Mince pies are my favourite thing to eat at Christmas. I side with Nigel Slater, who writes in (the most hygge book I've ever read) The Christmas Chronicles, 'As sweet food goes, I would rather eat a diminutive, sugar-dusted mince pie than almost anything else.' But, despite my affections for this gently spiced sweet pie,… Continue reading Mince Pies – A Personal History
Tag: Christmas
Some Seasonal Reading
This was supposed to be an extensive write-up, posted well before Christmas. I wanted to write a merry, celebratory post about some of the most satisfying, illuminating, imaginative seasonal reads, which have made my life (and my winters) better for having been published. But, surprise, surprise, I haven't been doing all that well lately so… Continue reading Some Seasonal Reading
Making Space & Time For Winter
I stepped away from social media last night, and what a relief it was. I'll be away from IG and FB for all of December, and I'm already reaping the benefits - I've read for several hours (started the new issue of Mslexia and A Literary Christmas: An Anthology.) I haven't misused my time stressing… Continue reading Making Space & Time For Winter
Nourishing Myself With Wintry Reading
By mid-morning on Christmas Day I’m usually ready to retreat from the fray to the quietest corner I can find with a book and a cup of tea. Though wasn’t much ‘fray’ today so I ought to have been entirely blissed out. However, I still felt the niggling need to hide myself a way for… Continue reading Nourishing Myself With Wintry Reading
Grýla – A Poem
Grýla was one of the first poems I wrote for my upcoming poetry collection. For those unfamiliar with Icelandic Christmas lore, Grýla is an ogress who comes down from her cave on Mt Esja (the mountain range that watches over Reykjavik) at Christmas time to steal and devour disobedient children. Grýla has been much softened over… Continue reading Grýla – A Poem
On This Winter Solstice
Is it odd I don't feel especially joyous about the sun's return? That I don't particularly look forward to the days getting longer and lighter? Winter, my favourite season of all, is only just upon us, but from tomorrow, the sun begins its march back north. Many of my friends are ecstatic about the promise… Continue reading On This Winter Solstice
A Wyrd Of Her Own 