MUSICAL DOLL; New Age Festive Music

 Yesterday marked the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, with more than twelve hours of darkness to enjoy.  I have been working hard on one of my new projects and I expect to complete it on Boxing Day, before I get on with the next one.  It's a busy time, with tight deadlines to meet for my editors, but I do love working from home, especially at this time of year when the house is so festive. I feel very lucky to be able to spend my days curled up with my laptop, by the twinkling tree and write away for hours. 

As cosy as it is though, I still want to feel like I am enjoying the festive season, so I like to have instrumental Christmassy music playing in the background as I write. I like the Downton Abbey Christmas album, but an old favourite of mine is Medwyn Goodall's A Christmas Tapestry, which I've had for years and it comes out every Yuletide. It's lovely blend of new age soundscapes and well-known Christmas carols.  I like the album so much that I was on the hunt for something similar this year, to change the background vibes a bit and I came across a couple of new releases from New World Music.

I have collaborated with New World in the past on the Fairy Nights album and it is a label that I love. They produce some spectacular albums and I was not disappointed with my new festive purchases. My favourite is Mulled Wine and Mistletoe.  I absolutely adore this album and I have been listening to it virtually non-stop! 

The best way I can describe it would be to say that it is like stepping back in time, to a great hall in a beautiful castle, which is all decked out for Christmas, with the Yule log burning in a huge fireplace.  If you have ever seen the TV show The Tudors, this album is very much like the kind played in the Christmas scenes in King Henry's court when he is wooing Anne Boleyn. The music is very traditional and it has a medieval quality that carries you away to another time. It includes classics such as Silent Night and I Saw Three Ships, but it also has beautiful old fashioned tunes such as The Boar's Head Carol, Coventry Carol, Sans Day Carol and also Gaudete, which is a personal favourite of mine. 

Mulled Wine and Mistletoe is a continuous play album, so there are no long silences between tracks; one track blends easily into the next. It is a charming album and I'm so glad I got it. I know that I will play it every year from now on and that I will miss it during the rest of the year. I just love the medieval, old fashioned atmosphere this CD provides, and curled up in one of my Victorian velvet nightgowns, I can imagine myself far away in a castle in the Highlands. I really hope these artists release a similar album of medieval music that can be played all year round, because I would certainly buy it. 

The second album I purchased was The Christmas Album, which features lots of well-known New Age artists such as Medwyn Goodall, Tim Rock and Wychazel. This is classic New Age music, with none of the medieval vibes of Mulled Wine and Mistletoe. It is still a very beautiful album though, with tinkling sounds, flutes, pipes and piano. It's a nice album to relax to, perhaps while having a festive Snow Fairy bath. It should also help to calm the mind amid a frenzy of last minute present wrapping too!  This album is certainly one that you can keep on standby over the festive season for when you need to de-stress. It is lovely background music for Christmas dinner or if you're driving home for Christmas. 

While both these albums are lovely and I do like them a lot, for me Mulled Wine and Mistletoe wins the contest, because of it's power to transport me back in time, so if you are only looking to purchase one new festive album this year, I would go with that one. New World Music festive albums are available on CD and to download.  Enjoy!

BB Marie x

BOOK NOOK; The Good Bear by Sarah Lean

 

"I'd never forget this moment. How lucky I was to have been cared for by a bear, one that had never been cared for by anyone else."

I received this book for my birthday last month. It was one of my gifts from my Mum and I have been saving it until I could read it by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree.  Today I have devoured the book whole, in one sitting and I consider it to have been an afternoon well spent!

The Good Bear is a very heart-warming story. It is set in snowy Norway, during Christmas week so it is the perfect book to curl up with at this time of year.  It is a story that explores the connections we make, both with close and distant family members, and with our own talents and gifts.  It also explores the special and magical connections some of us have with animals - the trust that is given and recieved, and sadly, sometimes betrayed.

This is a love story between a young girl and a bear that has escaped from cruelty and who has been held in captivity for so long, he doesn't know how to survive a winter alone. So the little girl, Thea, helps him and in doing so, a beautiful relationship of trust develops and grows. But the bear is being hunted and the girl must protect him and keep him safe.

In some ways it reminded me of films such as Born Free or Free Willy - it has that same kind of effect on the reader.  It highlights how privileged we are when an animal, any animal, puts its trust in us, especially when a wild creature chooses to interact with us in a very gentle way. It is something I have experienced myself with the wild stags in the Highlands and I can only describe these encounters as being truly magical and enchanting.  And yes, it does make one feel very, very lucky to make a connection with a wild animal who could so easily harm us, but who chooses to moderate its strength and be gentle with us instead.  Animals are the best friends you will ever make and their loyalty is unshakable.

The Good Bear offers companionship to a girl who feels lost, alone and isolated and in return, she offers food for his survival.  It is a book which perfectly illustrates the strong bonds animals make with their chosen humans and how they will often put themselves in harms way in order to defend that human. 

It is a beautiful story, one that explores the true meaning of Christmas and the coming together of different traditions and festivities across cultures.  It would be a great book to curl up with and read on Christmas Eve, or at any point over the festive period when you have some free time on your hands.  It's a page turner though, so you won't want to put it down until you've finished it, but as it is a fairly short book at just 300 pages, you can read it in a day.  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and now a part of me wishes I had a wild bear to keep Christmas with too!  Happy reading!

BB Marie x

BOOK NOOK; A Scandinavian Christmas

 

    

This pretty little book has been on my bedside table for a couple of weeks now and I finished reading it last night.  It is a book of festive short stories, all of which hail from the Nordic regions.  When I am busy writing and working on my own projects, I much prefer to read short stories or poetry, as I can pick up an anthology in a spare moment without losing too much time away from my own writing, so books like this one are perfect for that purpose. 

A Scandinavian Christmas is a lovely collection of both modern and traditional stories for the festive season.  As you might imagine from the title, these tales carry you away to the snowy Nordic realms, with reindeer, northern lights and icy igloos all playing a part.  It's not all fluffy festive stories though - some deal with darker topics such as hallucinogenic drug use and addiction, so this is not a book for children.  That said, there are lots of tales here that children might enjoy having read to them as bedtime stories, so it's really down to parental discretion. 

Many of the authors were unknown to me, being Scandinavian, but there are also classic authors such as Hans Christian Anderson represented too.  Some of my favourite tales in this collection include The Fir Tree, The Fur Coat, The Forest Witch and The Legend of the Christmas Rose.  The book also includes classics such as The Little Match Girl and The Brave Tin Soldier.  Here you will find trolls and talking trees, cosy tales told by a blazing fire, snowy adventures and unfaithful wives.  As a collection it is both surprising and very familiar. It is a fantastic introduction to Scandinavian folklore and tradition.

The cover art is stunning and this would make a lovely stocking filler for a bookworm.  It would look very pretty underneath the tree this Yuletide.  I have enjoyed reading one of the tales each night before I go to sleep. It really puts you into the festive mood, so if you want a seasonal bedtime read in the run up to Christmas, then this book is ideal.  

It looks great with my collection of festive books on my Yuletide bookshelf and is a nice addition to that collection.  It's a quick read, perfect to dip in and out of during the busy Christmas period, when you want to steal a few moments to yourself and escape to a snowy setting. 

A Scandinavian Christmas is a book best enjoyed by candlelight, tucked up into bed with a warm glass of Norwegian glogg beside you, to keep out the chill of a winter's night.  Good Yule!

BB Marie x

AD: This book was sent to me by the publisher for review purposes.  It is available to buy and download now.  

SLIPPERS AND SKATES; Let It Go - Ice Dancing

I recently got back home from a wonderful Christmas show at the local ice rink. It is the second time I have been to one of their festive shows and I have enjoyed it so much. Tonight's performance of  Let It Go took Disney as its main inspiration, with Elsa, Anna and their princess friends skating beautifully.  

The costumes were stunning! I don't think I've ever seen so many sequins, sparkles and glitter in one place before - not even at Disney on Ice!  The whole rink shimmered with glistening icy colours as the skaters danced in a shimmer of diamante starlight.  It was very effective under the lights.

My favourite part of the whole performance was Show Yourself, when the skaters wore ethereal 'wings' that lit up and Elsa was in her white dress - and that lit up too! It was simply stunning and so beautiful to watch I had tears in my eyes. 

There were some big lifts and roll ups, crazy backwards bending maneuvers that looked impossible but were danced so smoothly they made me gasp, some very pretty solos with Snow White and Belle, and there was some beautiful pas de deux too, showing off the other characters such as Cinderella and Rapunzel, each with their respective princes. 

I enjoyed the disco set, especially Girl on Fire - she was amazing! Plus there was the usual Christmas set to end the performance and I liked Baby Its Cold Outside the best, as those two skaters really seemed well matched as they danced together.  All in all it was a lovely ice-dance show and a great way to get into the festive spirit.  To say they don't have the kind of budget that Disney on Ice are working with, I do think the local rink can give Disney a run for their money! It was quite spectacular and I would certainly go again next year. 

It made me feel nostalgic for my own skating too. I love how the smell of the ice hits you as soon as you head down to the pads to take your seats and the shhhh-ing sound of dozens of skaters all gliding out together. It has really made me want to go skating again, so maybe I'll finally be able to get back on the ice myself next year, once I've had my Covid booster. 

But for now, all I can say is that the show was fantastic! I had so much fun tonight.  The skaters and choreographers must have been rehearsing for months and everyone has clearly worked so hard. It has certainly paid off and tonight I was lucky enough to watch a show that was magical, ethereal and so wintry in nature, it was like a living Christmas card. I loved every minute of it and now I feel ready for Yuletide - not to mention Dancing on Ice!

If your local ice rink is putting on a show this Christmas, I encourage you to go.  The rinks have been through a horrendous time of late because of the pandemic, so buying a ticket gives them a helping hand as we move forward and shows your support.  You'll probably have a great time too.  I know I did. It's lovely to see such dedication, creativity and artistry in my home town. I'm already looking forward to next year's show!

Blessed Be

Marie x

ONCE UPON A DREAM; Reflections on First Snow

 

Over the past couple of days the temperature has fallen and we have enjoyed the first snow of the season in Yorkshire.  It means that winter is here and it has been the perfect end to my birthday week. My Christmas tree is up and the house is all ready for the festive period.  I do love snow - especially when I have nowhere to go and nowhere I need to be, which has been the case this week.

I've spent the snowy days hibernating in my cosy study, working away on the next project, occasionally looking up to watch the snow falling in huge feathery flakes.  It's been so pretty and I have had such a nice time.  I feel like I am living all my Jo March dreams this winter.  I am about halfway through the current project, with another lined up to start immediately afterwards, so there will be a few drops from me next year.  It's an exciting time and one that is filled with joy and gratitude.

The snow is lying quite thick on the ground and as I write this post, it is getting even colder, now that night has fallen.  It will be crisp and icy tomorrow.  November has been such a lovely month this year, beginning with the warm, golden bronzed tones of autumn - the trees have been spectacular this autumn - and now ending in the winter wonderland of snow! How wonderfully kind my birthday month has been to me! It has brought me my Masters Graduation, a very happy birthday, new writing to get on with and now my favourite weather of all - snow! I feel very blessed. 

There is something about snowy days that collude with a writing life.  It's too cold to go outside for long, and after a brief walk, it is nice to come back indoors to the cosy vibes of the Yuletide tree and settle in to work.  I've had my Sleigh Ride or Fireside ambient DVDs playing in the background while I work, and the festive treats of warm mince pies and Turkish Delight hot chocolate beside me as I invent my next project on the page.

It has been so enjoyable and I am reminded daily of how much I love my job as a writer and how thankful I am to have so many new opportunities coming to me again. It occurred to me a few days ago that I have actually received my birthday wish from last year - it came true and now I am living it on a daily basis. Magical thinking is powerful indeed.

Now the year turns towards its end. The festive season beckons, with presents and Christmas baking and pretty new party dresses to twirl in until midnight. There are sugar mice beneath my tree, soft carols playing in the background and a book of festive Nordic tales by my bed, so I can read of even snowier climes at Yuletide, each night before I close my eyes and drift off into dreams of dancing sugar-plum fairies. I have been burning Yankee's Peppermint Candy Cane candles and the whole house smells like the Land of Sweets from The Nutcracker.  It's delicious! 

I feel as if the break from Wicca and magical writing was much needed, because I was suffering from burn out. Also, it has given me a new perspective on my own magic and in the space that break created, a whole new magical writing life has taken root.  Sometimes you do need to take a break from magical living in order to recharge and allow the next phase of enchantment to germinate and come to fruition. I needed the break, but I am so delighted to be back in my enchanted world as a magical writer once more and the writing process is so joyful to me again. I feel a new found sense of wonderment in my work.

It hasn't always been easy to trust that I would be guided back to a writing life again once my studies were over, but this time last year I was just putting out feelers to publishers regarding new projects and plans - and now, I'm in the thick of those plans! The dream, made manifest, became my reality and I never truly get used to that feeling or take it for granted. It always fills me with a sense of being wonderstruck!

But for today, my word count is achieved and it is time to relax on this glorious, snowy night. I'm going to warm up some mulled wine and gingerbread, then sit by the fire in the light of the twinkling tree, to watch A Kylie Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall. I can't think of a nicer way to end such a productive and magical day of writing! 

Whatever you're doing on this frozen, snowy night, stay warm and safe and enjoy the winter magic!

BB Marie x

MUSICAL DOLL; All I Ask of You

 Raoul says all the right things...dreamy suitor😍

BOOK NOOK; Midnight in Everwood by M A Kuzniar

 "The snow was crisp and firm, forging a path of granulated sugar.  Marietta wandered deeper into the enchantment. It was heavy with the scent of forest, snow and marzipan.  Emerald fir trees towered up, brushing against the midnight patchwork of constellations."

The weather has turned much colder in Yorkshire these past few days and my birthday yesterday was frosty white, and so cold I decided to wear one of my faux fur coats.  After all the fun of birthday shopping and my first trip to the cinema since the pandemic began (I went to see Spencer which was fantastic!), today I wanted nothing more than to curl up in the warmth with a snowy book. I couldn't have picked a better one than Midnight in Everwood which is an enchanting winter's tale, based upon the Nutcracker ballet.

Set in Nottingham in 1906, it tells the story of Marietta, who longs for nothing more than to be a ballerina and spend her life dancing in a Company. Her parents however, have other ideas and they are pushing her into a marriage with the new neighbour, the wealthy Dr Drosselmeier.   Marietta has no intention of marrying anyone, least of all a man who has strange gifts she doesn't understand and certainly doesn't trust, but Drosselmeier isn't one to take no for an answer and so on Christmas Eve, Marietta finds herself spirited away into a magical winter wonderland, where an evil king sits on the throne and fairies and princesses are held captive.

It isn't all bad though, and Marietta is seduced by the pretty magical world around her, where the streets are paved in cobbles made of marzipan, the air smells like peppermint and sugar frosting, and the first bite of a snowberry cake tastes like Christmas morning!  Here snowflakes are made from vanilla icing and hot baths are minty fresh and invigorating. 

As Marietta tries to find her way in this world of wintry sweetness, she dances for the king, befriends his prisoners and falls in love with a soldier. She is tempted to remain in this land of frosted palaces and sugar mice but she knows it's not where she belongs and she has to find her way back home so that she can be the ballerina she dreams of becoming.

This is a stunning retelling that will sweep you away into the heart of winter and the Nutcracker story.  If you love ballet, snow, magic and romance, then you will like this adult novel and the author's take on the famous classical festive ballet.  It is written in a very poetic style with lots of ballet references throughout. The words dance off the page like a corps de ballet! 

Midnight in Everwood plays like a harp on a sweet tooth, making you crave peppermint candy canes, sugar mice, marzipan, gingerbread and hot chocolate, so it is best enjoyed by the fire with a plate of festive treats and a steaming mug of cocoa. One of the best things about having my birthday in November is that I always gets lots of festive goodies as gifts, so I was nibbling on gingerbread men, sugar mice and candy canes as I read this wonderful book.  It really is the perfect stocking filler for anyone with a romantic nature or a love of ballet, and I think it is destined to be a very popular gift this Christmas. Let the Sugar Plum Fairy start dancing in your head! 

Happy festive reading!

Marie x