Coming back from Quebec City after Christmas in 2010, while dial switching on the radio, and landing on the CBC I heard that A CHRISTMAS CAROL REDUX, narrated by Russell Thomas, was about to begin. “Now I want to hear that,” I said to myself, and it soon began with a kazoo prelude. You may recall that from 2008 through 2014 I produced, as a benefit for local food shelves, my own adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Now it will help if you know Dickens’ basic plot before you spend 54 minutes listening to this REDUX production, but not necessary. Driving west on Autoroute 20 I was soon laughing hard, tears of laughter were streaming down my cheeks, and I feared that the car seat was not waterproof in case my bladder lost control. Fortunately I saw a rest area, and pulled in, parked, and listened to the radio. I had to find a copy to share. A few years ago I finally found the production on-line, Gary helped me capture it so we could share it. It took some time, but he was able to complete the task.

So, now I invite you to the party. Pour some non-dairy eggnog, or glasses of wine, get some dry underwear in case, put your feet up and turn out the lights and close your eyes. Click the audio link below Mr. Fezziwig’s Ball. But my disclaimer – the show is irreverent, often politically incorrect, raunchy at times, and hysterical – ENJOY!

This year, 2025, Christmas snuck up on me. I have the majority of my “bottle brush tree” collection out year round throughout the house (about 135 examples) to enjoy, but did not get to several boxes of other Christmas treasures to bring out. I had hoped to include here overdue reports and images of my 2023 and 2024 holiday tours in Vermont, but alas almost done – hopefully before year’s end to enjoy. But below are a few views of “44” from 2023 that I never shared.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR, love, RAY