Christmas Tag 2013

Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

We’ve never had a real Christmas tree. We’ve had a number of synthetic ones over the years that have been a range of different colours. The current one is black. But I really would like a real one. I don’t think anything could beat the smell and the look of a real tree.

You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

Either a hazelnut or peppermint hot chocolate.

Whats your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

Silver and blue! I love the icy colours. I’m not fussed on gold or red. Some people make it look really nice but every time I try it just looks disasterous.

Giving or receiving presents?

Giving. I am terrible for buying people presents.  I always go overboard and have a tendency to spoil my little sister. It’s always nice to receive things and know someone has thought of you but I adore seeing people’s faces when they open a gift and you know you have got it spot on.

To mince pie or not to?

…I have never eaten a mince pie

What's your traditional sunday lunch?

Turkey, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, sprouts, carrots, stuffing, gravy. And there’s always cake for dessert.

Christmas day fashion

Everyone stays in pyjamas. No need to try and be fancy with us. This year we have the addition of ridiculous Christmas jumpers!

What's your favourite Christmas song?

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. Last Christmas by Wham makes it quite high on the list thanks to my mum. And I always have Michael Buble’s Christmas album playing.

What's your favourite Christmas film?

Love Actually! It just makes me feel all the feels. I cry, I laugh, I despise Alan Rickman. What is there not to love about that film? But I also love Elf. Any Christmas film really because it just makes you feel all warm inside.

Open presents before or after lunch?

Who waits until after lunch? In our house we end up opening them around 4AM. Dad is the biggest child and will wake us all up to open them much to mum’s despair. When we head over to nan’s and wait for all the family to congregate so it’s about 11 or 12 o’clock before we open the rest.

(Taken from Jade from Beads of Jade)

Prompt & Circumstance: Autumn

The library was warm. Too warm. That’s the thing with the university library there is never a happy medium. It’s either way too warm or absolutely freezing. I’d mention it to the staff but I doubt anything would ever be done about it. The students just adapt by varying the number of layers they are dressed in.

For the past two years November was a month where you could run home after lectures and put your feet up. Third year means you barely see sunlight. But I’ve finished for the day and at least I can still see my hand in front of my face. I won’t be so lucky in a few weeks time.

Walking though the campus there is a myriad of people and I begin to question if I do know what month it is. The university prospectus boasts glorious pictures of the beach across the road from campus and all on a bright and beautiful day. The question in my mind is if they will ever be done for false advertising? Regardless of the fact that it’s colder than it has been for a while and I can see my breath in puffs in front of my eyes many of my peers are dressed in flip flops and shorts. Apparently even when the weather dips to single digits they are still hopeful for beach time.

I stop questioning myself when I pass the Starbucks and see posters advertising their eggnog lattes and the signature red cups. Autumn means fire works. It means that Starbucks gets to make an extra few pence for serving their seasonal favourites and Christmas decorations get the dust blown off them ready to be put up in time for the Christmas parade at the end of the month.  

I finally find my way out of the grounds and as I walk down the street I watch as people become skilled in martial arts. They dodge and swipe at the leaves, helicopters and other debris that rains down on them. I stifle my laughter as a woman jumps when a leaf hits her forehead before continuing on its way.

People here seem more prepared. Gloves and scarfs and thicker coats are worn. There’s the occasional jogger going past who wears a beanie hat and I silently commend them for their courage. I’m not a runner on the best of days but when it’s like this… it’s a struggle for me to find the will to get out of bed.

The pavement that I walk on is no longer its dark and dull grey with spots of chewing gum white. Instead it is a thick carpet of fire. Reds, oranges and yellows glare up at me. Each step I take makes a satisfying crisp cracking sound which can just be heard over the noise of passing cars. I’m savouring each step today. It won’t be long before the bitterly cold air is cut by lashings of rain. Then the crunch of the leaves will disappear and becomes a sludge of brown matter that you pray won’t get stuck to your wellington boots.

It’s not long before I reach my car. Settling myself inside it’s as if the vehicle has become a cool box. Shivering, I jam my key into the ignition. It takes some time but eventually the car shows signs that it is alive. I turn the radiator dial from blue all the way to the thickest patch of red. I don’t dare to drive yet. Involuntary muscle spasms in the form of shivering do not exclude my legs. The last thing I need is to be tapping on the break and accelerator without any real means to.

Autumn always seems to go by in a hurry. It’s almost as if it rushes to clear up what summer has done ready for winter to make its grand appearance. But I like autumn and I wish it would stay longer. It’s an in between season where things change dramatically. Not just physically through the things around us but also the people.

I always find that people have changed the most around autumn. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent so long in education. After spending a summer where you see some and not others, starting back in autumn can be a showcase of changes. A catwalk for personalities. Stories about holidays, work experience and illnesses. And I listen to each, intent to learn how the person I knew only a few months ago has changed even if that change is slight.

The car eventually warms and I can finally see through the windscreen. I ease myself out of the car park and head towards home hoping that when I wake tomorrow that autumn will not have rushed out of my sight.

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Ebook Review: The 13th Prophet - T. Lucas Earle

Title: The 13th Prophet - T. Lucas Earle
Publisher: N/A
Series: N/A
Service: Received from author for an honest review 
Release Date: 08/07/2013
Pages: 23
Format: Kindle

Rating: ★★★★

Buy || Website || Goodreads

Mulligan Burke, an over-the-hill P.I. who has forsaken the evils of Personality implants, is brought back from Alaska to investigate the murder of one of the Prophets. The Prophets inhabit the highest position of the social hierarchy - they dictate fashion trends. Fashion, in this instance, encompasses much more than clothing. And, as Burke discovers, being fashionable is something to die - or kill - for.

Give me one word…

Why do you say that?

Mulligan Burke is an old aged PI who has been brought back from his retirement from Alaska in order to solve the mystery, who killed Defiance? Throughout the story we follow him as he attempts to gather as much information as possible to give the people the answer they want.

Earle creates a beautiful world where fashion dictates personality and where you wouldn’t be caught dead in last season’s line. His characters are well thought out. The contrast of Burke who is very business like and is lightened by his specific humour to the Prophets and others around him is beautifully done. Each of the Prophets seemed to live up to their name and I especially enjoyed the glimpses of Bliss that were given to us and I would love to have had more interaction with them.

When I first started the story I will admit that I was slightly confused at what was going on as we are thrown into the thick of it but within a few pages everything falls into place. Earle manages to keep the story fast paced and keeps you guessing right until the very end.

I was not disappointed by the end of this murder mystery. I would highly recommend this if you love the dystopian genre but I do warn you that it will leave you wanting more.