Here Comes Christmas: Recent Episodes
Rachel & Paul Branston & Rev. Simon Lewis
Celebrating the run up to Christmas with fun, traditions, songs and oddities. Christmas means different things to different people. Here's our personal take on the season with some of our favourite stories, songs and titbits - and some we've made up ourselves. We hope you enjoy.Rachel and Paul Branston
Happy Christmas day.
Join us on our quick Christmas quiz
Simon's final take on the Nativity story
Thomas Hardy's poem - "The Oxen"
- and - Our 30 minute musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" story -
"The Elephant's Child" (or - How the Elephant Got it's Nose)
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our fun of the last month.
All our episodes are online at:
http://herecomeschristmas.net
or on your favourite podcast download site (Spotify, iTunes, Google, etc..)
Our best wishes for a happy new year to all
Rachel & Paul Branston
The Christmas truce, WWI - 1914. What really happened?
A special Christmas story for children aged 2 - 92.
Trevor's Christmas
The most famous Christmas poem by Clement Clarke Moore.
Wishing a very happy Christmas Eve to all our listeners.
Rachel & Paul
Christmas and Covid in the theatres. We talk with Katharine Woolley, the children's musical director of the West End show "Matilda" and Musical Director of "Waitress".
Remembering the other Humperdink, Jane Austen's Emma and when we first flew around the moon.
"Have Yourself a Merry . . . . . . . . "
The Nativity in a nutshell.
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What has the Winter Solstice got to do with Christmas?
Remembering Beatrix Potter.
How to track Santa with satellites and radar.
Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary.
"The Christmas Song"
Rev. Simon's continued delve into the Nativity Story.
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Will you be able to see the "Star of Bethlehem" this evening?
How did Phileas Fogg achieve his timely circumnavigation?
Song - "Just a Tale" (Howard Goodall)
A couple of tips for your lockdown, winter garden.
Simon's further Nativity thoughts.
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Remembering "It's a Wonderful Life"
Memories of loved ones no longer with us.
How each life touches many others - The Nicholas Branston Foundation.
Song - "Love Shines a Light"
Rev. Simon's continued Christmas story.
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The first human broadcast from Space
The Christmas little dung twig.
The launch of Titanic
King John's Christmas surprise
The new, slimline you for the new year?
Song - "When Christmas Comes to Town"
Rev. Simons Nativity thoughts continued .. . .
Why is Santa coming to Ubley this week?
Where does the Pink Panther live?
What happened when The Grinch Stole Christmas?
When Little Town of Bethlehem meets Star Trek.
. . . and Rev. Simon's further Nativity thoughts.
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Today - our three bruiser sheep. Did they have feelings too?
Remembering Christmas in the Wind of The Willows.
Compassion in World Farming
A song from an asinine nativity play.
The Christmas Nativity - next episode from Rev. Simon.
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What do you buy as a Christmas present for the person who has everything (or at least as much as a reasonable person could need) . . . we have the best answer.
Happy Birthday Ludwig Van B.
The Boston Tea Party
. . . and the latest instalment of Rev. Simon's Nativity.
Song - When a Child is Born / Peace on Earth.
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Today - Our Big Band Xmas song - on the day Glenn Millar disappeared (1944)
How to cope with the 12 days of Turkey.
Is it time to start your own cottage business?
The continuing story of the Nativity with Rev. Simon.
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Today, we remember this day in 1911 when Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole and the bravery of his British rivals, Cptn. Scott & team.
A Christmas parody by Richard Stilgoe
The Community Farm (Chew Magna) reveals the delights of fresh, organic veg and how you can get down and dirty by volunteering for a little, healthy farm work.
https://www.thecommunityfarm.co.uk
Song - "When a Child is Born"
The next episode of Rev. Simon's Nativity Story.
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Today - you'll get a buzz out of hearing about how we can help bees to save the world.
Then we have a "travelling" theme with music, poems and thoughts of the road to Bethlehem - and to the Moon!.
Rev. Simon Lewis continues his retelling of the Advent story.
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What is is like to spend Christmas with an earthquake?
Remembering Frank Sinatra's birthday and his Christmas songs.
The anniversary of Marconi's first transatlantic broadcast.
The continuing story of the Nativity.
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SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/show/7632ccLJOOjjJBB2Numjcf?si=d9vq5So9TC2CxnYNEP-Sxg
Today is all about kindness - particularly to our animal friends.
Singing Donkeys at the Sidmouth Sanctuary.
Talking Turkeys with Benjamin Zephaniah
https://benjaminzephaniah.com
Song - Little Donkey
and Rev. Simon's further thoughts on the Nativity Story.
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Today - Winning the Nobel Prize
Prize winner, Seamus Heaney's christmas poem.
Thoughts of a Brown Owl.
A 7th century song for Advent, brought up to date.
Rev. Simon's 10th instalment of the Christmas story.
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Today - how to have a SIMPLE Christmas - Less stress, more joy.
Helping children recover from traumas that may be crippling their lives.
https://www.trc-uk.org
Are you becoming Father Christmas?
Do You Hear What I Hear? - What does the song really mean?
Rev. Simon's next episode of the Nativity Story.
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Today - Two sons of Bristol, the dark and the light.
The fairness of Fair Trade and how to find the BEST Christmas gifts.
https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/
Song - Just another Star
A Poem for Advent
More Christmas jokes
And Rev. Simon's continued journey on the Christmas Story.
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Today - How to be a successful failure . . . with lessons from Thomas. Edison.
Songs from The Snowman & Gustav Holst
How a mongrel dog became the leading light for autistic children.
What do you put in a magic box?
Has the bottom dropped out of the mistletoe market with social distancing?
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In today's episode - Who was St. Nicholas and how did he get the job of Christmas courier?
A Christmas poem from John Betcheman - (and why should St. Pancras be grateful to him?)
Song - "Mary Did You Know?"
Living Later Life Well
with the Methodist Care Homes Association
Christmas Friendship Appeal
https://www.mha.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/christmas-friendship-appeal/
Episode 6 of the Nativity Story with Rev. Simon Lewis.
Matthew Chap 1. V 37
Are you DREAMING of a "White Christmas"? Today we talk about snow and why it means so much to us for - well maybe at least two or three days of the year.
Also - The RSPCA's work at Christmas
A snowy poem - and THAT song!
RSPCA's Christmas Rescue
https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/donate/christmas
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In today's programme we touch upon loneliness and how Christmas can make it better or worse.
Cheerful chat about Christmas Cards.
A wistful song wishing your darling a happy Chriustmas.
Tina tells us about her experience with the Salvation Army.
Part 4 of Rev. Simon Lewis's personal view of the Nativity Story.
Please contact us with any Christmassy news or views you have.
More info on what we talk about today . . . .
Royal British Legion - Christmas Shop
https://www.poppyshop.org.uk/collections/christmas-shop
The First Christmas Card
https://www.postalmuseum.org/collections/first-christmas-card/
The Salvation Army Chirstmas Appeal
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/support-salvation-army-christmas-3
Today's theme is "Shopping" because its the day when UK is officially out of "lockdown" and we can head for the shops again.
Pam Ayres' poem - "Goodwill to Men - Give us Your Money!"
"Hands Around The World"
https://hatw.org.uk
Song - "Silver Bells"
by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans - 1950
What would you like us to feature? Do let us know.
https://herecomeschristmas.net/contact/
Rachel & Paul Branston
Welcome to day two of our audio advent calendar.
Today - How to become a Donkey Guardian,
Today in history.
Making scrubs for the Covid carers
Rev. Simon Lewis's view of the Christmas Story - What does "gracious" mean . . . ?
Songs:
- How Far is it to Bethlehem
- Believe (from Polar Express)
FACEBOOK
https://fb.me/herecomeschristmas
BLOG
https://herecomeschristmas.net
The Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
The first episode of our Audio Advent Calendar, 2020. From the stables on the hill in Compton Martin, Somerset, where the donkeys and horses are gracious enough to let us share their home. We're Rachel and Paul Branston and this is our personal take on the run up to Christmas 2020.
With the help of our friends, today we hear about The Friends of Chernobyl's Children, what do you say when an angel pops up in your lounge to give you startling news? and a poem and song for the first day of advent.
Day by day through December we hope to share some fun and some meaningful titbits with a Christmas flavour.
FACEBOOK
https://fb.me/herecomeschristmas
BLOG
https://herecomeschristmas.net
Friends of Chernobyl's Children
http://www.focc.org.uk
Just a quick trailer for our forthcoming podcast which starts on Dec 1st. Just a promise that the real podcast will be a joke-free zone. (Well, mainly).
If you have a favourite Christmas poem, short story, song or tradition you think we should feature then please let us know at our website:
www.HereComesChristmas.net