vivdunstan

Big Finish's full cast audio version of The Box of Delights starring Derek Jacobi is temporarily reduced in download price from £39.99 to £23.99 until 23:59 UK time on 29th December 2024. This is a very good price for it. It sold out on CD format years ago. It's a very strong audio, which I enjoyed immensely. I wrote up a review of it on my personal blog. Recommended anyway. The download can be played in the Big Finish app for tablets and phones, or downloaded DRM-free as MP3 and M4B audiobook files. The download is over 6 hours of listening, including bonus extra features at the end of the main story.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, The Box of Delights much loved TV version was first shown in 1984 by the BBC, starring Devin Stanfield and Patrick Troughton. I adore it, and mention it here a lot!

It is getting a remastered new Blu-ray and DVD rerelease next week, including a very lengthy new "making of" documentary. But it's also going to be aired on the telly again, in the weeks running up to Christmas, starting with two episodes on the night of 7th December 2024. More details at the Radio Times article about the repeat. There is also a full page article about the programme's anniversary in next week's Radio Times print issue.

Back to the Urban Crow deck, and as usual my 3-card past/present/future spread.

Play / Anomaly / Anticipation.

There could be lots of interpretations of these cards. But looking at them I'm immediately reminded that I'm in a brief phase of slightly better health at the moment, and about to go very very downhill again in a few weeks time. So I've been having fun, and trying to make the most of it. Albeit hampered by my failed experimental immunosuppression dose change from May. Which still needs a few weeks to resolve itself since the dose went back in September (it takes up to 12 weeks to show the full effects).

Admittedly I've had post Covid vaccine flares so many times (9/9, with my 10th Covid vaccine due in a couple of weeks) that it's hardly an "anomaly" in my life! But it is still phenomenally disrupting each time, very distressing, leaving me extra incapacitated with devastating increased neurological symptoms for 3 long months at a time. It's a never-ending rollercoaster. But not one I'm willing to get off. I want my vaccine protection too much, and severely immunosuppressed me really needs it to get through Covid ok. Which we keep catching.

On plus I've got Christmas looming in the next few months, and that's what the last card today shouts out to me. I am not religious - was brought up vaguely Church of Scotland, but I've been agnostic for many years. I take after my Dad re this. However I love the mid winter festival that is Christmas, and the sense of snuggling down, in the warmth, with good food, and celebrations. So that's something to look forward to. Even if I will still be neurologically flaring very badly then.

This year we can also look forward to our annual pre-Christmas rewatch of 1984's TV Box of Delights being the new next month Blu-ray remastered version. So that will be a treat to carry us through to Christmas too.

OMG! The 1984 BBC version of "The Box of Delights" is coming out on Blu-ray in November! Including new special features, such as "Time And Tide – Making The Box of Delights". We rewatch this series every year in the run up to Christmas!

Tonight's reading. I may not be able to get to Stratford-upon-Avon to see the current RSC theatre production of The Box of Delights. But I can read the play script book!

Just arrived, the play script book of The Box of Delights by John Masefield. This is the version adapted for the stage by Piers Torday, originally staged at Wilton’s Music Hall in London, and now at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.