"You Tube" StarI wasn't there, of course, but I can imagine the scene. It was 1957, probably a bleak, cold winter, probably still in black and white. But people didn't let the fact that the country was still recovering economically from the last war, and perhaps facing annihilation in the next one, spoil their festive fun. There would still be turkey on the table, Christmas crackers, and of course the Christmas Tree.
But this was an age of advancing technology, and this year would be special. The Queen's Christmas Day Message, by then a 25-year old tradition (all right, it was the King's before 1952), was going to be televised!
Lots of people had bought the new-fangled TV thingies in 1953 for the Queen's Coronation. In fact by 1957 there was probably at least one household in each street with one, so, after their roast lunch they woke up grandad and all huddled round the TV, whose valves had probably taken as long as the turkey to warm up.
Little did they know as they watched entrhalled as a blurry image of Her Majesty appeared on the tiny screen that 50 years later their descendents would be looking at an equally blurry picture of her on You Tube. That's progress for you.
Personally, I don't think I've heard one of the Queen's messages since I was a child and we heard it on the World Service. But it's a real tradition for many, and the Queen as always is moving with the times, so will be broadcasting it on You Tube for the first time.
This year is my second year online. Last year I remember, either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas day, listening to "o agripnos" (the "awake [man]"), on Greek radio - people phoning in from all over the world to send their best wishes to friends and relatives.
I still expect to be doing that - in fact I'm listening to the Christmas broadcasts as I type this (and might even be able to understand them this year!). However this year is my first (and last, maybe?) as a blogger, so thankyou for your comments and company over the last few months.
All my best wishes to you and your families (drunken uncles and FILs included), and have a safe and happy time.
11 comments:
You made me forget what I came here to tell you!! For a moment I thought you were sayin' goodbye until I re-read it. I'll have to admit my eyes went a little crazy[er]!
I hope I remember cuz I rushed over here...
I STILL CAN'T REMEMBER!! I've got a bad case of oldtimers!!
dang it I can't read it right now, I;m in Father Al angst, and also I have guests
Bee:
You rushed over to tell us what your present was? To tell us that you were splitting your Christmas bonus between Jean Knee and me?
Oh well, it can't have been that important. Who was it that told me to write everything down so I wouldn't forget???
Jean Knee:
Never mind, it will keep. It will still be as scintillatingly interesting once your guests have gone.
Jean Knee:
I thought Father Al had died or something when I read your comment...
If Father Al Gore were dead I wouldn't be able to blog for days.
I didn't actually watch the queen on you tube, I just saw she was on there, see. It's hard enough to listen To George W's state of the union address.
You know what's funny? when someone new reads the ole blog (mine or NCS') and doesn't realize we are making fun of Al Gore.
I swear it kills me.
On Halloween I really did wear an Al Gore mask printed on green paper and wore a list on my chest
Al Gore
Profet
Inventer of teh internets
Oscar winner
Nobel Prize Laureate
Lock box afficionado
no one got it at all and kept pointing out I has spelled teh wrong.
crap, wonder what brought on this boring drivel??????
must be the Holidays, full of cookies, full of hot cocoa, full of candy, full of chocolate chips
but not full of coffee
I was gonna write it down um here but then got distracted!
Jean Knee:
You spelt "profit" wrong, too. Or did you mean "prophet"? Surely not?
That's the Queen's main function - to be there. She doesn't need to do much else.
I stayed up late to watch the repeat of the main news, since I missed it being at my mother's. She made my favourite meal, so I really can't complain.
Bee:
That's feeble, but I'll let you off seeing as it's Christmas.
HAPPT BOXING DAY!!
So does that mean you box with the first person that ticks you off or do does it mean you box up all the gifts you don't want and return 'em to the stores?
I'm hoping option one.
Bee:
Thankyou. I've no idea why they call it boxing day - I think it has something to do with presents.
There's nothing special that's celebrated or done, apart from the fact that it's a bank holiday. Even the supermarkets are shut today, which is unfortunate as there are a couple of things I want. So I'm just going for a walk to see if anything's open nearby...
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