Good bye 2015...

Wishing you all health and happiness for the coming year.

Essential Etiquette for Ladies and Gentlemen... 1800 style!

Hello, all! How was your Christmas? I hope it was as good as mine.

Well, in between all the seasonal fun and frolics, I finally managed to catch up on my reading. Among the other books I've devoured is this little gem:

Etiquette, Social Ethics and the Courtesies of Society.

Written in the 1800s, it's full of extremely "useful" advice for ladies of all ages, and provides a fascinating, often times amusing, glimpse into the lives of our ancestors. Enjoy!

My rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Wishing you all...

... a very happy and peaceful Christmas, 

ONLY 4 MORE SLEEPS!!!

Now that the kids are FINALLY asleep--before I lock myself away again in my writerly dungeon--I wanted to announce the winners of yesterday's Christmas subscriber give away:

1: D. Carl

2: Terry B.

3: Jennifer R.

4: Jillian G.

5: Marypres

Congratulations again, ladies! Check your in boxes 'cause there should be a $10 Amazon gift card waiting for each of you. Just make sure you spend it on something for yourself, okay?

Psst!

If you've already subscribed to receive my monthly newsletters, go and check your in-boxes because there are FIVE winners this month.

Who knows? This time it could be YOU!

Truly Awesome...

This performance of an 800-year-old Icelandic Hymn gave me major goosebumps.



Enjoy!





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It's a sign!

18 Signs You Were Destined To Be A Writer.

Most of these rang true for me. Well, apart from the Nancy Drew thing. I've always been more of a Famous Five girl. Oh, and I have no idea who Harriet the Spy is. But apart from that...

"...As soon as the movie was over you were frantically continuing the story in your own words. It usually involved you becoming best friends with the main character..."

Yep. I was also a HUGE Mary Sue!

Festive Fun...

Just in case you haven't heard about Portable North Pole, here's the link.
I don't know about the kids, but I for one always look forward to receiving my annual Christmas video from Santa.
Best of all, not only can you personalise the two-minute video, but it's completely FREE!

Enjoy!

Als I Lay on Yoolis Night | English Medieval Christmas Song (lyrics)

Christmas distilled...

 ...into one magical song. Enjoy!



Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you

(The Christmas Song. Lyrics: Bob Wells and Mel Torme.)

Books Make The Best Gifts...

I don't know about you, but whenever anyone asks me to give them a few pointers as to what I might like to receive for my birthday and/or Christmas, my mind goes totally blank.

Wh...huh...huh?

I just stand there, gaping at them like a slack jawed goldfish, frantically hoping for inspiration to smite me, but there's usually nothing but the sound of white noise, punctuated by the gentle intermittent *thuds* of fluff as it drifts about my brain and bounces off the inner surface of my skull. (Or it maybe its tumble-weed. Who can say? )

Now you can call me a boring old fuddy-duddy if you like, but I honestly don't want/need anything. Well, nothing that money can buy, anyway. Generally speaking, I'm a fairly contented puss.

But...

Just occasionally I come across something like this little beauty. Now I wouldn't mind finding this precious wee book in my stocking come Christmas morning, that's for darn sure!

So, tell me. If money was no object, what would you like Santa to bring for you?