The Sidewinder, a US Army prototype that ended up in terrible trouble in October 7th 1965’s “Thunderbirds: Pit Of Peril”, as portrayed by the master of the fantastical cutaway Graham Bleathman.

Self Portrait, Milan, 1908, by Umberto Boccioni.

“Take Cover - Travel Underground”, by Kathleen Stenning, 1925.

Mittens & Pants are beginning to explore the outside world, as you can see in these shots by The Woman To Whom I Am Her Husband.

Good morning! It’s Tuesday December 23rd 2025! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go. (On sale during this very season in 1975, a mere 50 years ago, the first - of five - Space 1999 Annual.) You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.

So that was Monday December 22nd 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (almost) here. So it goes.. (Dated this very day in 1950, Eagle #37 with its Xmas cover strip featuring Dan Dare’s worried cast mates by Frank Hampson.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

So that was Monday December 22nd 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (almost) here. So it goes.. (Dated this very day in 1950, Eagle #37 with its Xmas cover strip featuring Dan Dare’s worried cast mates by Frank Hampson.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

If I’m ever around Kensington, London in 1967, Tardis ownership willing, then I’m off to the all-night Christmas On Earth gig: Hendrix, The Who, The Move, The Pink Floyd & a host of other acts. A splendid time is promised, if not exactly guaranteed, for all. Mind you, it’s going to be chilly.

Miles Davis, 1985, by Anthony Barboza.

A splendid cover by Brian Bolland for April 7th 1993’s Time Out, dangerous Dinosaurs being in vogue due to the hype for the upcoming release of “Jurassic Park”.

RIP Chris Rea.

“Keep Warm - Travel Underground”, by Kathleen Stenning, 1925.

So this morning I’ve been listening to the music of 1970. Which seems like yesterday to me, but is, of course, 55 years ago. It’s the equivalent, I fear to note, of somebody in 1970 playing crackling tracks from 1915 and thinking how fresh & interesting they sound.

Good morning! It’s Monday December 22nd 2025! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go. (Dated this very day in 1979, a mere 46 years ago, 2000AD #144, with its gorgeous cover homaging Close Encounters by the great Brian Bolland.) You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.

So that was Sunday December 21st 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onward ever onwards. (Out this very month in 1993, Deadline #58 with its cover featuring Tank Girl & Booga by Brian Bolland.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

Michael Whalen’s cover design for the special limited edition/first edition of Stephen King’s 1980 novel “Firestarter”.

It’s April 1985 and HMV are having a 12 inch single sale. I wish I’d been able to afford them all. (Or nearly all.) If I could go back in time but only get 3? Grace Jone’s Private Life. Madonna’s Like A Virgin. Bauhaus’ Bela Lugosi's Dead. Even then oldies but very, very goodies.

“Falls City, Nebraska at Christmas”, by John Falter: the cover to the edition of the Saturday Evening Post Cover published on this very day in 1946.

UK comics great Martin Asbury’s cover for 1981’s “The Adventures Of Thin Lizzy”, a widely advertised greatest hits set. As part of the campaign, Asbury created other pieces including a press ad in April 16th 1981’s Smash Hits, with its gorgeous cartoon of Phil Lynott in his “just a cowboy” persona.

"Carol Singers", a Claughton Pellew wood engraving from December 19th 1930’s Radio Times. A masterpiece, I feel entirely safe in suggesting.

Good morning! It’s Sunday December 21st 2025! Another day here already? Crikey! Onwards we go. (Out this very month in 1985, a mere 40 years ago, Love and Rockets #15, with its cover featuring Rena Titañon by the great Jaime Hernandez.) You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.

So that was Saturday December 20th 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onward ever onwards. (Dated this very day in 1969, TV21 #13 with its cover featuring Star Trek by Alan Willow.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

So that was Saturday December 20th 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onward ever onwards. (Dated this very day in 1969, TV21 #13 with its cover featuring Star Trek by Alan Willow.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

Thunderbird 1 returning to its subterranean base on Tracy Island after another successful life-saving mission. FAB!

"Carol Singers", a Claughton Pellew wood engraving from December 19th 1930’s Radio Times. A masterpiece, I feel entirely safe in suggesting.

Absolutely charming Christmas promo shot of The Supremes - Mary Wilson, Florence ‘Flo’ Ballard & Diana Ross - as shot at EMI Records HQ in London in October 1964 during the groups first trip to the UK .

Lucille Ball, 1944, by Harry Warnecke.

Good morning! It’s Saturday December 20th 2025! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go. (Dated this very day in 1986, a mere 39 years ago, 2000AD #501, with its cover featuring Bad Company by Brett Ewins.) You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.

So that was Friday December 19th 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onward ever onwards. (Out this very month in 1992, Deadline #36 with its splendid cover featuring Blur by Jamie Hewlett.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

Charles Saxon’s wonderfully evocative wintery cover to December 19th 1959’s The New Yorker.

I’ve such fondness for Nick Cardy’s 60s/70s DC Comics covers. And, by the by, I look at these - from 1972/3’s “Wanted” and think, what a good few pages of a colouring book they would make too.

I’m at the iPlayer listening to Tom Lehrer’s Desert Island Discs from 1980.

Yvonne Gregory, in the “dazzle” dress she wore to 1919’s Chelsea Art Club Dazzle Ball at London’s Royal Albert Hall, by her husband Bertram Park.

Two list-y things I love when the holiday season comes around: ploughing through the Xmas TV mags & making a “my-fav-tracks-of-the-year” playlist. It’s been a good year for music. But then, if you can only keep your ears open, & gawd knows that can be a challenge, they’re all good years for music.

Good morning! It’s Friday December 19th 2025! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go. (Dated today in 1953, The Beano #596, with its cover by Dudley D. Watkins and, inside, the very first appearance of Leo Baxendale’s Minnie The Minx.) You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.

So that was Thursday December 18th 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onward ever onwards. (Out this season some 52 years ago, 1974’s Marvel Annual with its Spider-Man cover by Geoff Champion.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

So that was Thursday December 18th 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onward ever onwards. (Out this season some 52 years ago, 1974’s Marvel Annual with its Spider-Man cover by Geoff Champion.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

The really rather amazing Chrysler Building, New York c. 1930-1931, by Margaret Bourke-White.

“Buy Season Tickets Here - Available Between This Station And Any Other Station Until 19th Jan”, by Jeffyres, 1929.

A young Camarasaurus, feeding on “water greens”, by William Stout, whose fascination for dinosaurs always shines through.

Out this very day in 1966, The Observer’s Sunday magazine with cover stars Thunderbird 1 & Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward. Inside were articles about, among others, the Anderson TV shows, Doctor Who, and those darn Daleks.

Good morning! It’s Thursday December 18th 2025! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go. (On sale this very season just 45 years ago, 1981’s Judge Dredd Annual, with its cover by the great Brian Bolland.) You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.

So that was Wednesday December 17th 2025. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onward ever onwards. (Out this very month in 2008, the year’s DC Holiday Special with its fabulous Frank Quitely cover.) And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, you gentle sentients.

As somehow who has always struggled with Christmas, I respectfully declare: Into the sea with Dr Grouch! (From 1940’s Superman’s Christmas Adventure by Jerry Siegel & Jack Burnley.)

Billy Wilder, bless him, standing in front of a mural in Hollywood, 1985, by Abe Frajndlich.

The first four covers for the Misty Annuals from 1979-1982, with art by Shirley Bellwood.

As somehow who has always struggled with Christmas, I respectfully declare: Into the sea with Dr Grouch! (From 1940’s Superman’s Christmas Adventure by Jerry Siegel & Jack Burnley.)

“Brighter London For Theatreland - Travel By Underground”, by Harold Sandys Williamson, 1924.

The cover of the sheet music for The Who’s 1967 single “Pictures Of Lily”, with photography by Chris Morphet.

A 1940 character design sheet featuring crack reporter Lois Lane for the fabulous Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons, with a particularly fetching Aviatrix costume on display.