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Billy Blagg 1:09 Sun Nov 25
Billy Blagg's 12th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs (RIP Lady Blagg) + NYE Edition
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On July 29th this year my world collapsed and died when I lost my beautiful, talented, funny, vivacious and enigmatic love of my life. I'm utterly bereft and heartbroken.
My wife Gail - or Lady Blagg as visitors here will have known here since 1998 when I first did a blog on this site - passed away at Addenbrookes Hospital that Sunday morning and everything that made this life worth living for me went with her.
I could make some neat pat statement here and say 'she'd have wanted me to carry on with what I enjoyed doing' but the truth is our relationship was more complex than that and I doubt she'd have bothered either way. This is about me and how I can cope in a season that was vitally important for me and Gail and one in which we traditionally made sure we enjoyed ourselves and one another.
With just five days to go till the Advent Calendar opens, I'm leaning towards doing it again - frankly I've fuck all else to do anyway - but I genuinely don't know if I can start it, finish it or what form it will take.
For those who've emailed me - thank you for the support - and all I can say is, for those who enjoy this nonsense (and oddly there are many of you) return here on the 1st and we'll see what happens.
UPDATE: December 1st. I've started and I hope to finish.
Catch the blog too for previous year's listings, general chat and photos:
https://blaggadventcalendarchristmassongs2018.blogspot.com/
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Westham67
8:25 Mon Dec 31
Re: New Year's Eve - The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
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Lovely story mate thanks,have a great new year
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Chip Shop Charlie
8:06 Mon Dec 31
Re: New Year's Eve - The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
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What a read this has been....Thank You
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Coffee
6:35 Mon Dec 31
Re: New Year's Eve - The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
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What a thread.
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Billy Blagg
2:49 Mon Dec 31
New Year's Eve - The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
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Six years later. New Year's Eve 1993 at Xenon Nightclub in Piccadilly. The intervening years have been a vain attempt to right a supposed wrong. He's tried; she's tried. In fact, she tried so hard she even married another man and moved to the end of the country, hoping that by putting at least half-a-dozen counties between them, it couldn't possibly survive. It's not worked though. Sometimes through lack of will on the part of one or other of them; sometimes through astonishing examples of coincidence - one so ridiculous that even Richard Curtis filming a lovelorn scene for one of his movies would have rejected it as being simply too preposterous - they find themselves once again together on a night they should both be elsewhere. She's even wearing a dress he bought for her earlier in the week.
The club is nowhere as busy as it should have been. It's as if everyone has just had enough of drinking and making merry. Even the DJ seems to lack heart in the venture. He puts on a number of slow songs as one year ticks over to the next. This song comes on; a show tune from an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that neither of them would normally give house room too. Tonight though, it sounds different. As they dance slowly, holding onto each other, the words drip into their consciousness; the close dance becomes something else as they seem to meld together. Eventually, they turn their heads to look directly at one another.
We don't need a crowded ballroom / Everything we need is hear / If you're with me / Next year will be / The Perfect Year.
Nothing was said but they both knew. It was time to stop denying themselves. By April, they had made it the Perfect Year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7XZEpNwgQ
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Dowies Love Child
5:14 Thu Dec 27
Re: Billy Blagg's 12th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs (RIP Lady Blagg)
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Billy, a mighty thank you for putting this years list together. Every year I look forward to your Advent calendar and you have never failed to pull at the heart strings. The emotion shown in some of the choices this year show you to be a far braver man than I could ever claim to be. The very best to you Sir.
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Billy Blagg
2:36 Wed Dec 26
Re: Billy Blagg's 12th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs (RIP Lady Blagg)
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The stats from the blog are in!
Usual greatly received hits from Europe, UK and the Antipodes - many thanks - but if you are one of the 11 people looking from the Ukraine then please let me know. And you MUST contact me if you're one of the eight from 'unknown territories'. Where the hell are you exactly?
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General Choi
5:37 Tue Dec 25
Re: Merry Christmas Everyone!
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Blimey, you've choked me up a bit with your last comment, there, Billy. Christmas is always the time you think of all the people you wish were still around to share it with. Love to all WHOers and thanks, as always for putting in another almighty shift, BB.
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Gavros
2:41 Tue Dec 25
Re: Merry Christmas Everyone!
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Merry Christmas Billy and thanks for making the effort this year, of all years. All the best.
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Far Cough
2:11 Tue Dec 25
Re: Merry Christmas Everyone!
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All the the very best to you Billy
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Billy Blagg
1:32 Tue Dec 25
Merry Christmas Everyone!
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Thank you you so much for your comments, emails and whomails this year. I can't tell you how much it has been appreciated and welcomed. Seriously, some of this might just have saved me. For those who asked; I figure if Gail is anywhere then she will be here with me and the cats so I am spending it at Blagg Acres alone. I'll be ok .
What's that? Not enough emotion for you...? OK then. For one year only there is an extra day to be added. I'll post here New Years Eve.
In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas and remember to give your loved ones - particularly the LOVE OF YOUR LIFE - an extra kiss and cuddle and tell you love them. One day you may not be able to do so.
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Ashy
11:44 Tue Dec 25
Re: Billy Blagg's 12th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs (RIP Lady Blagg)
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Beautiful end to this years selection.
Thinking of you Mr B and everyone who has lost someone special.
Merry Christmas all of WHO.
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BRANDED
11:28 Tue Dec 25
Re: Billy Blagg's 12th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs (RIP Lady Blagg)
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ThanksBilly. Great sellection.
Happy Christmas
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COOL HAND LUKE
10:06 Tue Dec 25
Re: Billy Blagg's 12th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs (RIP Lady Blagg)
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Billy Blagg 2.24
That story resonates with me, Billy. Me and Mrs CHL both had to leave long-standing relationships to be together. Some said "Cowards way out" but fuck me they have no idea... toughest decision ever, but when IT happens it's like a Damascene conversion... and here we are almost ten years later, both divorced, remarried together, with a beautiful, sparky six year old daughter.
So; I'm streaming the game v Watford, we miss again, and I pronounce: "Wankers!" (as you do). Moments later I hear six year old in the next room: "Mummy, what's Wankers?" You know the rest... Yet, I have a 30 year old son who has attended WHU with me since before he was her age, and he NEVER swears, ever (aside from at games, natch...).
We all appreciate the gargantuan effort it must take to put the Songs together this year, Billy. I trust you'll have some family and or friends around you today, and over the New Year too. Take care, fella. x
CHL
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GBHammer63
8:31 Tue Dec 25
Re: Billy Blagg's 12th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs (RIP Lady Blagg)
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Blimey Billy, that last one was hard to not go too bottom lippy.
Just sitting quietly, having a coffee waiting for the family to wake up, thinking that I’m a very lucky man. Have as wonderful a Christmas as you can.
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Westham67
8:10 Tue Dec 25
Re: Day 25 - 'On This Christmas Day' - Jessie J
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Merry Christmas Gents
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Coffee
6:05 Tue Dec 25
Re: Day 25 - 'On This Christmas Day' - Jessie J
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Thanks for making the effort, Billy. It is appreciated.
Happy Christmas.
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Billy Blagg
4:13 Tue Dec 25
Day 25 - 'On This Christmas Day' - Jessie J
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Released this November, Jessie seems to have peered into my soul and written this in response, nailing the song and the day into my heart for as long as I'm on this planet. God bless ya Jess!
I see you, I call your name
Oh, I'm trying on this Christmas day
I feel you, I hear you say
I know you're not okay, I know it's not the same
But you love me, and that will never change
Oh, and I love you on this Christmas day
I know you're somewhere that's beautiful in every way
I know you're somewhere that I will be with you one day
I know you're right there
I close my eyes and hear you say you love me
And that will never change
And I love you on this Christmas day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGemoiLwMDA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0TmMta-xRIX_0WBrHntyfaoac-qDeXehzzPTQ1xM4SqGoJzgnFewqmkwI
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Billy Blagg
11:04 Mon Dec 24
Re: Day 24 - 'Christmas Eve' - Gwen Stefani
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Thanks Coff. Got too emotional and missed the link out.
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Coffee
1:04 Mon Dec 24
Re: Day 24 - 'Christmas Eve' - Gwen Stefani
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This?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u87j7VXuLiE
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Billy Blagg
2:24 Mon Dec 24
Day 24 - 'Christmas Eve' - Gwen Stefani
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It starts. 24th December 1987. Neither of them are where they are supposed to be. They know and feel the wrong in it, but can do nothing about it. The busy and merry day has given way to a hinterland of desolation. Others, more enlightened, are either where they are supposed to be or making their way there. The shops have closed, the pubs are emptying. Eventually even they have to give in to the inevitability of it. It's High Wycombe station, under the clock. There's a 'Brief Encounter' joke; a 'speak after the break' entreaty, they embrace for a moment too long, they kiss for a moment even longer, he turns to go and says 'Merry Christmas' then adds 'I Love You'. He hadn't meant to say it, it just came out because it was the truth. He looks at her to see what her reaction will be. Should he apologise? Explain he 'hadn't meant it'. She looks at him, she says nothing but doesn't have too. She doesn't need to say it back. It's in her eyes, the eyes they say 'I know you have to go but don't go'. The train is approaching. He turns to go. He knows she is watching him all the way onto the platform. He turns and she is still looking at him. He waves and gets onto the train. He knows she is still staring at it until it pulls out of sight. They've reached a point and there is no going back. Ever.
29th July 2018. It ends. But it won't really ever end.
For anyone who is searching this Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u87j7VXuLiE
I can't see in this darkness
So in need of forgiveness
Before all of my faith dies
Show me the way like a northern light
Come find me 'cause I can't find myself
I'm looking for you on Christmas Eve
All over the world, the angels see
But I'm feeling lost, can you save me
I'm looking for you on Christmas Eve
I'm looking for you on Christmas Eve
Don't know how I got where I am
Hurting so much, I need healing
All I have is what I can pray
Send me your mercy I need your grace
I'm looking for you on Christmas Eve
All over the world, the angels see
But I'm feeling lost, can you save me
I'm looking for you on Christmas Eve
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BRANDED
8:14 Sun Dec 23
Re: Day 23 - 'What Child Is This' - Rod Stewart
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Iove easy and can indulge in it all year. There's easy and then there's scmaltz. Still. He layers it thick and even.
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