A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 9: The Strange Case of the Caller at the Library Window (Epilogue)

| December 30, 2015

On day 7 of this Long Winter’s Night, I related The Strange Case of the Caller at the Library Window, and even as I did, I knew the tale was far from over. Interestingly, I found myself shedding more than a few tears as I wrote this. Tell me if you feel the same reading […]

A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 8: The OceanMaker

| December 29, 2015

On this Long Winter’s Night, I offer, for your consideration, The OceanMaker. After the seas have disappeared, a courageous pilot fights against vicious sky pirates for control of the last remaining source of water: the clouds. ~ mightycocunut.com As a former aviator and student of aviation history, I enjoyed the recognizable but apocalyptically modified airframes […]

A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 7: The Strange Case of the Caller at the Library Window

| December 28, 2015

I have always felt a comradeship with Ravens and Crows, and fortunately for me, the feeling appears to be reciprocated. What I have for you this Long Winter’s Night is the story of two fellow beings. One, a solitary Man interrupted at his ease by a persistent caller. The other, as it turns out, merely […]

A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 6: Alma

| December 27, 2015

As I’ve written here before, the quest for the most fascinating toy promises the downfall of the unwary. Our case in point this Long Winter’s Night is Alma. Written and directed by Rodrigo Blaas, and produced by Cecile Hokes with music by Mastretta, Alma (Spanish for “soul”) tells the story of a little girl who, one […]

A Long Winter’s Night – Day 5: The Drunkard’s Song

| December 26, 2015

The shitfaced Elf from yesterday’s Long Winter’s Night did rather well when he so vigorously snatched the neck of his bottle with both eyes open. It’s often hard for someone in such a state as requires an earthquake to walk straight to divine which of the two objects standing before them is the genuine article. […]

A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 4: A Greeting or Two

| December 25, 2015

There’s a standing traditional association of revelry at this Yule time, for reasons aforesaid, and with that comes the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Oh, and Elves. Not the consumption of them, you understand, it’s just that Elves are also associated with it all, for reasons not so clear other than it might have something to […]

A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 3: A Krampus Carol

| December 24, 2015

You may recall from previous scribblings here that … “In many parts of Europe, the “Feast of Saint Nicholas” is celebrated on December 6th. The evening before the feast, however, is known as Krampus Night or Krampusnacht, when the hairy beast roams the streets in a … rage, visiting homes and businesses to punish and/or […]

A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 2: All Things Great and Seasonal

| December 23, 2015

Cultural anthropologist Margaret Visser was for many years a regular on an assortment of radio programmes produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). She has authored six books on a variety of subjects ranging from the traditions of dinner to the expression of gratitude, linking the origins of the world we know to that of […]

A Long Winter’s Night 2015 – Day 1: Another Winter Solstice

| December 22, 2015

Pre-Christian history is full of spiritual beliefs that personify the sun as a deity who dies and is resurrected, even as the sun that reaches its shortest period of life in the sky is reborn to linger just a little longer each day in the blessed march toward what is hoped to be a new […]

Hot Time in the Olde Town Tonight

| December 14, 2015

They’re rattling their rapiers And prancing in their livery, They’re howling at the gates again, Hot time in the olde town tonight. ~ Fight Song ~ I’ve mentioned Halifax, Nova Scotia based band, The Stanfields, a couple of times before; on 12 February and 3 October of 2011. Today I’d like to introduce you to […]