by Bernadette Nason | Dec 2, 2014 | Uncategorized
BABUSHKA — A CHRISTMAS STORY FROM RUSSIA Long ago, an old woman named Babushka lived in a tiny cottage far from the city. One snowy evening, just as she was preparing her meal, Babushka heard a knock at the door. She opened it to find three men standing before...
by Bernadette Nason | Dec 1, 2014 | Uncategorized
For the past two years, I’ve been able to return home to England for Christmas. This year, my schedule doesn’t not permit such a trip. There are many things I will miss, but on this first day of Advent, I share a picture of Winchester Cathedral, one of the...
by Bernadette Nason | Nov 26, 2014 | Uncategorized
Most people have heard of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” Here is a lesser known O. Henry tale I’ve enjoyed sharing over the years. I’ve shortened it a bit for the telling, but it’s worth reading to the end for the twist! Stuffy...
by Bernadette Nason | Mar 10, 2014 | Uncategorized
On Thursday 8th March 1984, just ten days after I arrived in Libya, a group of AGIP secretaries enjoyed the pleasure of a day-trip to Sabratha to visit the ruins of an ancient Roman city of archeological interest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982) about sixty...
by Bernadette Nason | Dec 22, 2013 | Uncategorized
Everyone was afraid of Sister Mary. She was American and that was scary enough to an English child who’d never met an American before, and “Mayen, shay taweckd funny.” She wore the full black nun’s habit with white around the face and a long...
by Bernadette Nason | Dec 14, 2013 | Uncategorized
Although I grew up with the Coventry Carol, hearing it sung most Decembers by the Winchester Cathedral Choir or at the Mayor’s Advent Carol Concert, I didn’t sing it myself until the State Theatre’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL in 2005. And I didn’t...
by Bernadette Nason | Dec 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
On the Seventh Day of Advent — SANTA CLAUS: THE DEFINITIVE SURVEY From The Guardian, 24th December 1991 Armed with just a sleigh and a reindeer, he allegedly delivers toys to children the world over. Using computers, we assess if it is physically possible. Do...
by Bernadette Nason | Dec 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Eight Who Played Everyone except Scrooge I’ve been in five different productions of Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL since arriving in America in 1992, excluding my own solo presentation which is in its fifth manifestation. Each has its own special...
by Bernadette Nason | Dec 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
“A CHRISTMAS CAROL” by Charles Dickens (an excerpt) Scrooge and the Ghost passed on, invisible, straight to Scrooge’s clerk’s; and on the threshold of the door the Spirit smiled, and stopped to bless Bob Cratchit’s dwelling with the...
by Bernadette Nason | Dec 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
I was brought up Roman Catholic in Winchester, England. Like all Catholic families, we had various traditions leading up to Christmas — the Advent Calendar, the list for Father Christmas (a.k.a. Santa Claus), and the putting together of the Creche. Actually,...
