ONCE UPON A DREAM: Christmas 2024 Reflections

It's late on Christmas night and like many people, I am feeling extremely grateful and rather full of too much food and festive cheer! I've had a lovely Christmas so far, going out to dinner again with my mother. I really think that dining out will become our annual Christmas lunch tradition because its so much easier - all you have to do is enjoy the food that has been prepared for you and there's no washing up afterwards! We went out last year for Christmas lunch as well, so it seems to be our new tradition - just book a table and enjoy Christmas dinner out somewhere lovely.  This year we were seated by the fireplace which added to the cosy festive atmosphere, as we pulled crackers to the crackle of the logs. 

I was lucky enough to receive some very lovely presents from friends, family and neighbours, including books, gold foiled tarot cards (they are stunning!), a pink Glinda/Wicked vanity case for my Flower Knows makeup, jewelry, lots of cosmetics and girly bits and bobs, Kylie's new album on limited edition yellow vinyl and of course, the obligatory pink nightie and some baby blue slippers. Is is really Christmas without new slippers?

My favorite gifts this year included a very elaborate ballerina snow globe, shaped like a silver bird cage with a ballerina pirouetting inside as the glittering snow falls down all around her. I've never seen anything like it before - its enchanting! This is from my mum and its so gorgeous. It was one of those very special gifts which brings a tear to the eye and I almost cried as soon as I saw it. Its just beautiful and it will go perfectly in my bedroom. I also got The Pink Fairy book too, which is a Folio edition that I have wanted for over a decade, so to finally have it and be able to read it on Christmas night feels so magical. Its a limited special edition and so they are quite rare. It's rose pink, with stunning silver foiled cover art of a Chinese lady chatting to her two cats and it comes in its own slipcase. Its just precious and I feel very lucky to finally have it as part of my library, where it will sit proudly next to its brother, the Blue Fairy book.

My neighbour also surprised me with some lovely little gifts too, including a collection of art cards and stickers featuring cute wildlife art, and a cushion cover that has an image of a knight in armour riding through the snow. His white horse is caparisoned in red and there is a fairytale castle in the background. Its perfect for me and my home, because it has a Pre-Raphaelite vibe to it so it will go well with all the Waterhouse prints I have around my  bedroom. I'm touched by her thoughtfulness. I also got gifts of chocolates and hand made tree decorations from my mum's neighbours and friends as well.  Again, I'm touched by their thoughtfulness and generosity. I feel surrounded by kindness, which is just lovely. 

I think the main reason that so many people have made such a fuss of me this Christmastime is because they know that I've not had the greatest year of my life, to say the least, and 2024 has been quite difficult at times. The riding accident back in March and the injuries I sustained has coloured the entire year, as I spent months going to hospital for x-rays and checkups and physiotherapy etc. Then in November I was told that the asthma I'd had as a child had come back with a vengeance. The doctors seem to think it was triggered by the years I spent working at the vetinary hospital where I was surrounded by vast amounts of pet hair and dander. I now have to use an inhaler every day - which is a pretty shade of pink, so I don't mind it too much! So yes, my health has been put through the ringer this year. 

I have to say, I'm proud of myself this year and of what I've achieved, given the circumstances and despite the odds being set against me so early on. I have completed my year at Oxford University, submitting my final assignment to them just before Christmas on 5th December. I should get to know in the early new year if I've passed the course, but I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it, in spite of having two broken wrists and only being able to type very slowly for the first seven months after the operations.  A lot of people would have used the riding accident as an excuse to drop out of the course altogether. I didn't. I stuck with it. Although I did ask for an extension on the deadline for my first assignment, which was due to be delivered just a week after the operations, I still got on with it and I wrote that assignment with both my arms in casts from my knuckles to my elbows and very limited movement in my fingers. I even met the extended deadline with a few days to spare! 

In addition, I have also continued working and I have written several new books this year too. My editors have been amazing, giving me longer to work on each book and more generous deadlines to account for my recovery, but they have still trusted me to get the work done and write the books to a high standard. They have been very supportive and I have written their names on my gratitude list more than once this year! I could not ask for a better commissioning editor. She's so lovely and kind-hearted.  I feel very lucky to be able to work with her. So again, I'm really proud of myself for the fact that I kept on working, writing new titles and meeting deadlines.

I also got quite a lot of decorating done in my house too. I had help from my mother because I just wasn't fit enough to do it all on my own, but we managed to completely re-decorate four rooms and give the house a bit of a refresh. Next year we are going to re-decorate my bedroom and then tackle the staircase. I'm not going to lie - decorating is a painful process for me now. It's very hard on my wrists, which are still extremely delicate. I am continuing to do physio exercises to try and make them stronger, but its a long process. The truth is that they may never be as strong as they were before the accident. I'm trying my best, but only time will tell. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they keep improving.  The good news is that I was medically cleared to drive my car again last month, so I must be getting stronger or the doctors wouldn't let me drive. I'm taking this as a good sign.

I have learnt some valuable lessons this year, which is entirely due to the accident, so maybe it was the universe's way of forcing me to listen. First I learnt that its okay to slow down. I have spent the last decade or more running from one academic course to another, to working twelve hour days in an emergency pet hospital at the same time as doing the Masters degree, to writing multiple books a year, to studying at Oxford University too, all without really slowing down or coming up for air. I have to say that writing the books is the easiest one and the one I find most enjoyable and fulfilling!  

However, I have pushed myself and pushed myself. I was exhausted, but I didn't know it - until the accident/universe forced me to STOP.  I learnt that its okay to stop, to slow down, to ask for more time to complete a task or project. I learnt that it is important to prioritize rest and that rest is just as important as achievement.  Most crucially, I learnt that it is okay to ask for HELP. It's safe to let people help me. I don't have to do everything all by myself, all of the time. There are people who want to help me - but I have to let them in. 

This was perhaps the biggest lesson I needed to learn, because ordinarily I never ask for help. Suddenly being in a position where I couldn't do anything for myself was incredibly scary and humbling. I had to trust the nurses (total strangers?! OMG!) to feed me, wash me, dress me etc, duties which then fell to my Mum for a few months as I gradually recovered enough to hold a spoon, a sponge, a sock. I couldn't live in my own home and had to move in with my Mum for a few months. One day at a time, I learnt to take care of myself again, but the lesson had not been wasted on me and I heard the universe's message loud and clear - it's okay to trust certain people and ask for help. 

I wonder how many times the universe had whispered that message to me in the dark and I hadn't heard it, or how many times it had called it out to me, only for me to ignore it. But the universe tripping up my horse and leaving me incapacitated for a big chunk of the year? That was the message I heard and paid attention to! Therein lies the silver lining. Even negative events have something to teach us. In fact, they can often be the best teachers of all. 

Also, there is nothing that offers greater perspective than a hospital bed. It highlights exactly who is actually there for you in a real way, and who is just full of piss and wind. Frankly if someone isn't there for you when you're bleeding, broken, hyperventilating, in hospital etc - then they have no right trying to re-enter your life when you are healed and on the road to recovery. They have already told you all that you need to know about who they are and where their priorities lie - and its not with you!  

This too is a message from the universe and one that you would be wise to listen to. I have certainly paid attention to it and it isn't just Father Christmas and Taylor Swift who have been making a list of names this year! Those who were conspicuous by their absence and silence in the aftermath of my riding accident need not apply for a position in my life in the future.  I have no openings available for them. Nor will I. 

So 2024 has been a year of difficulty, proud moments and many lessons learnt. I'm hoping that 2025 will be a gentler, more uplifting year, one where I can fully concentrate on my writing as I now feel recharged and refreshed and ready to get back into it again.  I think it will be because there are already some exciting things lined up for next year, but I'll cover that in another blog post. 

Until then, stay safe, stay warm, ask for help when you need it - but make that list of names, of those who were nowhere to be seen or heard from, when you were broken and bleeding, scared and vulnerable in 2024. Take note and think twice before you carry them into the New Year with you. 

Bright Blessings

Marie x 

BOOK NOOK : The Quiet Music of Gently Falling Snow

 

"At first, alone in her tower, she wept for the loss of her love. From the window she could see so far, but not as far as the other side of the universe. After a while, alone in her tower, she began to spin, fine golden thread. After a while, alone in her tower, she began to weave.  And after a while the rhythm of the loom would mingle with the memory of his songs and she began to sing. And in her song was the sound of the wind and the call of the birds, the ache of her heart and the strength of her love, and the loneliness of living."

My editor introduced me to the work of British artist, Jackie Morris, a few years ago, via a rather lovely Christmas card and I'm so glad that she did!  I have always loved whimsical art, poetry and fairytales so Jackie's work is just my cup of tea. Over the years since I have collected quite a few of her books and art card collections, and they are always a delight.

The Quiet Music of Gently Falling Snow is a collection of soft and dreamy fairytales, written to complement the artwork within. Each picture is a colourful kaleidoscope of soft muted tones and bolder accents, with the downy wash of watercolours expertly blended together. Originally these images were designed as charity Christmas cards for a musicians benevolent fund, so they all feature snowy landscapes and musical instruments alongside fantastical creatures, angelic beings and whimsical backdrops.  Although the stories were added later there is a perfect sense of synergy between the words and pictures, creating a beautiful cohesive whole. 

Opening up this book is like stepping into another world! One that is unique and at the same time, strangely familiar, for the narrative voice is that of traditional fables and fairytales. You can hear the forbidden music in the rhythm of the words, for this is a book about a world were music is banned and where musicians are forced to venture far and wide in order to find a new place of belonging.  It feels like a book from your childhood, even though it was only published fairly recently in 2016. It has the same comforting vibe as Narnia or The Box of Delights, spiriting you away to an imaginary winter realm, populated with polar bears and snowy hares, jesters and princesses, tiny kittens, silver tigers, angel cats and so much more. 

As you turn each page you are drawn more deeply into the joy and enchantment of the winter season. The pictures are filled with intricate detail, with tiny creatures hidden in the background that you might fail to notice unless you really study the images, for there is always more to discover. In this world of pure wonder, rocking horses gallop through deep snow, hot air balloons float across starry skies, polar bears are called home to icy landscapes and swan boats carry people to their dreams of love and freedom. 

These fairytales can be read as individual stories, but they also build upon one another, their edges gently merging into each other and pulling you along from one tale to the next. The words are poetic and pretty, soft and dreamy, the lyrical style lulling you into a state of wonder and quiet magical charm.  It's a lovely book to read at the end of a bad day, or when you're going through a difficult time, because the effect it has on the reader is so soothing, its almost a form of self-care! 

Also, don't dismiss this as a children's book because it can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Yes, it is a picture book and a collection of fairytales, but it is also the dreamwork of a visionary artist who draws you into the fantastical world she has created so that she can soothe your soul while you're there. I firmly believe that this book is good for mental health. 

The wintry dreamscape it presents means that it is the perfect book to curl up with this December in the run up to the festive season.  It is a book to be enjoyed by a twinkling Christmas tree, or in the depths of an icy January by candlelight, with a cup of hot cocoa beside you as you allow yourself to drift into The Quiet Music of Gently Falling Snow. Enjoy!

Bright Blessings,

Marie x

AD: This book is published by the Welsh publisher Graffeg Ltd and is available now. 

ONCE UPON A DREAM: Festive Dunoon!

 Sunrise over the Bay at Dunoon

I have just returned from my birthday trip to the Highlands. I wanted to go to a part of Scotland I had never been before, so I decided to visit Dunoon in Argyll, which is at the lower end of the Western Highlands. Dunoon sits on the western peninsular, which means that you have to go by ferry to get there. This was one of the most wonderful aspects of my holiday because it meant that I had a boat trip twice a day to get to and from mainland Scotland! 

It was like living on one of the Scottish islands and I enjoyed it so much. The gentle rocking of the ferry was very relaxing, heading out in the early morning and retuning in the dark in the late afternoon. I loved the experience of 'island life', where people catch the ferry instead of the bus to get to work and back, or to do their grocery shopping. Its so quaint and lovely, though I expect it can be a bit of a trial in bad weather when the ferry is cancelled at the last minute. 

Fortunately we were very lucky with the weather, with bright winter sunshine and gorgeous dry sparkly days, though it was cold by night, but I didn't need to use my umbrella at all, which is unusual in the Highlands at this time of year.  The sun was shining its birthday and festive blessings on us all week, which was very nice.

I had a sea view from my hotel room, with a little roof just below where the gulls would congregate, so each morning I woke to the beautiful cry of seagulls. This is one of my favourite sounds and it was a wonderful alarm clock to wake up to! On my arrival at the hotel I found a box of chocolates and a bottle of bubbly in my room, along with birthday cards from the staff there. My mum had arranged it all as a surprise, plus I got a birthday cake at dinner on the first night too, compliments of the hotel, with all the staff and my mum singing happy birthday to me! That was such a delightful surprise and I wasn't expecting it at all. 

Dunoon is a pretty little coastal town with whitewashed houses and long, long gardens that lead straight down to the sea front. Its actually an estuary, where the river Clyde meets the Irish Sea, but it is known locally as the Clyde Sea and it has a nice promenade to walk on and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains and sea.  It reminded me a lot of Ullapool, further up the western coast.

Like many Highland towns, Dunoon depends on tourism to hold up the local economy and there are not many opportunities outside of the tourist industry itself. It always grinds my gears when tourists complain about a place being 'touristy' - as if they are not tourists themselves and are somehow better than everyone else who visits! Its akin to sneering at how someone makes a living and demonstrates elitist snobbery at its finest. 

At this time of year though, outside of the holiday season, Dunoon is a quiet, peaceful and beautiful place to stay on the coast of Argyll. Its been a great escape for me , as the mountains surround the town and the sea  was stretching out before me -  I felt like I was hidden in a little nook of natural Highland beauty, safe and serene. 

Its a fantastic place for a writer because its so inspiring, with both history and classic literature being represented in the town. High on Pier Esplanade stands a fine statue of Highland Mary, or Mary Campbell. She is the woman who stole the heart of a young Robert Burns, so much so that he wrote his famous poem about her, entitled Highland Mary. She stands proudly facing out to sea, overlooking the Firth of Clyde.  It's a lovely romantic monument, not only to Mary, but to Burns' enduring love for her and the poetry she inspired in him, so I feel very lucky to have seen it up close.

Dunoon also has a museum and a castle, but that was research for one of my future books so I'm not going to write about it here. That was the reason for the trip - to gather information and inspiration from the Scottish Highlands and from places I've not yet covered in my books. I'll be hard at work soon, putting my research into my writing as I work on the new project over the next few weeks. Research trips are a great source of inspiration for authors and I was busy soaking up the atmosphere of Dunoon's history and environment for my work. 

We took a couple of trips back to the Scottish mainland too. Our first trip was to Glasgow and the festive Christmas markets they have going on there. This was just the ticket to tip me over from birthday vibes into festive, Yuletide vibes! There were stalls selling lots of pretty tree decorations and fancy gifts, plus lots of food and drink vendors. We had fudge and Baileys hot chocolate as we walked around the market, Christmas carols were playing over loud speakers and it was all so festive and cheerful.  

All the shops were decked out for Christmas too, with golden stags, a silver peacock and various window displays, the best of which was easily Dior which had a golden tree that just gleamed with golden makeup trinkets from their Royal Ball Christmas Collection - it looked so beautiful it was breath-taking! I've never seen Glasgow looking prettier - everywhere was lush and luxurious. We had a mulled wine by the Christmas tree in the middle of George Square, then got the ferry back across to the peninsular and back to Dunoon. 

The next day the weather had taken a sharp turn. It was still bright and dry, but the temperature had dropped significantly to -6C, so it was a chilly drive out to Inveraray. It was stunning though and it felt like we were driving through a Christmas card or a movie scene - everywhere was picture-postcard perfect, in a shimmer of white frost - even Loch Fyne was iced over! Inveraray is one of my favourite places in the Highlands and I try to go there as often as I can. It's an original white walled town dating from the 1700's and it has strong historical links to the Jacobite Uprisings.  Sitting on the banks of Loch Fyne, the town boasts some incredible scenic views. It is a picturesque village that has some fantastic artisanal craft shops, so you can pick things up that you just wouldn't find anywhere else, all with a lovely Gaelic touch. The backdrop is, of course, Inveraray Castle with its four iconic fairytale turrets. Its so pretty!  

Inveraray is firmly in Clan Campbell country and the castle is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Argyll, with the 13th Duke and his family still in residence today. It's a beautiful castle and it looks as if it came straight out of a fairytale, especially when it glitters in the frost as it did when I was there. I wish I could live there!

After Inveraray we had a couple more days in Dunoon, wandering around the picturesque shops and doing a bit of Christmas shopping. I treated myself to a hand carved wooden swan which I saw in the window of a gift shop and I just had to bring her home with me as my souvenir of Dunoon. I discovered The Bookpoint book shop which is a bookworm's dream - books stacked high from floor to ceiling and piled up on tables, with the stacks back to back leaving just a narrow space to squeeze through and a couple of tables in the window where you can sit with a cup of tea or coffee. It was a lovely bookstore and I picked up a few books on Scottish folklore and Argyll legends, plus one about the darker legends of Yuletide and Christmas which I'm going to read first. I also found a cosy little café called The Swallow Café where I had a pink peppermint ruby hot chocolate with all the trimmings. It was delicious and definitely on a par with The Oban Chocolate Shop. 

All in all it was a magical trip and it has been a fantastic end to my prolonged birthday celebrations, not to mention the start of the Yuletide festivities. My heart always sings in the Highlands. It makes my soul happy to be there and the mountain air is so good for me - I can breathe easier there and I feel the fresh clean air doing wonders for my health, both mental and physical. It was also wonderful to spend time by the sea again, walking on the beach each day and making friends with the seagulls. I'm already thinking of where in Scotland I might want to go next!

Dunoon was lovely and I had a really nice time. I would certainly go back there again as it was so peaceful and tranquil, which is just what I needed after a rather hectic year of hospital appointments, x-rays and physiotherapy on my poor little wrists. They've been through such a lot this year, but the Highlands is the most healing place I know and it was just the right medicine for me. I'm already looking forward to planning another trip!

In the meantime, I have my own new books to write and deliver to my editor before the Christmas break so I'm going to be rather busy again. However, I will make time to read my  books from Dunoon too. As its Sunday, I plan to unpack my cases, then immerse myself in some festive Yuletide folklore with The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg (which looks at many of the same characters I covered myself for one of my new books that comes out next year, so look out for that!), while nibbling on some Highland Butterscotch Fudge from the old fashioned sweetie shop in Inveraray. And next week I'm finally going to see Wicked! I can't wait to watch such a witchy confection of a film! 

Serene Blessings

Marie x