Georgia Hill returns to my blog this week with a Christmas theme to go with her new book – New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage is published by Bloodhound Books. I have read and enjoyed the story and include my review at the end of the post. Over to Georgia …
Many thanks to Morton for hosting me yet again. This is something I revisit sometimes and, seeing as we’re well into the festive season run up, I thought it would be a fun one to update. You’ll quickly get the idea …
1. On the first day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: what was your best present? Memorable presents include a dolls house and a Making of Pride and Prejudice book (books always go down well with me). I’ve had lots of really lovely presents over the years but, if I’m honest, I’ve got to the stage in life where I don’t really need anything new. I’ve hinted heavily to the other half that I’d love a blow-up dinosaur this year but that’s falling on deaf ears! As I’m writing this, I’m waiting for a medical procedure so I’m going to be cheesy and say the best present I could receive is good health.
2. On the second day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: what was your worst present?
Ah – I’ve had lots of those too. A green plant holder in the shape of a dragon with a dead cactus in it is probably a candidate. Ditto a hamper which included steak and kidney pies. Reader, I’m an ex-veggie who doesn’t eat much meat and shudders at the very idea of kidney. But it’s the thought that counts. Remember to put on your grateful face!
3. On the third day of Christmas – oh I’m sure you get the idea by now – what was your best Christmas?
I’m like Honor in New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage I think there’s just something truly magical about the season. I love it, wherever I celebrate it and whoever I’m with, so every Christmas is my best. Snow makes it extra-wonderful though.
4. On the fourth day … what was your worst?
Without going into details it involved a Christmas Day spent in hospital with a very poorly family member. That takes some beating, although there was one when I had to fight Bank Holiday traffic on the M5 not just once but four times.
5. On the fifth day … weirdest Christmas?
I’ve spent Christmas Day on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic and one in Siberia. Both weird but also wonderful in their way. No shortage of snow in Siberia! The huge ice sculptures in the park in Irkutsk were astonishing. Great snowball fights too. Oh – and the one without alcohol. I hardly drink but what’s Christmas without a cheeky Bailey’s?
6. On the sixth day … ideal Christmas?
I’m going to be cheesy again. This year my ideal Christmas would be one surrounded by my friends and family – with them all enjoying good health. It’s amazing how your priorities change with age.
7. On the seventh day … favourite thing about Christmas?
I love everything about Christmas! Food, the television specials, Christmassy pop music, hunkering down in front of the fire with a dog to cuddle and a good book, the smell of the tree, twinkling lights, the funny little Father Christmas figures my mum knits, finding that perfect present for the one you love. I adore unpacking the decorations and finding my favourites to put on the tree and I even like the short, dark days as you know the world has turned and spring is on its way. The Celts had Yule, the Romans their Saturnalia and Christianity nicked traditions and customs from both. We need good food, evergreens to decorate the house and a bit of fun in the depths of December. Bring it on!
8. On the eighth day … favourite carol?
I love In the Bleak Midwinter. It’s a quiet thoughtful carol, with beautiful poetry by Christina Rossetti, but belting out Once in David’s Royal City is hard to beat. I used to love Christmas in school when I was a primary school teacher. We held carol concerts in an enormous and very grand church and filled it to the rafters with song. Bit of a contrast to the village one I attended when the vicar chastised the (tiny) congregation for not singing up. Reader: it didn’t work, and we muttered into our hymn sheets, feeling even more self-conscious.
9. On the ninth day … favourite film?
No hesitation about this one – While You Were Sleeping. I watch it every Christmas, without fail. While I’m a real fan of a soppy Christmas B-movie (you know, where the big city heroine has to return to her hometown to save the family chocolate/biscuit/tinsel business and falls for the hunky boss/cop/fireman/Christmas tree grower) While You Were Sleeping, although dated, is sheer class. Top notch acting, brilliantly witty script, warm characters and Sandra Bullock and (especially) Bill Pullman being adorable.
10. Deep breath, nearly there … on the tenth day of Christmas my true love asked of me: what is your best cracker joke?
Apologies but here goes (this one always went down well with a class of five-year-olds). Q What do you call a donkey with only three legs? A Wonky!
11. On the eleventh day … Who would I like to find in my Christmas stocking?
Ooh, this took a bit of thinking about. The research was arduous, as you can imagine. There are quite a few I can think of … how about Gethin Jones, Colin Firth, Rob James Collier and Rupert Graves. New ones to add: Vito Coppola, Johnny Flynn, Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Jago from New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage. Do you think they’d all fit? Just as well I have extra-large stockings!
12. On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: who would I like to entertain over the Christmas turkey?
If it’s not possible to have all those lovely men from the previous answer, I’d have Jane Austen, Dawn French, Miranda Hart, Eric Morecambe, Ray Mears and Rupert Everett. Oh, and Nigel Slater to do the cooking. What a party that would be.
Hope you found this fun and it’s got you thinking of your own answers. With warm seasonal wishes that your Christmas prep is going swimmingly and you’ve got the sprouts on. If you’re still deep in wrapping paper and Sellotape I suggest a large sherry and an even larger mince pie. Happy Christmas!
About Georgia Hill
Georgia Hill writes warm-hearted and up-lifting contemporary and dual narrative romances about love, the power and joy in being an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There’s always a dog. It’s usually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. She lives near the sea with her beloved dogs and husband (also beloved) and loves the books of Jane Austen, collecting elephants, and Strictly Come Dancing. She’s also a complete museum geek and finds inspiration for her books in the folklore and history of the many places in which she’s lived. She’s worked in the theatre, for a charity and as a teacher and educational consultant before finally acknowledging that making things up was what she really wanted to do. She’s been happily creating believable heroines, intriguing men, and page-turning stories ever since.
You can find her here:
Twitter/X @georgiawrites
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/georgiahillauthor
Website www.georgiahill.co.uk
About New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage
Christmas is the perfect time to fall in love. . .
The little English town of Lullbury Bay is a magical place to spend Christmas, and for Honor Martin it is the high point of her year.
However, newcomer Jago, doesn’t share her merry mood. After the devastating loss of his father he’d be happy to never hear another Christmas carol again.
But to help his little sister replace bad memories with good ones, he reluctantly joins in the festivities. As he gets to know her teacher, Honor, could she be the one to restore his love of Christmas?
Buying links for New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage:
geni.us/ChristmasTreeCottage or mybook.to/Lullbury1
Morton’s Review of New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage
A 5 Star Read
A great read that will have you thinking about Christmas and maybe buying Baileys!
I loved reading this book, which was a complete tonic in a stressful time for me. I always say that a book that can produce an emotional reaction is a good book and this one produced not one, not two, but three heart affecting scenes that had me thinking and reaching for the tissues. A cosy read, but with serious underlying themes of starting again after loss.
The characters are likeable and relatable, particularly Jago, trying to be the responsible son and brother, whilst nursing his own demons and heartaches, Honor, the primary school teacher with a big venerable heart and the amazing vicar, Verity, who is mad on ABBA. Merryn is a very wise little girl beyond her years. Georgia Hill weaves her story around community of Lullbury Bay, with each person living there having a distinct role and backstory. It sounds like somewhere I would enjoy living. I’d even take part in the yarn bombing brigade!
Highly recommended to get you in the mood for Christmas.
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Loved this! Great answers, Georgia 🎄
Jenni x
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Yes and it makes you think of your own responses to the questions too 😀
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