- On the
first day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: what was your best
present?
I’ve
had lots of really lovely presents. A watercolour of my favourite place in the
whole world, Lyme Regis in Dorset features highly. But books are always
welcome. Natch!
- 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. Some slippers in the wrong size
too. But it’s the thought that counts. Remember to put on your grateful face!
- On the
third day of Christmas ... oh you get the idea! What was your best
Christmas?
Every
Christmas is special. There’s just something truly magical about the season. I
love it, wherever I celebrate it and whoever I’m with. Snow makes it
extra-wonderful. One Christmas morning we took the dogs for a long walk across
the fields, which were covered in two or three feet of snow. That was
memorable. Especially as the dogs spent the rest of the day asleep and left us
in peace!
- On the
fourth day ... what was your worst?
Without
going into details it involved Christmas Day being spent in hospital with a
very poorly family member.
- On the
fifth day ... weirdest Christmas?
I’ve
spent Christmas Day on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic and one in Siberia.
Both wonderful and weird in their way. No shortage of snow in Siberia! The huge
ice sculptures in the park in Irkutsk were astonishing. Great snowball fights
too.
- On the
sixth day ... ideal Christmas?
Either
sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere hot or surrounded by family and friends
and having lots of parties.
- On the
seventh day ... favourite thing about Christmas?
Everything!
Food, cheesy television, 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. Bring it on!
- On the
eighth day ... favourite carol?
Fave
is my pal Carol – my oldest friend! Although she hates Christmas so I’ll choose
again. I love ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ It’s a very quiet, thoughtful carol,
with beautiful poetry by Christina Rossetti.
- On the
ninth day ... favourite film?
No
hesitation about this one – While I Was Sleeping. I watch it every Christmas,
without fail.
- 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. Q What do you call a donkey with only three legs? A Wonky!
- On the
eleventh day ... Who would you like to find in your Christmas stocking?
What
a great question. There are quite a few I can think of. Gethin Jones, Richard
Armitage, Aidan Turner, Colin Firth, Idris Elba, Rob James Collier, Santiago
Cabrera, Rupert Graves. Do you think they’d all fit? Just as well I have
extra-large stockings!
- On the twelfth
day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: who would you 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 friends and family plus Jane Austen, Dawn French, Elizabeth 1, Eric
Morecambe, Oscar Wilde, Ray Mears and Rupert Everett. What a party that would
be.
About the author:
I used to live in London, where I worked in
the theatre. Then I got the bizarre job of
A few years ago, I did an ‘Escape to the
Country’. I now live in a tiny Herefordshire village, where I scandalise the
neighbours by not keeping ‘country hours’ and being unable to make a decent pot
of plum jam. Home is a converted oast house, which I share with my two beloved
spaniels, husband (also beloved) and a ghost called Zoe.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel widely,
though prefer to set my novels closer to home. Perhaps more research is needed?
I’ve always wanted to base a book in the Caribbean!
I am addicted to Belgian chocolate, Jane
Austen and, most of all, Strictly Come Dancing. Keep dancing, everyone!
Say it with Sequins (sparkly and
Christmassy) and While I Was Waiting (not at all Christmassy) out now from
Harper Impulse.
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