 'Everywhere! I have seen such wonders, huge forests and so many impossibly colourful flowers, some bigger than me...' and he shook his head at the memories of his travels. The squirrel looked very red and strong, a squirrel in his prime and his tail twitched from side to side. Mr Hedgehog smiled and shook his head in amazement, his nose twitching as a tear of happiness started welling in his eyes. 'I must go, old friend' said the squirrel, 'this is the busiest night of the year and I have important jobs to do. Take care and pass on my best to Mrs Hedgehog. Until next year.' And with that the squirrel hugged his friend and scampered back to the sleigh. With a roar of merriment from the man, the sleigh climbed up into the sky and headed west with a sprinkling of stardust as the stars twinkled. 

The hedgehog picked up the gifts the squirrel had left and went back inside to sit by the fire. He was happy for his kindly friend and remembered his fondness for flowers and the care he took with the blossom in spring. Mr Hedgehog decided that tomorrow, after breakfast, he'd visit his grandchildren and tell everyone he met about their old friend, the squirrel, and he was still helping the man with his important work. Yes, he thought, I'll do just that, as he got under the blanket and nodded off.

The Christmas Robin

The little robin redbreast had a good start in life, being born into a warm nest at the top of a tree in the big park. His parents weren't rich by any means but they foraged well and provided the robin and his brothers and sisters with enough food to help them grow big and strong - for a robin. When he was young he always admired the bright red breasts of his parents and their beautiful singing voices. He hoped he'd grow up just like them. And he did.

When he was old enough, he flew off one day to find his own place to live and start living independently. On his travels he found a small woodland in one part of the park and found the perfect tree, an old, large holly tree with lots of places for a snug nest and he chose a place on a high bough that would be protected from the winter winds and had a good view. So he moved in.

He got to know his neighbours and happily chatted to them about the world of the park, things he saw as he flew over the park and the strange world beyond the expanse of green that was his home. He got to know the big crows at the best feeding ground on the edge of his little woods and started chatting to them, despite them being a bit scary and very big. He made friends with a young fox cub but always made sure he sat on a branch high up, just in case. And he got to know the squirrel families in the surrounding trees - they were always busy but liked to pass the time of day with the little robin who always had interesting tales to tell.

The summer passed and the autumn arrived, turning the leaves on the trees golden before they floated to the ground in great drifts of colour. But the holly kept it's strong green leaves that protected the robin's nest from the cold winds and the rain. He was a sensible robin and had chosen his home wisely.

The cold frosts started and the robin took out an old muffler his mother had made for him and he wound it round his neck and instantly felt warmer. One day, the snow came. The robin had never seen snow before but instinctively knew what it was and he flew to the edge of his woods to see the green turn to white as the snow lay everywhere. He was astonished and delighted and flew down to the ground to make footprints in the snow, dancing around and singing at the top of his voice in joy and wonder.

As the days wore on and the cold deepened, the days grew shorter and the frost and snow came more often and the robin liked to look at the night sky and count the stars. The ground grew harder and there was less food but the robin knew there would be left-overs at the small cafe in he middle of the park. He landed on the edge of a table with an old man with a beard - the robin knew that old people usually gave him some scraps to eat. Especially if they had old dogs resting their chin on their knees, like this one. The old man was writing on the hard paper that humans gave to each other for some reason. When he finished the little robin hopped closer and saw that on the front was a portrait of his Dad! Tweep, he said, and flew off to find his Dad to tell him he was famous.

One day the robin woke from an afternoon nap to the sound of bells from the big tower at the end of the park. They were very tuneful and the robin sang along. He decided to visit the big tower to see what kind of strange creature was making the beautiful sound and he flew to the edge of the wood and then onward, across the park. He reached the tower and set down on an open window and started singing along to the glorious, uplifting sound, perfectly matching the sound of the bells and then moving into harmonies. Eventually the bells stopped but the robin kept singing. He became aware of a small group of humans looking up at him and he stopped singing to look at them. Then they started clapping. How strange, the robin thought. He was a polite robin so he bowed in thanks and then flew off, back to his warm home and a good night's sleep.

The next morning he was up early to open his present that had appeared miraculously and to see the new covering of snow. He flew to the lake to sit on a park bench to have a chat to his friend, Dad Goose. Dad knew the humans better than the robin and he wanted to find out what the humans had been doing when they put their hands together to make a noise. Dad was at least five years old and so very old and wise indeed and explained to the robin that what he'd seen was clapping and the humans liked his singing. The robin's cheeks flushed as red as his breast at the compliment. As the sky grew brighter on the chilly morning they heard the sound of the bells again, welcoming the new day, and the robin said goodbye to Dad Goose and flew off to the big tower to sing along once more.

The robin flew into the tower and spiralled down, lower, so he could bask in the sound of the bells and perched on the lintel above one of the doors at the bottom of the tower and began to sing. The bells rang out to welcome in Christmas Day and one by one the humans turned to watch the robin as he sang. One of the humans pushed a metal thing closer to the little robin and suddenly he heard himself bigly, singing all over the place very loudly.

He didn't know what was going on but took a deep breath and started singing even louder as the humans watched him. Everyone who heard the bells, the humans and the creatures on the big green, looked up and smiled, wondering at the new sounds the bells were making, not realising it was the little robin singing his heart out. The humans clapped him again and slowly left the bottom of the tower, taking the metal thing with them. Then the robin saw the little plate of scraps left on the doorstep and he flew down to feast on the left-overs. That's when he saw the old man from the cafe again, smiling at him, and then the old man left as well so the robin could enjoy his feast.

The robin flew back to his home in the holly tree and got cosy in his nest, patting his full tum from his feast. What a strange day, he thought, but I liked singing along to the bells, maybe I'll go there again. He sat on a snowy bough and looked up at the sky to see all the stars twinkling and seeming merry and he started singing for the stars. One day, he thought, I'll fly up there and visit the stars and sing for them. But now it's time for bed, and he hopped back into his nest, snuggled down and was soon asleep. And the stars smiled and twinkled.

The Tale of The Christmas Goose

Way back in the olden days, Horatius was sitting on a small hillock which was his favourite place to observe the woodlands around his lake. He was watching an old man dressed in rags collecting firewood in the forest on the night before the special celebration. The old man didn't seem to be very good at this task, and, thought Horatius, those sticks are all damp and won't help make a fire for anyone. Horatius was a goose of all the colours of gold and sand and had often seen the villagers collect wood for their fires. The villagers didn't have feathers, after all, and needed something to keep them warm in the depths of winter, especially in the snow.

The goose turned his head to look at the old man from a different angle and then flew off to gather his brothers and sisters to help the old man. The geese collected dry branches and sticks and dropped then at the feet of the old man who stood and looked at them in astonishment. When there was a goodly pile of dry tinder Horatius landed back on the hillock and went 'Honk' and bowed to the old man before flying away to a tree a bit further back in the forest to see what happened next.

The old man bowed to the golden goose in thanks and gathered up the sticks and created three bundles which he left outside three hovels in the village and went back to his own shack on the edge of the village. Horatius followed the old man to see what would happen and did't understand why the old man gave away all the dry twigs rather than build a nice fire to keep himself warm. 'Humans' thought Horatius and, when he returned the next day, saw that the old man had gone.

Spring and summer passed and Horatius had his own brood of goslings who were, generally, scamps but in a good way. Then, as the leaves had fallen and the snow and frost appeared, he saw the old man again and called on his children to collect a pile of firewood for the old man and stash it under a fir tree to keep it dry. Then Horatius issued a loud 'HONK' to the old man to alert him to his gift and the old man came over in wonder. He sat beside the golden goose and stroked his neck and his wings and said 'thank you Master Goose' with a low bow.

So it happened every year afterwards when the snow appeared and the special day drew near. Horatius was to be found waiting for the old man with a pile of dry kindling with his children and grand-children watching from deeper in the forest. The old man would bring a bag od seeds of the highest quality so his friend could have a snack while they comforted each other in a friendly silence.

The old man grew older and so did Horatius. Until one year the old man found a pile of dry twigs under a tree but there was no sign of his friend. He left the bag of seed for Horatius's children and shed a tear.

The King's castle wasn't far from the wood and on the day of the big celebration the old King, resplendent in his best holiday robes was looking forward to the new treat he'd been promised by his hunters. They entered his banqueting hall with a cage with a rough shape inside with the colours of dull bronze.

As the cage was put down the shape stirred and a final, defiant 'HONK' issued from the cage.  The King instantly recognised the voice of his old, winter friend from his trips into the woods disguised as a poor man in his annual penance. He jumped up and demanded that the cage should be opened and the bedraggled goose set free. The king picked up the body of his old friend and, with tears in his eyes. said 'It's me, Horatius, my friend' . Horatius recognised the old man's voice and rested his head on his shoulder which was covered in fine silk and damask.

The old king carried his friend to the table and sat him down in the place of honour on a soft cushion, ordering water and high quality seeds for his friend. Then he issued a proclamation that never again should golden geese be hunted in his kingdom. Horatius issued a loud 'honk' and his children, and grand-children and great-grand-children appeared at the windows to honour the old king and their treaty. And then he nipped the king's finger to remind him that they were still a free people and not subject to the whims of humans. And the old King giggled.

Centuries passed and we remember good King Wenceslas and the firewood but we rarely hear about his friend, Horatius. The golden geese remember him, though, and celebrate him when the snow falls and humans search for dry sticks on that special night. Keep your eyes peeled and you might see Horatio honouring his ultimate grandfather, standing on a small hillock with lots of dry sticks waiting to be claimed by anyone who needs them. Some things are important.

Kim Boekbinder and the Infinite Minute

That there Kim Boekbinder (aka The Impossible Girl) has come up with the daftest idea yet for a Kickstarter campaign - and that's 'daftest' in a totally positive way, obv. She's looking for funding to build a recording studio at her home so she can record her next album (and others after that) and so she's offering to write a one minute song for every $100 raised. And if you pledge $100 you get your very own song to do with as you see fit. If you pledge now, you could even get your very own song in time for Christmas! How's that for an interesting Christmas present for someone? As you'll know, dear Reader, I am a Christmasoholic and the temptation is terrible...

It's the Infinite Minute project and the songs will only ever be available to Kickstarter backers. You don't have to pay $100 of course - you'll be given all the songs even if you just pledge $1 but it gets more interesting as the money pledged increases.

You can read all about it and pledge here and you might want to watch Kim's video about one minute songs in which she performs a one minute song about the project.



Now then, how much do I want my very own Christmas song…?

The UK Singles Chart - 8 December 2013

The entrance of SLADE's 'Everyday' into the singles chart a couple of weeks ago has re-kindled my interest in the singles chart for the first time in a decade or two. When I looked at it tonight I noted a number of Christmas singles:

98: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
92: Christmas In LA - The Killers ft Dawes
79: Underneath The Tree - Kelly Clarkson
73: Everyday - SLADE
72: Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
67: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
62: Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
57: Merry Xmas Everybody - SLADE
56: Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
44: Last Christmas - Wham
37: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
34: One More Sleep - Leona Lewis
16: Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
14: All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

I've not included songs that simply happen to be associated with Christmas because they were hits at Christmas (like 'The Power Of Love') or the current Number 1 which is the music to a Christmas advert but isn't really a Christmas song.

It's disappointing that SLADE dropped four places with 'Everyday' (from 69 to 73) but it's nice to see 'Merry Xmas' crashing in at 57. And, of course, 'Fairytale of New York' is making its usual mark as a regular favourite.

Next week I will be watching out for 'City of Christmas Ghosts' by Goldblade and Poly Styrene. Wouldn't it be fab to see them in the chart?

'Everyday' - a new Christmas hit for SLADE?

Imagine my surprise at hearing Noddy Holder singing over a new Christmas advert and realising that it wasn't 'Merry Christmas Everybody' or even vaguely Christmassy. It's the new advert for the Nexus 7 and I first saw it on Saturday.

The story is about a dad on a huge merchant ship in the middle of the ocean  who meets his family at Christmas by video over his Nexus 7 device.  And all of this with Sir Noddy and SLADE singing 'Everyday' over the advert. Well done to the ad agency that came up with this inspired choice. Take a look:



Here's SLADE on Top Of The Pops in 1974 performing 'Everyday':

New Christmas Records 2013

I know it's early but I always like to hear about new Christmas records to add to my ever expanding collection. This year I'm really looking forward to Kim Wilde's 'Wilde Winter Songbook' which, for the track listing looks like a mix of seasonal standards and some new songs, including a new version of Kim's old hit 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree' (this time with Nik Kershaw).

Winter Wonderland (with Rick Astley)
Hope
One
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Winter Song
New Life
White Winter Hymnal (with Marty & Ricky Wilde)
Burn Gold
Song For Beryl
Let It Snow
Hey Mister Snowman
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (with Nik Kershaw)

I'm also looking forward to hearing some of these songs played live at Kim's Christmas Party at Shepherd's Bush on 21 December.

Other new records this year include 'A Mary Christmas' by Mary J Blige and 'Snow Globe' by Erasure.

No doubt there'll be more emerging as we get closer to Christmas.

Invasion of The Polite Snowmen

If you look anywhere in this blog in December you'll see that I'm a card-carrying Christmas-oholic. I like seeing the Christmas lights around London and, closer to home, on Streatham High Road. They're always a bit cheap and cheerful but I like them. I always watch out for The Polite Snowman standing high up a lamp-post with his big smile and polite manners. I call him The Polite Snowman because he raises his hat whenever I approach and then pops it back down on his head. He may well do the same to you.

The Streatham lights were put up a few days before they were switched on and I was delighted to see The Polite Snowman outside the Horse and Groom pub as I walked home from the station after work. Good, he's back, I thought. The first evening after the lights were switched on, I came out of the station and turned right and there, in the distance, I could see him shining away and raising his hat - what a polite snowman he is.

And then it happened. I realised there were two Polite Snowmen! Cor, The Polite Snowman has brought one of his cousins to Streatham. I, naturally, raised my cap and said, 'Good evening Mr Snowman' as I walked underneath his cousin and then again under the original Polite Snowman. I'll get a chilly head in this cold weather but I must be polite in return to the Snowmen. After all, the Snowmen bring the snow.

Walking further down the High Road and, as I glanced on down the road at St Leonard's, what did I see? No less than two more Polite Snowmen beside Streatham Green, more cousins joining The Polite Snowman for Christmas. I couldn't help but break out into a big silly grin. I wonder if that means we'll get even more snow?

And here he is, The Polite Snowman being polite:

Alphabeat - 'X-Mas (Let's Do It Again)

Those scallywag Viking popsters have just released their new single, a Christmas single, 'X-Mas (Let's Do It Again)' and it is good.  It starts off with Anders singing but when Stine joins in with her first "Oooo baby..." you know you're in safe hands. It's a lovely slice of optimistic, cheerful pop music and perfect for these chilly, damp and dark days. Go on, download it now!

One of the bands tweets earlier today read, "From the six of us to all of you ..." to which I can only say thank you!

Sufjan Stevens - 'Silver & Gold: Songs For Christmas Vols 6-10'

The latest news from Asthmatic Kitty is that Sufjan Stevens is releasing a new Christmas collection on 13 November, 'Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas Volumes 6-10'. Things like this always put me in a quandary - why am I talking about Christmas at the start of October? On the other hand, if we don't know things are happening how can we plan a good Christmas. O well.

The first song available to hear on Bandcamp is 'Christmas Unicorn', a delightful song  that builds and builds and turns, almost naturally into 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' at the end. Click to listen for yourself. If the rest of the songs are anything like this then it'll be a corker of a record! I already love the cover:

Anyway, the blurb from the Kitty says:

Happy Holidays! On November 13, 2012, Asthmatic Kitty will release (another!) Christmas box-set extravaganza by Sufjan Stevens—Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10, a compilation of 5 EPs recorded between 2006 and 2010.

Expanding on the tradition of the first box-set (Songs for Christmas, Vols. 1- 5 from 2006), Silver & Gold is a generous document of five more years of holly-jolly jubilee undertaken by Sufjan and his various musical cohorts. There's a veritable feast for the eyes of content in the CD and vinyl boxsets. Click here to see all the contents.

Your local record store will be carrying both the CD and Vinyl boxsets. We are offering a special Mail Order edition of the vinyl boxset, which will come with extra goodies shipped especially for you.

  PLEASE NOTE: Vinyl Box Set may not arrive in time for Christmas. Manufacturing for this product is quite elaborate, to say the least; everyone's doing his/her best to facilitate a timely arrival.

Listen to the first single from the boxset, "Christmas Unicorn," on Bandcamp by clicking here. And we've released a page from the coloring book, illustrated by Stephen Halker, right here (share your coloring with us by tweeting #colormexmas).