Thursday 19 December 2013

Bad Santa Blog Hop 2013

I've written some happy and jolly Christmas stories now time to turn the tables and write a slightly darker tale for Ruth Long's Bad Santa Blog Hop 2013...


After reading some of the other entries I don't think my Santa is completely bad, but just imagine what it would be like being married to him...

Favourite Night of the Year




“I know it’s wrong to speak ill of the dead…”


“Oh Mrs Claus, he’s not…?” The doctor interjected, looking up from her notes with some concern showing on her tired face. This was the last appointment before the holidays.


“No just wishful thinking on my part. He really is the most insufferable man this time of year, I keep imagining a Sleigh crash, that ice on the North Pole corner can be really slippery. Or maybe a heart attack, his cholesterol levels go through the roof at Christmas with all that food left out for him that he insists on eating. And don’t get me started on his alcohol consumption. He’ll be back tomorrow with a massive hangover, elasticated Santa suit at full stretch, a few buttons popped off, crumbs in his beard, slumped in front of the fire, it’s not a pretty sight I can tell you.


“He never has any time for me.


“And once he’s slept that off its straight back to work the next day. With that infuriating jolly smile on his face as if the night before never happened.” She wistfully stared out of the window.


“Do you have a family Mrs Claus? Do they share your concerns?”


“We never had our own kids but he’s sort of adopted everyone else's. Keeps a real good eye on them. Writes a list in his diary sat in bed at night “naughty or nice”. There’s nothing like hearing about some of those tearaways to put you right off having your own brood.


“Quite honestly who’d want to bring children into the world these days?  And they are so demanding. I want this, I want that, no wonder my husband has to work so hard.”


Mrs Claus let out a huge sigh.


“Well I can always prescribe you some little pills,” said the doctor, “just to get you over this rough patch or I can book you in for another chat same time next year.”


“Just a chat would be good,” she didn’t really have time to wait in the pharmacy with all those sick people to pick up tablets. 


Everyone loved Christmas Eve, Mrs Claus was no exception, this was her favourite night of the year, she had the whole bed to herself, nice box of chocolates, bottle of wine and a box set of Huge Grant DVDs to watch with no Santa beside her snoring, farting and nicking all the blankets!


“I’ll see you same time next year. It’s always good to get it off my chest. Merry Christmas doctor!” and with a smile she almost skipped out of the room.

435 words

Monday 16 December 2013

Race the Date #7 - aluminium

Well I am now officially in a Christmassy mood, last week I put up my tree and posted my cards, I've been reading Tales by the Tree before I fall asleep with Christmas thoughts in my head...

So it's not really surprising I've come up with a Christmas inspired tale for this weeks Race the Date challenge.




The Prompt: Aluminum (be it foil, transparent, or something else)



Silver Stars


Millie was determined to create the perfect Christmas, she may be a single mum now and this Christmas would inevitably be tinged with tears but there was no way she was letting her children down, this would be one of the best family Christmas ever.

For weeks she had been making decorations for the house aided by the girls, covered in glitter, laughter filling the house. Then once they had been tucked up in bed Millie had stayed up late into the night, stitching tiny dolls clothes for presents and baking Christmas cookies.

Finally Christmas day had arrived, she had not slept at all last night and here she was at five a.m. already in the kitchen preparing vegetables and getting the turkey ready for the oven. She wanted everything in order before the girls woke up.

She reached for the roll of aluminium foil to cover the turkey and was dismayed when she pulled it only to discover a few inches left in the box, nowhere near enough to cover even their small bird.

Her emotions bubbled up overwhelming her, she wanted to scream, stamp her feet and cry.

As she prepared to let out a string of expletives her mouth froze in a silent “Oh!”

“What is it mummy?”

Two little girls stood in the kitchen doorway in pink pyjamas.

Twinkling Christmas stars made from silver foil hung over their head. The entire kitchen sparkled with all their homemade glitter but it was the little girls’ faces that shone the brightest.

Suddenly Millie knew Christmas would be perfect!

Friday 13 December 2013

Tales by the Tree



I have some amazing online writing friends and between us we have put together a fabulous anthology of Christmas stories called Tales by the Tree.

It is available from Amazon as both an eBook and a proper book that you can wrap up for the perfect Christmas present! A delight for anyone who loves a good story.


As it says on the back of the book “gather around the tree with a collection of 75 tales from 40+ authors”

Note that word “author” – I am now a proper published author and have even created my own author page on Amazon! Which is crazy and unreal and I can’t quite take it in.


Tales by the Tree with one of it's authors!
Many thanks go to Laura, Marissa, Nick and Ruth our wonderful editors who have worked tirelessly to get this to happen. And I must also thank Blue Harvest Creative who have done a marvellous job with the cover and book design.

Have I mentioned it would make a great Christmas gift?

And if you need convincing any more let me tell you that all proceeds from the sale of the book are going to Mount Rose Elementary School library in Reno, Nevada.

Now just to whet your appetite for more Christmas stories here’s my own tale for the book entitled…


The Angel who didn't like Christmas


“Tinselitis?” Angel Anna raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

“I’ve got a sick note, signed by Dr Laura. Had all the tests confirmed.” His nose was already starting to twitch, must be that fake twinkling Christmas tree strategically placed to make Anna’s desk look festive.

She tapped efficiently on her laptop. “’Tin-sel-i-tisan allergy to tinsel, glitter and sparkle.’ Such a shame this time of year.” She said without a flicker of sympathy.

“So if you’ll just stamp this letter, verify that I’m too sick for duty I can be getting off home to recover.” Jeff had it all planned out, a quiet Christmas in front of the TV for a change. He hated being an angel this time of year.

The telephone rang just as he sneezed.

Anna listened intently to the voice at the other end, nodding her head. Jeff found a handkerchief in his pocket and blew his nose with more force than was necessary to make the point that he was still here and he was sick.

“It seems the Big Man upstairs has a mission for you.” Anna put down the phone while flashing Jeff her sunniest smile.

“I can’t go down there at Christmas; you know how crazy those humans get.”

“Special orders.” She hit the send button on her laptop and he was on his way.

It was angel rush-hour, thousands of them were gliding up and down the heavenly staircases off to work, each one chattering loudly, all decked out in their shiny best. Sequins twinkled in every direction like millions of eyes conspiratorially winking at him. 

He shuddered, feeling hot and cold all at once. He should be in bed sleeping off this fever but it was impossible to escape. Pushed along in the melee he was trapped and descending earthwards.

He sneezed some more which at least kept his fellow angels at a distance giving him some much needed space to breathe.

“Special orders”,  well that was an honour he supposed, he couldn’t remember the last time he was singled out for an important mission, but before he had chance to ponder what it might be he felt the ground give way beneath him.

“You have reached your destination.” The voice was cheery yet mechanical as he gracefully floated to the ground.

He stood outside an inauspicious looking house, number 67 with a green door.

Most houses in the street were festooned in bright lights. There was a lopsided plastic reindeer opposite with a red nose that flashed rather alarmingly. 

Jeff was glad this house was plain and ordinary looking. He shivered feeling chilly, not feverish this time, just cold, there was snow on the ground and he had no coat.

Unsure what else to do he rang the doorbell.

It took an age before it was opened by an old man wearing a cardigan and slippers.

“If you’re selling double glazing I don’t want it. Or a new driveway. I don’t want a time share and I’ve got enough tea towels to last a lifetime.”

“I’m not selling anything.”

“Well you’ll freeze to death out there lad, letting all my good heat out too. You best come in. Don’t suppose you’re a murderer, I’m too old for this life to care anyway and if you’ve come to rob me I’ve got nowt worth having.”

Jeff followed the man as he shuffled down the hall into a stuffy over heated room with the TV turned up loud.

“I was just about to watch The Great Escape, you seen it?” He didn’t wait for Jeff to answer, “Sit down then lad, you’re making the place look untidy.”

The room was uncluttered, TV, two armchairs, clock on the mantelpiece with a photo propped up beside it, mum, dad, three smiling children somewhere in a sunnier place.

“Family?” Jeff said nodding in the direction of the photo.

“Son, daughter-in-law, in Australia. Now shush, film’s about to start.”

Sometimes it didn’t matter where you went, heaven or earth, you were destined to be ordered about.

They watched in silence, each of them so caught up in the familiar story there was no need to speak.

As Steve McQueen was shut in the cooler for the last time the man got to his feet, “Cup of tea?”

“I’d prefer a beer.”

“Oh what the heck, it is Christmas I suppose.” Said the man with a definite twinkle in his eye.

They chinked their glasses together.

“So what’s your story then? Turning up on an old man’s doorstep on Christmas day out of the blue.”

“Would it surprise you if I said I was an angel?”

“An angel! So what’s your name then Gabriel?”

“Jeff”

 “That’s not an angel name. Jeff?” The man shook his head but he was beginning to grin.

“So what’s your name then?”

“Michael.”

“Now that is a good angel name.”

“Pah! You can call me Wombat.”

“Wombat?”

“Always fancied having a nickname. Don’t you think it suits me?” He tried to twitch his whiskery face which made them both suddenly roar with laughter. “It’s good to laugh ain’t it. I ain’t laughed properly for … well for a long time.”

Jeff studied the man, looked at the photo on the mantelpiece and surveyed a room devoid of Christmas cheer. He guessed his mission was just to keep this man company, not much of a special order but he had to admit this wasn’t a bad way to spend Christmas.

They sat companionably, laughing at the festive entertainment on the flickering box in the corner.

All of a sudden Jeff was aware of another presence; the room had become still and quiet for the first time. Anna stood beside Michael’s chair.

“Is he gone?”

She nodded, “Peacefully and happy.”

“And that was my special mission?” 

She opened the folder she was carrying. “Last heartfelt prayer of an old soldier: please don’t let me spend my last Christmas on earth alone.”