First broadcast on FAB RADIO INTERNATIONAL at 19:00 on December 25th 2022

It’s Christmas Day here at VISION ON SOUND H.Q. and everybody else on my usual guest list has slipped away to spend their day catching up with their nearest and dearest, or hiding under their own particular choice of rock, or just generally stuffing their faces, unwrapping their gifts, or simply vegging out in front of what is traditionally meant to be one of the best television days of the year, and wondering whether that plate of mince pies, bottle of something tasty, or bowl of salty snack food is worth stretching out their arm for, especially if it requires them to put down the remote control.

So what does that leave for us to do for you here at VISION ON SOUND? I mean, obviously we can’t compete with such delightful distractions, and yet we’ve still got a show to do, so I thought I might share a little seasonal story with you all, and see how that pans out. Think of it, perhaps, as a little gift from me to you, although, if it doesn’t quite suit you, or you want to return it, unfortunately I do seem to have lost the receipt, so you are rather stuck with it, I’m afraid. At least until the charity shops reopen, anyway.

It’s a familiar tale, of course, because they always are, really, and there might be one or two moments of schmaltzy sentimentality along the way, because the day itself always seems to demand this, and some of the names, events, faces, and dates, have been changed to protect the innocent, and to keep our legal team from having to answer any calls upon this most festive of days.

Christmas spirit or not, Bob’s holiday overtime rates are appalling.

Anyway, in the best traditions of the forgotten gospel according to Max Bygraves, I wanted to tell you a story of that time when one particular KRIS KRINGLE (whose name has been changed to protect the innocent) was busily ringing his hand bell and wishing the world the very best of seasonal cheer outside the very swish and swanky ROYAL SAVELOY HOTEL in the very heart of Manchesterford (because, like I told you, we’re changing all of the names to protect the innocent) upon one wet and soggy Christmas Eve, not so very long ago in a story I’m going to call…

A FESTIVE FADEOUT

PLEASE NOTE - For Copyright reasons, musical content sometimes has to be removed for the podcast edition. All the spoken word content remains (mostly) as it was in the broadcast version. Hopefully this won't spoil your enjoyment of the show.