The Retro Cards of Christmas

Spectrum plus? Bah, you soft southerners. Up here we couldn't even afford a rubber key Spectrum. One year all me and my entire family had to eat for Christmas dinner was the membrane kebyoard from a ZX81 and even then it was in kit form.

 

We were so poor we had to beg Tesla to warm a wire up for us...

 

Something retrospectively EuphORIC came sliding through the Baz n Bev biome earlier, folks...





MANY THANKS, DAVE and VIRGINIA.

I categORICally deny that I am in any way addicted to ZAPs, PINGs etc from a certain little underdog machine.

I refute these allegations(!!)

 

Ciao Baz, I'm so glad that the card has reached you before XMas day!
I'd like to state that the picture and design of the card are entirely by Virginia, whereas the "lyrics" are mine...
So now you know who's to blame (me) and who's to praise (Virgi).
And no, we didn't try a pun on your presumed addiction to Oric-branded stuff!

 

Lovely card David & Virginia, baz always appreciates anything Oric although there's a C64 in every pic from him now, perhaps he's heading to the dark side..

Baz you are my son!!

 

Thanks, Paul. Virginia (my littlest daughter, although she's 19 already) was so excited to design the card for Andy. She always appreciated a lot the ones I received in the few past years from Baz. AlexDrito (i.e. "lil' Alexander" in Spanish) is one of her zillions invented characters. I use it here on AOC and of course, he shows himself on Baz card to bring the umpteenth Oric Atmos computer.

P.S. I'm so sorry for the typo in the text, Baz - "machines" - I should have double-checked the card before shipping.

 

David, andy can only read the word Oric, he won't notice

 

A great artistic effort went into that card and I thank and applaud the work that went into it, so thank you Daz and young Virginia. It's a winning combination - retro dad and design-inspired daughter. I do like the Lil Alexander logo character that you use as your avatar and features on my retro Christmas card, David. Greatest of all is the cute little Atmos under the tree - I wonder how many good little boys and girls will get one under their tree this Christmas?! (0.25 - probably!)

 

Hey oops, I just detected some retro cards of Christmases past.... here we go with 2-3 designed by Robofruit Alan Robinson. See what you make of his artistic efforts, folks and if he's watching tonight - hope you're keeping well Al and do drop us all a line on here sometime with news of your latest mods, matey.

 

Well, this just reached me from the charming city of Hull. Who could send this?

https://nextcloud.nablasolutions.ch/index.php/s/LzSzYQiW6AtwcMe

Amazing concept and great humour as ever, Baz! You know, I really appreciate it! Virginia and Carla saw the XMas card and said "Congratulations to Andy & Bev!". Thank you, happy holidays!

p.s. How do you insert images here? Can't find a simple way. Image URL, copy & paste?

 

Wonderful, David!
So glad you like it and it meets with hilarity and your family's approval as I know your girls are very artistic and talented so glad they like our "modest" missive!!
Excellent - as ever, thank you for letting me know it's with you and that you're all well. I just wish I could have sent you guys overseas a little gift but do you know the CHEAPEST mail quote I got for sending a small item to Switzerland (and the USA) was £20. I can't believe just how prohibitive postal charges are now (will it get worse after Brexit - most probably).
Never mind, have a cosy Christmas, folks - all the best - Baz & Bev.

 

Baz the Oric Elf has been very busy this year. One of his fantastic Atari Christmas cards has made it's way north of the border to me

Andy, thanks very much to both you and Bev. The card is great and has taken pride of place amongst the few other (all non retro) cards received so far.

Happy Christmas to everyone when it comes. Anyone have some retro computing leisure planned seeing as we are being advised to have a quiet one at home?

 

LOL!

Glad it made it through the barren borders, low-lying lochs, heather-filled highlands and all the way past your Trossachs, Al, to make it through to you, buddy!

As you say, this year, we will all mainly be... STAYING PUT so what better way of passing the time than chucking another ZX81 tape on the fire and booting up some great software on your 800XL, CPC464, Atmos, Dragon or even your... BREADBIN?

Yep, I reckon this wee beastie will be getting a fair share of ferric fun thrown its way, pal:



What's your Christmas (retro) schedule looking like, Al?

 

Sounds like a solid plan you have Andy

I'm going to show the old A8 some love of course but have a couple of other machines on the go. I swapped my Amiga for a Sega Saturn with SD card fitted so will be spending time getting that all configured and putting in a few laps of Power Drift and the other Sega arcade racers - something the Saturn excels at.

I've replaced the genuine Amiga with an emulator on the pc, but I might try and pick up a cheap A500 or A600 to play Sensi, Kick Off and Arcade Pool.

And of course hopefully get a special delivery of an Amstrad 6128 from Richie at some point

Have you picked up any of the Zzap64 annuals from the last couple of years Baz? Even for a non-C64 guy like myself they make a very entertaining read.

 

Hi, Al.
Richie put me in touch with some guys who do lots of those Zzap 64 and special Speccy Crash digi pdf type publications and to be honest, I've barely scratched the surface, so like you say - there must be heaps of good reading (and gaming) out there for me to catch up with.
I recall Robofruit Al being a major Sega Saturn fan so he might be able to chew the fat with you on that console (I once accompanied him to a retro fair in Leeds and he cut loose and snapped a bargain boxed Saturn up with accessories for approx £30-40).
As Paul mentioned a few weeks back, we will have to get another virtual meet online arranged and show off what tasty titbits we've been keeping busy with on the retro front and once more, wind back the years and recall Christmases past - when talk of Pandemic would be the title of a new game for the Commodore 64!
Have a giggle at this, if you haven't seen it yet, and all the best with that 6128 when it arrives.
Cheers, fella.

 

Andy, that youtube video. Hilarious and scary true at the same time!

 

Some more retro cards (and cats) of Christmases past and present...







Eeeh, it's alright for some...

 

Dare not show my monster, Felix. Me and Serena have to give him a bath as he normally is black and white but the underside of him because he's long hair is yellow. He's too scruffy looking for a pic

As for puss in front of fire, that's the spirit, he / she is getting a bit long in the tooth, you can see like with mine all the greys on the back legs. Laid out flat is the order of the day in a nice warm place, that's what felix is doing as I type..And tonight he gets to see his mum, well Serena ...

 

LOL! I'm sure Felix is a beaut, buddy and you, Cindy and Serena must enjoy having him around.

My sis came round tonight to see how Bev is coping and she couldn't believe how big and beautiful this creature is.

She is thinking of starting up his own FAN CLUB! (Poor Bev didn't get much of a look in)

Here is the beast featuring on the cover of his own 2020 Christmas card range...

 

He's a cutie for sure...

 

Hey, just got this Chrimbo card in the post today - good old Alan Robofruit Robinson created this, fellas:





I've never seen that Atari Christmas Club retro art before but maybe you fellas have?

Anyway, that inverse Oric could be printed out and stuck on your neighbour's door, Paul - that would unnerve em!

 

Christmas day is almost upon us, so I thought I'd leave a card for all of you and your families here.



Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year to all of you

 

The same to all from us lot but to almost wrap up this miserable year something strange happened, no not the just announced trade deal but KFC are releasing a games console, and its got a bit at the bottom to keep your food warm...

Late April fool, sadly no, its real....Seems quite powerful too...

 

Happy Christmas fellow Atarians, to you and all your families. Stay safe and enjoy

 

Ho-ho-ho! I received my Christmas card from you, today, @Andy Barr , very funny and in time for the general holiday season is a plus this year too!

Thank you and Happy Holidays to you and all on the Owner's club.

Matt

P.S. I suppose I should post a photo of it...I better go dig it out of the bin!