Christmas Day is almost here. Are you one of the people who think it’s "too much hassle for one stupid day?" or do you wish Christmas lasted forever? I must confess, while untangling a string of lights for over an hour, I did wonder what I was doing it for, but then when my friend recounted the argument she had with her husband ("I’m not risking life and limb up a ladder just for some wanky Christmas tat"), I realised how funny it was. How funny Christmas is, with all its weird traditions and superstition.
I’ve not sent cards (again) this year or made my own Christmas cake (again). I didn’t finish all my craft projects or lose 5lb so I could find it in the bottom of a tin of Quality Street. I finally got that email I'd really wanted to receive; I’m not entirely happy with what I got my brother, but it is too late now.
Christmas is coming like winter in Game of Thrones. I'm armed with a bin bag for the wrapping paper and a Labrador for cleaning up spilled gravy. (Hey, remember last year when James spent two days feeding a ham and studding it with cloves, only for Buddy to knock it off the kitchen worktop on Christmas Eve? He was found bloated and suffering from meat sweats by the back door, cloves in between his teeth and a very waggy tail.) I hope however you do or do not do Christmas, that you have a wonderful time. Here’s to health and happiness and a brilliant 2024.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: You realise I can help with the spilled gravy as well, right?] |
|
|
Ah, the day before Christmas when the dreams and wishes of millions are somehow connected against the same starry, hopeful backdrop. I wrote a short story with that in mind so if you fancy a festive diversion as you take a break from all that cooking and wrapping, it's live on my website now. | | |
|
|
If you don't mind indulging me for just one moment, I'd like to blow a short, merry fanfare on my own horn. Over on Goodreads, Goodbye Birdie Greenwing has fifteen reviews, all of them FIVE STAR REVIEWS! How fantastic is that? I'm so thrilled. Genuinely, I'd like to send my heartfelt THANKS to everybody who's read the book and taken the time to post such postive words. It really is the best Christmas gift I could receive. |
|
|
Goodbye Birdie, Hello Festive Competition |
|
|
To spread a little seasonal love, I'd like to offer my lovely Enzograph subscribers the chance to win an advance copy of Goodbye Birdie Greenwing. You'll be able to read it weeks before it's actually published. All you need to do is post something lovely on Instagram and tag me in using @erickawaller1 I really don't mind what you post. It could be your Christmas tree or decorations, something festive you've been up to, your pets, your messy bookshelves, your Christmas baking triumph (or disaster)... Just something to raise a smile. I'll select my favourite in the New Year and get in touch for where to send your book. Best of luck! |
|
|
My Top Five Tips for Surviving Christmas |
|
|
Yup - potentially a lot of fun but often a lot of stress. Here are my top tips for making it through Christmas (relatively) unscathed. |
|
|
1: Prep what food you can in advance I don’t really know what this means because I don’t do any of the cooking, my husband does. He told me it was his top tip. I do clean up though and advise a playlist of alternative Christmas songs to scrub that roasted parsnip pan to. You could include...
Merry Christmas (Kiss My Ass) by Low
Don’t Shoot Me Santa by The Killers
Merry Christmas I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight by The Ramones
Christmas Was Better in the 80s by Futureheads
I Won’t be Home for Christmas by Blink 182
Yule Shoot Your Eye Out by Fall out Boy |
|
|
2: Text people Friends, family you can’t be with. Hearing from people I care about, knowing they are thinking of me, that they took a moment out of such a busy day to contact me means more to me than (most of) my gifts. Oh, and remember to take loads of photos, videos too. And give someone a hug and tell them that they are a gift. Ideally someone you like. 3: Get outside Even in the rain. Grab a dog or a child or just yourself. Think about the good things that happened this year, the fact that you are still standing after the bad things. Take a moment to notice the sky and the birds and the trees and the sun. Gifts are great and the meal is marvellous, but life, and freedom to just go where we like, no lockdown, no restrictions, is pretty awesome too. |
|
|
4: Do something for charity Give a donation, help a food bank or get involved in your local buy a present scheme. Even if you can only afford something very small, it will mean so much to someone with nothing. Some people’s Christmas wishes are impossible. If you have the power to bring happiness where you can, then please do. 5: Don’t set unrealistic New Year goals. Don’t wear trousers that are too tight. Don’t worry about your hair or burning the gravy. Don’t think about calories or all the wrapping paper all over the place. Watch a film, have a sleep. Forgive and forget or decide 'fuck it' and finally say what you really mean. If you are going to row, food fights make it better. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This makes twelve tips, Ericka. You could have just said "Top Twelve Tips" you know? That actually would have made it more Christmassy, like partidges and leaping Lords and all that malarky.] |
|
|
Editor's Picks - Enzo's Favourite Blog Posts and Stories of 2023 |
|
|
Editor Enzo here. You've gotta hand it to her - Ericka's been working her tail off throughout 2023, not only finalising a new novel for publication but writing at least one short story and/or blog post for her new website every month. Of course, most of it was a load of old rubbish but there were a few pieces that I thought were worthy of revisiting... |
|
|
Hidden Disabilities This one was a soaraway success and is still the most visited entry on the blog - by far. An open, honest exploration of living a life made smaller by health issues. READ HERE |
|
|
Him and Me "I remember him so vividly, so brightly. I don’t remember myself." A short story that explores how it feels to grow up with a beloved sibling. READ HERE |
|
|
The Things I Still Don't Know "I wish I could be fifteen again. Just for a day." READ HERE |
|
|
Fifty Words For Snow The very first short story added to the freshly launched website back in January 2023. The beauty of a snowy landscape, captured in boyhood memories of love and laughter. READ HERE |
|
|
Your Wild and Precious Life In which Ericka discovers solipsism at a funeral and ruminates on the inevitible isolation of the human experience. It's a lot more enjoyable than it sounds. No, really. READ HERE |
|
|
Best of the Best - My Top Five Books of 2023 |
|
|
So, Editor Enzo said I had to come up with a list of my favourite FIVE books of the year. Only five. This was so hard and I'm already regretting some of my choices but these five are the books that I connected with hardest and miss reading. The ones whose spines I stroke when I walk past them. I read so many great books this year and I feel bad for all the books I left out. I'm sorry, I really am. In fact, I need to add one more. The Haunting in the Arctic by C J Cooke because even though it made me pee myself with fear, it also became my obsession and took me miles away from myself. Can I also add The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson because Mabel is just everything you want in a character? [EDITOR'S NOTE: No. Just stop now.] 1: In Memorium by Alice Winn I called this as my book of year as soon as I'd read it. It's a story about friendship, love and bravery - and about devastating loss. Unflinching scenes of war are tempered by moments of pure joy. I will read this book again and again and again. A triumph. 2: North Woods by Daniel Mason I don't know where to start with my praise. I listened to this one on audible and it was so perfect that I made myself ration it. Daniel Mason is a genius. 3: The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki This book deserved to win the woman's prize for fiction (2022). I fell in love with it from the very first page. Quirky, sad, funny, tender and so wise. 4: Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll This book blew me away. I am fascinated by stories about serial killers that explore the lives of their victims and I had goosebumps the entire time. A tense and uncomfortable but incredible read. 5: The Postcard by Anne Berest A powerful exploration of family trauma that's a truly harrowing read. Incredibly well written and utterly terrifying. |
|
|
My final mini book reviews of the year have been posted. If you receive a Book Token under your tree - and what a lovely gift that would be - and you're looking for a recommendation, head over to my website. | | |
|
|
Just look at my big, handsome Buddy, proudly welcoming in the season of cheer and goodwill. (I may have been holding a sausage aloft here.) |
|
|
See you next year - and THANK YOU! |
|
|
Well, that's it for 2023. I'm looking forward to seeing you all again next year. I've really enjoyed sharing my writing (plus lots of fluff and nonsense) with you every month and I'm genuinely very, very grateful for all your support. I'll leave you with a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU for being a valued Enzograph subscriber. And lots of wet dog kisses. Peace and paws out, people
Ericka (and Enzo) PS. Don't forget to enter the competition. |
|
|
|
|
