A Very Special Seasonal Blog

Happy CHRISTmas from fbb!

And also, in a more practical way,  from GoAhead Southern Vectis.

No early shutdowns, Sunday service tomorrow and New Years Day PLUS night buses. Just in case you don't believe it, here are TODAY'S schedules.

Hourly on three routes, two hourly to East Cowes and West Wight - all at normal fares. When fbb had a moan about early finishes and poor seasonal services in many places an anonymous (bus driver) complained that he had driven all morning on Boxing Day and only carried one passenger.

Isle of Wight seasonal services have been stable (and good) for many years and so business is growing. The times appear in the winter PRINTED timetable booklet (note for those operators who abandon paper timetables).  Details are thus available from mid September.

QED

Christmas Quiz - Next Ten

Answers on 27th December. MOST have appeared in fbb blogs - but beware, NOT ALL

1.Where was this queue for new service 1?

2. Where (district) is this NEW bus station -opened in 2018?

3. Where does Jodie Whitaker (Dr Who) live, according to US TV subtitles? ("correct" US spelling required!)

4. Which TV programme featured this "item" and what was it made of?

5. Which bus company runs the X26 to Thorpe Park?

6. In which station "can you see clearly now"?

7. Where could you once get to, through these doors?

8. Where have these not started yet (at time of writing this blog)?

9. What prophetic (but failed) bus industry "event" is featured here?

 10. Which station (long gone) was this?

And a tie breaker.

In what way did an R62 cause fbb some distress two months ago?

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 ADVENT CALENDAR 25 

But before the shepherds set off, there was even more angelic activity!

Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

 and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

The angels' song must be the most misquoted passage of Scripture. Christmas is most definitely NOT about "goodwill to all men"! (Although the idea is more noble) To receive (and pass on) the "goodwill" we have to "please God" and that is one mighty big toughie. But more about "pleasing God" after the "Big Day".

When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger.

But remember; the real Big Day wasn't very "big" at all.

It is what the baby became that was the big news of CHRISTmas.

It's not an fbb typo. it is an American poster! Maybe this is better:-

Oh little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep 
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shining
The everlasting light:
The hopes and fears of all
The years are met in thee tonight

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming
But in this world of sin:
Where meek souls will
Receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
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 Next quizzy blog : Wednesday 26th December