Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.
- Brad Paisley
(Singer/song Writer)
Wishing you and yours all the best for a 2015 full of love and laughter, health and happiness.
31 Dec 2014
29 Dec 2014
JINGLE BELLS.
The Twelfth and final * book read for this year's Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge (Details of which can be found on the right side-bar): Visions Of Sugar Plums #4 ... Completed
JINGLE BELLS by NICK BUTTERWORTH.
SOURCE: A charity shop buy.
BACK COVER BLURB: Christmas Time.
A happy time, or so it should be. Why then, on this Christmas Eve, did two small mice look so unhappy?
Lottie and Jack have one big problem ... That Cat. How can the mice stop Angus the cat from spoiling everything? When they turn to the wise old rat, Ton Chee, they find the ideal solution.
FIRST SENTENCE: Christmas Time.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Ton-Chee was a rat. Actually, his real name was Gavin, but he liked to be called Ton-Chee.
MY THOUGHTS: Lovely to snuggle up and read with younger children. Jingle Bells is a delightful festive story made all the more special by the fact that it comes fastened with a bright red ribbon with a small bell.
* Whilst the challenge runs through until Twelfth Night this year I have decided to stop now due to the number of books awaiting reading/reviewing.
JINGLE BELLS by NICK BUTTERWORTH.
SOURCE: A charity shop buy.
BACK COVER BLURB: Christmas Time.
A happy time, or so it should be. Why then, on this Christmas Eve, did two small mice look so unhappy?
Lottie and Jack have one big problem ... That Cat. How can the mice stop Angus the cat from spoiling everything? When they turn to the wise old rat, Ton Chee, they find the ideal solution.
FIRST SENTENCE: Christmas Time.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Ton-Chee was a rat. Actually, his real name was Gavin, but he liked to be called Ton-Chee.
MY THOUGHTS: Lovely to snuggle up and read with younger children. Jingle Bells is a delightful festive story made all the more special by the fact that it comes fastened with a bright red ribbon with a small bell.
* Whilst the challenge runs through until Twelfth Night this year I have decided to stop now due to the number of books awaiting reading/reviewing.
27 Dec 2014
A CHRISTMAS VISITOR, A CHRISTMAS SECRET & CHRISTMAS, PRESENT.
Books nine, ten and eleven read for this years Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge (Details on the right side-bar): Christmas Tree level ... Completed
All three books (the synopsis of which can be found by clicking on the title) are short novellas sourced from the library thus completing the Christmas Mini Reading Challenge (Details on the right side-bar).
A CHRISTMAS VISITOR by ANNE PERRY.
FIRST SENTENCE: 'There, are yer right, Mr Rathbone, sir?' the old man asked solicitously.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 55}: In the morning the thaw had set in and everything was dripping. Much of the snow had melted and there were long streaks of black over the hills where the slopes were bare. Trees that had been hung with icicles yesterday were naked today, branches unencumbered lace against the sky.
MY THOUGHTS: Hmm, set at Christmas but other than the book title and descriptions of wintry scenes aplenty I'm really not sure why this is described as a Christmas novella.
An murder story come what I thought of as a morality tale that lacked any sort of depth. The authors tendency towards the repetitive annoying. Still, on a positive note, a quick read of only 130 or so pages and I did quite enjoy the Lake District setting.
A CHRISTMAS SECRET by Anne Perry.
FIRST SENTENCE: Clarice Corde leaned back in her seat as the train pulled out of the station in a cloud of steam.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 65}: She smiled at Mrs Boscombe, deliberately avoiding looking around the kitchen, though she had noticed the good linen sheets that were over the airing rail had been carefully cut down the worn-out middle, and turned to be joined at the sides - to give them longer life.
MY THOUGHTS: Another less than Yuletide read, once again apart from the title and the fact the book is set at Christmas there is nothing festive about it. Still, it worked well as a 'Cosy' mystery.
Though I did quite like the characters, Clarice more so than her Reverend husband, like previous books in the authors Christmas Novella collection (as well as the above book I read her A Christmas Promise for a previous Christmas Spirit challenge) the strength of this this one lay in the beautiful descriptions. Though that said I was disappointed in that, set in the late eighteen hundreds, there was surprisingly little to actually place it at this time.
CHRISTMAS, PRESENT by JACQUELYN MITCHARD.
FIRST SENTENCE: For weeks, he'd pestered himself over the fact that he couldn't remember whether this anniversary was the fourteenth or fifteenth.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 73}: An empty bed. A single line of pairs of shoes. Drawers and drawers filled with no scarves and unmated socks and a shower rod without bras drying, like miniature banners, on rows of hangers.
MY THOUGHTS: Essentially a story of relationships, a reminder of just how precious life is. In parts a real tear-jerker of a read (I recommend you have a box of tissues at the ready) though once again its only real connection with Christmas was that it was set two days before.
As short read (118 pages) for even a novella. Sadly as I find is so often the case this was simply too short, the ending rushed. But my main problem with the book was the reaction of some of the characters. OK, so the different ways grief hits people was arguably very well done but I inexplicably could not bear how remorselessly self absorbed the children were.
All three books (the synopsis of which can be found by clicking on the title) are short novellas sourced from the library thus completing the Christmas Mini Reading Challenge (Details on the right side-bar).
A CHRISTMAS VISITOR by ANNE PERRY.FIRST SENTENCE: 'There, are yer right, Mr Rathbone, sir?' the old man asked solicitously.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 55}: In the morning the thaw had set in and everything was dripping. Much of the snow had melted and there were long streaks of black over the hills where the slopes were bare. Trees that had been hung with icicles yesterday were naked today, branches unencumbered lace against the sky.
MY THOUGHTS: Hmm, set at Christmas but other than the book title and descriptions of wintry scenes aplenty I'm really not sure why this is described as a Christmas novella.
An murder story come what I thought of as a morality tale that lacked any sort of depth. The authors tendency towards the repetitive annoying. Still, on a positive note, a quick read of only 130 or so pages and I did quite enjoy the Lake District setting.
A CHRISTMAS SECRET by Anne Perry.FIRST SENTENCE: Clarice Corde leaned back in her seat as the train pulled out of the station in a cloud of steam.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 65}: She smiled at Mrs Boscombe, deliberately avoiding looking around the kitchen, though she had noticed the good linen sheets that were over the airing rail had been carefully cut down the worn-out middle, and turned to be joined at the sides - to give them longer life.
MY THOUGHTS: Another less than Yuletide read, once again apart from the title and the fact the book is set at Christmas there is nothing festive about it. Still, it worked well as a 'Cosy' mystery.
Though I did quite like the characters, Clarice more so than her Reverend husband, like previous books in the authors Christmas Novella collection (as well as the above book I read her A Christmas Promise for a previous Christmas Spirit challenge) the strength of this this one lay in the beautiful descriptions. Though that said I was disappointed in that, set in the late eighteen hundreds, there was surprisingly little to actually place it at this time.
CHRISTMAS, PRESENT by JACQUELYN MITCHARD.FIRST SENTENCE: For weeks, he'd pestered himself over the fact that he couldn't remember whether this anniversary was the fourteenth or fifteenth.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 73}: An empty bed. A single line of pairs of shoes. Drawers and drawers filled with no scarves and unmated socks and a shower rod without bras drying, like miniature banners, on rows of hangers.
MY THOUGHTS: Essentially a story of relationships, a reminder of just how precious life is. In parts a real tear-jerker of a read (I recommend you have a box of tissues at the ready) though once again its only real connection with Christmas was that it was set two days before.
As short read (118 pages) for even a novella. Sadly as I find is so often the case this was simply too short, the ending rushed. But my main problem with the book was the reaction of some of the characters. OK, so the different ways grief hits people was arguably very well done but I inexplicably could not bear how remorselessly self absorbed the children were.
23 Dec 2014
A SEASONAL SPAM BOX.
I'd always presumed the song The Twelve Days Of Christmas was the twelve days before Christmas. Seems I was mistaken.
Beginning on the 25th of December and running until January 5th though some traditions have it beginning the eve of December 25th (the first day of Christmas being the 26th) until the 6th of January.
Usually seen as a nonsense song with secular origins it has however been suggested that it is a sixteenth century instructional piece with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Christian Church, a device to teach the catechism to children, the true love of the song not an earthly suitor but a reference to God himself.
The ...
Partridge in a pear tree .... Jesus
Two turtle doves ............. The Old and New Testaments of the bible
Three french hens ........... The three virtues
Four calling birds ............. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Five gold rings ................. The first five books of the Old Testament
Six geese-a-laying ............ The six days of creation
Seven swans-a-swimming .. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids-a-milking ........ The eight Beatitudes
Nine ladies ladies dancing ... The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten lords-a-leaping ............. The ten commandments
Eleven piper piping .............. The eleven Faithful Disciples
Twelve drummers drumming . The twelve points of the doctrine in the Apostles' Creed.
Anyway, whether a mnemonic device to teach children OR simply a nonsense song I thought I'd do my own version using the actual contents of my spam box .... if not exactly in these numbers.
On the first day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
incontinence pads should I wee.
On the second day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the third day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the fourth day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked fireman
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the fifth day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
five cheap car leases
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked fireman
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the sixth day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
six detox facilities
five cheap car leases
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the seventh day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
seven bank accounts hacked
six detox facilities
five cheap car leases
four movies of the adult kind
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
eight credit card application forms
seven bank accounts
six detox facilities
five cheap car leases
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the ninth day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
nine herbal pills for slimming
eight credit card application forms
seven bank accounts hacked
six detox facilities
five cheap car leases
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the tenth day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
ten Lapland holidays
nine herbal pills for slimming
eight credit card application forms
seven bank accounts hacked
six detox facilities
five cheap car leases
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
eleven sexy Santa suits
ten Lapland holidays
nine herbal pills for slimming
eight credit card application forms
seven bank accounts hacked
six detox facilities
five cheap car leases
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my spam box had for me
twelve Boxing Day sale promotions
eleven sexy Santa suits
ten Lapland holidays
nine herbal pills for slimming
eight credit card application forms
seven bank accounts hacked
six detox facilities
five cheap car leases
four x-rated movies
three calendars of naked firemen
two Russian women looking for love
and incontinence pads should I wee.
HAPPY HOLIDAY
21 Dec 2014
WASSAILING AND THOMASING: CELEBRATING THE 21ST OF DECEMBER.
May the Solstice and turning of the wheel bring you love, peace and good fortune in the coming year.
Let us welcome the returning sun with hope and joy.
May you never thirst.
- A Wiccan Yuletide Blessing
(Source unknown)
Regarded by some traditions as New Year December 21st 2014 (dates vary from December 20th to December 24th) sees the celebration of Yuletide (from the old Nordic word Yul meaning wheel of fire) otherwise known as the Winter Solstice in the Northern hemisphere, the Summer Solstice in the Southern.
A time when bonfires were lit, when holly, ivy and mistletoe were hung, when children were escorted from house to house with gifts of apples and oranges representing the sun and groups of wassailers (wassail from the old Anglo Saxon 'Waes Hael' meaning Be well/whole/healthy) would visit bearing their Wassail cups and singing loudly of apples and other fruits to entice a good harvest the following year.
A time when bonfires were lit, when holly, ivy and mistletoe were hung, when children were escorted from house to house with gifts of apples and oranges representing the sun and groups of wassailers (wassail from the old Anglo Saxon 'Waes Hael' meaning Be well/whole/healthy) would visit bearing their Wassail cups and singing loudly of apples and other fruits to entice a good harvest the following year.
3 red apples,
3 oz brown sugar,
2 pints of either brown ale or apple cider,
1/2 a pint of either dry sherry or dry white wine,
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon,
1/4 teaspoon lemon peel,
white sugar to taste
orange slices to garnish
Core and heat apples with brown sugar and some of the ale/cider in an oven for 30 minutes,
Pour in a large pan, add cinnamon and lemon peel and shimmer on stove top for 5 minutes,
Add the rest of the alcohol at the last minute so it heats but does not evaporate,
Serve with white sugar to taste and orange slices for decoration if desired.
- Recipe for Yule Wassail
Traditionally the Yule log (harvested from the landowner's land or given as a gift but never bought) once dragged into the house and placed in a fireplace was decorated with seasonal greenery such as holly and ivy, doused in cider or ale and dusted with flour before being set ablaze with a piece of last years log specially saved for this purpose where upon it would blaze throughout the night and left to smoulder for the next twelve days.
Though now celebrated on the 3rd of July traditionally the Feast of St Thomas was celebrated on the 21st of December. A day, popular until Victorian times when it was seen as tantamount to begging, in which the poor of the parish went 'Thomasing' (Mumping or Doleing), visiting wealthier folk asking for food and/or household provisions such as coal and candles to see them through the winter months.
Christmas is coming,
The Goose is getting fat,
Please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny,
A ha'penny will do,
And if you haven't got a ha'penny
God bless you.
-Traditional English 'Thomasing' Nursery Rhyme
Typically a time that saw the making of Christmas pies which would be put aside until eaten at Epiphany. It is these Christmas pies made of meat flavoured with fruit that gave rise to today's sweet-mince pie made solely of fruit.
One and a half pounds of underdone roast beef,
two pounds of beef suet,
one pound of raisins, stoned,
one pound of sultanas, pickled,one and a half pound of apples,
one and a half pound of pears,
one pound of mixed peel,
three quarters of a pound of almonds, blanched and chopped,
thin peel of two oranges,
thin peel of two lemons.
- Ingredients for Christmas pie
Agnes Martha Marshall
Agnes Martha Marshall
(1855 - 1905)
Traditionally a time in which people took to hugging trees in the hope of a good harvest the following year. Alcohol, lots of alcohol, was consumed (in parts of Germany the 22nd of Germany is still known as Kotzmorgen, 'Hangover Morning') and it was said that if a unmarried girl was to sleep with her head at the foot of the bed that night she would dream of her future husband.
NB Whilst generally accepted as widely held beliefs details and spellings etc can vary from individual to individual, from tradition to tradition, from country to country.
19 Dec 2014
ONE CHRISTMAS NIGHT & FATHER CHRISTMAS AND THE DONKEY.
The seventh and eighth books read for this year's Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge (Details on the right side-bar): Visions Of Sugarplums #3 & 4.
ONE CHRISTMAS NIGHT by M CHRISTINA BUTLER (With illustratons by TINA MACNAUGHTON.)
SOURCE: A 2013 Christmas present.
BACK COVER BLURB: Christmas is near - but Little Hedgehog has forgotten to get presents for his friends, and his house isn't sparkly and Christmassy at all! Hedgehog sets off into the forest to find gifts, but the night is cold and the woods are growing dark ...
FIRST SENTENCE: It was nearly Christmas and Little Hedgehog just could not wait.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: At last the snow stopped, and a bright moon peeped above the trees. Pale blue shadows flitted here and there as Little Hedgehog huffed and puffed through the snow.
MY THOUGHTS: A lovely little story made all the more festive by the liberal use of glittery illustrations. What I really liked about this book was the fact that Little Hedgehog looked to nature to decorate his home and provide presents for his friends.
FATHER CHRISTMAS AND THE DONKEY by ELIZABETH CLARK.
SOURCE: A charity shop buy.
BACK COVER BLURB: It's a cold Christmas Eve and a lonely, lame donkey is looking for a warm place to rest. Suddenly he hears the sound of sleigh-bells and galloping hoofs. Who could it be but Father Christmas? And Father Christmas has thought of a special present for the old donkey, the best kind of present of all.
FIRST SENTENCE {Page 2}: It was Christmas Eve and the night was very quiet and still.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 18}: But mostly Father Christmas walked beside the donkey with his hand resting on the donkey's shoulder, just where the dark cross-mark showed on the shaggy, mouse-coloured coat.
MY THOUGHTS: A wonderfully traditional story, my favourite Christmas read of 2014 ... so far, made all the more charming by the simplicity of the story with its message that sometimes the best gifts are those that are given freely.
With beautiful illustrations simply done in monotone with a sparse use of silver hi-lighting there really is something incredibly memorising about the whole book.
ONE CHRISTMAS NIGHT by M CHRISTINA BUTLER (With illustratons by TINA MACNAUGHTON.)SOURCE: A 2013 Christmas present.
BACK COVER BLURB: Christmas is near - but Little Hedgehog has forgotten to get presents for his friends, and his house isn't sparkly and Christmassy at all! Hedgehog sets off into the forest to find gifts, but the night is cold and the woods are growing dark ...
FIRST SENTENCE: It was nearly Christmas and Little Hedgehog just could not wait.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: At last the snow stopped, and a bright moon peeped above the trees. Pale blue shadows flitted here and there as Little Hedgehog huffed and puffed through the snow.
MY THOUGHTS: A lovely little story made all the more festive by the liberal use of glittery illustrations. What I really liked about this book was the fact that Little Hedgehog looked to nature to decorate his home and provide presents for his friends.
FATHER CHRISTMAS AND THE DONKEY by ELIZABETH CLARK.SOURCE: A charity shop buy.
BACK COVER BLURB: It's a cold Christmas Eve and a lonely, lame donkey is looking for a warm place to rest. Suddenly he hears the sound of sleigh-bells and galloping hoofs. Who could it be but Father Christmas? And Father Christmas has thought of a special present for the old donkey, the best kind of present of all.
FIRST SENTENCE {Page 2}: It was Christmas Eve and the night was very quiet and still.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 18}: But mostly Father Christmas walked beside the donkey with his hand resting on the donkey's shoulder, just where the dark cross-mark showed on the shaggy, mouse-coloured coat.
MY THOUGHTS: A wonderfully traditional story, my favourite Christmas read of 2014 ... so far, made all the more charming by the simplicity of the story with its message that sometimes the best gifts are those that are given freely.
With beautiful illustrations simply done in monotone with a sparse use of silver hi-lighting there really is something incredibly memorising about the whole book.
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