Christmas presents…for me!
So, my mum rings me up –
Mum: I ordered you this thing online, it looked ceramic but now it’s here it seems powdery and cheap. Do you still want it?
Me: Err, what? Sure, OK.
Mum: It looks like it came from a pound shop, but it really didn’t. I got it for your kitchen, it’s kind of has a 1970’s sci-fi theme.
Me: Ooohh, sounds interesting. Is it a chalk Darlek?
Mum: No. It’s not that interesting. Or exciting. I just wanted to warn you that it’s not very good.
And so that’s why I have been pre-Christmas shopping FOR MYSELF. The older I get the more I love Christmas, and for different reasons. It’s the decorations, the lights, the cosy dark nights, candle light, music and food. Although I will be working over Christmas, the following four books and all the snowy atmosphere between their pages will make my Yuletide perfect.
I do love a highwayman/crinoline/stately home-filled Georgette Heyer, and so very much looking forward to this murder mystery set in the time of tweed suits, house parties with Bertie Wooster-like people.
I am halfway through this, and apart from the antique casual racism that is often found in British Library Crime Classics, it’s wonderful. Told in third and first person, there’s a moment in it that really touched me. The killer is looking out on a very early, dark Christmas morning, and he can see across to the servant’s quarters. He watches a girl at the her window opening a small gift, and looking out at the snow, having her own little Christmas morning far from her family, before the hard work of the day begins. I loved that moment, and his envying of her peaceful face. She has to work, she’s away from home, but she takes a quiet moment to feel festive.
I love the historical customs of Christmas, such as the little a pastry Jesus on top of a pie (which when I made myself looked like mummified jelly babies that had been in unfortunate accidents). I love making things from greenery, both the fake and the holly from the garden. I also love this Anne Boleyn tree decoration I have ordered, also as a present to myself to make up for the lack of chalk Darleks in my life. Who needs a fairy when you can have a beheaded queen?
I ordered one of the above books from Amazon and wanted free delivery so picked another book to bring up the total. I’m actually slightly obsessed with A Christmas Carol, I know large chunks of it off by heart, so this could either be just my thing or rage-inducing blasphemy. We shall see…
Lucy
Sarah
Nothing says Christmas like a chalky Dalek! All these books sound fab, and very festive. I’m a bit disappointed that Anne Boleyn’s head is still attached though, I think they should have used velcro or something for a more authentic representation of our former Queen (Tudor velcro, obvs)
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Totes 😉 Jimmy something together from prickly weeds that stick to clothes and cotton wool, they’d have had that in Tudor times. And she could have also come with her own specially-sent-for executioner with sword accessory. Ooh! The marketing possibilities! 😀
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A chalky Dalek *does* sound fun. And the Meredith book is a fun read! 🙂
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I’ll be disappointed if it’s not something as weird and terrible as she’s made out! And yes indeed, I can see me re-reading that at future Christmasses.
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I love the way your mum plays down the gift so you don’t get too excited in advance. Good idea to treat yourself with some gifts that you DO want. You’ve given me an idea….
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No one knows how to pick gifts for us quite like us 😉 She made the present sound to terrible I’m actually looking forward to it based on its potential comedy value. If it’s actually nice or useful I’ll be disappointed! 😉
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I’m all for snucking a few self chosen Xmas gifts under the tree to avoid disappointment. I love the Anne Boleyn decoration, but I’m with Mme Bibi on the velcro!
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For £50 you can get all the wives and a Henry. It would be so cool if each wife had an accessory or theme of her death. And if they came with a Barbie Dream House-style Tower of London I’d never get any work done 😉
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Oh my God – yes! That would be both awesome and a massive black hole for all spare time for evermore. Someone really ought to knit that…. 😉
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Lovely gifts! I just do a very specific book wish list and then also mention the vouchers I like, and usually do OK. No chalky daleks here as far as I know …
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I am all for specific book lists, my daughter is very good in that respect. I also think it’s a fair amount of money, many books I want are an average paperback price, which is is less frightening price-wise than many most of what’s on the high street! 😉
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What a lovely looking bunch of books. Although the last one could be a bit risky. I am hoping to steal my mum’s copy this Christmas eve and read a little of it before bed…should jet lag allow.
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Ahh, home for the holidays 🙂 I do hope you listen to Christ Rea while in the car from the airport. And you were right, couldn’t finish the last one, it had too many anachronisms. It’s got police officers in London wearing police caps before the Robert Peel had a chance to form the MET,
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I think I end up buying myself as many presents for my others while Christmas shopping (sometimes the same things!) It’s important to treat one’s self during the holidays as well, right?
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It is indeed! I like to see those little things i get myself while shopping as a reward for surviving going shopping 😉
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