The ADVENT of Stan: Day 24
One more sleep to go!
It seems like things will turn out. But is everything as it seems?
Then, as mysteriously as it had all begun, Stan hears another announcement
"We apologise for this interruption to our transmission.
The fault has now been rectified.
We trust no inconvenience has been caused."
. 33/
To recap …
And now for something a little different. Some of you who follow me on Twitter will have seen the tweet thread below. Just letting you know that I’ll be tweeting and (depending on feedback to this mailout) perhaps Substacking a kids book for adults that I created 25 years ago, one page at a time. Like an adent calendar.
THE ADVENT OF STAN
First some explanation
It was 1986
The cold war was grinding on
Kylie and Madonna were still 'trending' (though we didn't really use that word)
TVs' 'vertical hold' still went on the blink
One day a character and a cartoon popped into my mind
. 1/
And flowers growing out of one's head (a moral panic of the time — along with nuclear armageddon …)
. 9/
And then stan went on the blink.
So welcome to THE ADVENT OF STAN, my advent calendar for the 25th anniversary of the coming into the world of my (hitherto unpublished) cartoon story book
STAN GOES ON THE BLINK
________________________
. 10/
As Stan awakes one morning from unsteady dreams, he finds that his vertical hold has gone COMPLETELY BUNG!
To be continued … (ie tomorrow, and the next day and so on)
Will things work out for our (mildly) anxious but (tentatively) opinionated hero?
Find out by Christmas!! 11/
Simple things, like eating, become a near impossibility
(What will happen? Will things turn out for Stan?
Or will he go from rack and ruin? What more could go wrong?
Find by Christmas by following this Advent Calendar Thread!!)
. 12/
The media invade
Stan becomes the object of mass interest, pity, disgust, indignation and apathy.
Many onlookers remain sceptical
. 20/
Stan’s colour becomes too vivid
He becomes known as a colourful eccentric but feels nauseous most of the time
. 22/
Then …
Following the election of the Hawke Socialist Government, for a third ‘historic’ term, Stan’s contrast goes on the blink.
Stan’s colour leaches into the greyness all around
. 23/
Stan visits a doctor who prescribes bandages, a psychiatrist who prescribes shock treatment
— although Stan insists he is already in a state of shock —
and a TV mechanic who suggests a new aerial
. 24/
While lying in bed that night, Stan hears the national anthem ringing in his head; and then a voice saying:
"We hope you’ve enjoyed your viewing, but shortly Stan will cease transmission".
Despite ‘growing concern’ … Stan nods off.
. 28/
Stan awakes (or so it seems) in a cold sweat.
“THE BRIGHTNESS CONTROL” blurts Stan in panic.
“THE BRIGHTNESS CONTROL”
. 30/
And sure enough, at breakfast, the lights begin to go out on Stan.
He becomes a mere shadow of his former self.
His will to remain ‘on’ ebbs away.
. 31/
