Friday, 3 October 2025

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (138) – New Year’s Day

 

January

 

Lenny Drake lived with his wife Alicia in a small two-bedroom cottage on the banks of the River Oxley and on New Year’s Day he woke up annoyingly early, having had a disturbed night, as he was unable to sleep, and the reason for that was a guilty conscience.

So he got up and left Alicia sleeping and went downstairs where he sat in the kitchen drinking coffee and thinking about the source of his anxiety.

What was bothering him was the simple fact that he had lied to his wife.

They had only been married for a few months and up until that Christmas he had never done it before, and in the space of a few days he had done it twice, and his deceit hung heavy on his mind.

The first time was on Boxing Day when he feigned a migraine to avoid driving to Pipershaven to spend the day with his parents and the second was on New Year’s Eve when he told her that the car battery was flat so they couldn’t get to Sharpington for a party at her sister’s house.

Two totally different lies but both motivated by the same thing and that was the desire to spend every minute of their first Christmas and New Year on their own.

He quickly made a New Year’s resolution to never lie to Alicia again.

 

They were due to eat New Year’s Day lunch at her parent’s house in Finchbottom, which he didn’t want to go to because he wanted to keep Alicia all to himself, but he had no choice because he couldn’t lie again so at nine o’clock he stopped ruminating and made Alicia a cup of tea.

 

Five minutes later, tea mug in hand, he was on his way upstairs to wake his lovely wife when the phone rang, so he stopped and did a U-turn and picked up the phone.

“Hello”

“Lenny?” the voice said “it’s Matt”

Matt was Alicia’s Dad.

“Hi Matt, Happy New Year” he said

“Yes Happy New Year” he responded vaguely

“Is everything ok?” Lenny asked

“No” he replied, “not at all, it’s Annie”

Annie was his wife,

“She’s been throwing up most of the night, so we thought it best to cancel lunch as a precaution” he continued “I’m sorry to let you down”

“Nonsense” Lenny said, as he punched the air, “These things happen”

“I suspect it’s been brought on by two much rich food” Matt elaborated “but just in case it is a bug we have decided to quarantine ourselves”

Lenny suspected it was more likely brought on by too much Pinot but he didn’t say that, instead he just said

“Very sensible”

 

After he had put down the phone he continued his journey up the stairs to his sleeping wife.

After tiptoeing into the room, he put her tea on the bedside cabinet and slipped into bed beside her.

Once he was under the covers he leant over and kissed her neck and as she stirred, he cuddled up behind her and began kissing her ear.

“We don’t have time for that” she purred

“Oh, I think we do” he retorted and nibbled her lobe.

“No, we don’t” she reiterated “You’re forgetting about lunch at my parents”

“No, I’m not, it’s been cancelled” he told her, and she rolled onto her back and gave him a suspicious look

“Why?”

“Your mum’s throwing up” Lenny said “Your Dad thinks it might be a bug”

“It’s more likely too much Pinot” Alicia said and laughed, until her demeanour changed suddenly.

“So, we don’t have to get up and go out” she mused

“Correct” he agreed

“Oh goody” Alicia said and wrapped herself around him “We get to spend the whole day together just the two of us”

“We do” he said and kissed her

“And without pretending to have a migraine or a flat battery” Alicia added

“What?”

“You know perfectly well what” she said

“You mean you knew all along?” he asked

“Of course”

“So why didn’t you say something?” Lenny asked

“Because I didn’t want to go either” she admitted and kissed him passionately which lead to them having a very late lunch at home.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (137) – New Year’s Eve

 

December

 

Quiet and thoughtful Fifty-year-old widow Oliver Hibbert was spending New Year’s Eve alone in his Victorian Cottage, for a number of reasons, the first of which being that he wasn’t big on the whole New Year’s concept and it wasn’t a time that held any deep significance for him, he loved Christmas and embraced every aspect the season, but not so much New Year’s.

Secondly, he was normally feeling more than a little jaded by the time it arrived and this year, after overindulging quite spectacularly over Christmas, he was even more so.

But the final and most significant reason was because he had lost his heart to someone who was, he was sure, unlikely to return his love, as she had a younger much more attractive man dancing attendance on her, and although he was due to attend the New Year’s Eve Ball at the Barnabus Manor Hotel, where she would also be present, he declined the invitation as being so close to her, especially in all her party splendour, would have been too hard for him to bear.

The object of his affection was Amelia Fleming, also widowed, but she was three years younger than he and she was bubbly and vivacious, so Oliver was resigned to the fact that it was not to be, so he settled down to a quite evening on his own.

He had his laptop to hand and spent about an hour writing emails to friends and family, which he left as drafts to send after Big Ben struck twelve.

The rest of the time he watched TV and picked at any and all of the nibbles within easy reach of his comfy chair.

By ten o’clock he was a little bored with the New Year’s Eve offerings on TV and about an hour later he decided to put on a DVD and was just returning to his chair when the doorbell rang.

Oliver had no idea who it might be, he certainly wasn’t expecting anyone.

 

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see the diminutive figure of Amelia Fleming standing on the doorstep in full evening wear and over her shoulder he could see a taxi pulling away.

“Hello” he said with genuine surprise

“Hello Darling” Amelia said, “Can I come in? It’s bloody freezing”

“Of course, of course” he said fussily “come in, come in”

Once inside she slipped off her stole and walked through to the lounge and he thought she looked absolutely gorgeous in a full-length magenta evening dress.

“Lead me to the wine” Amelia said “I’m gasping”

He led the way to the kitchen and opened the fridge and took out an open bottle of wine.

Then he took two large wine glasses from the cupboard and filled them both generously then handed one of them to her.

“Thank you darling” she said and took a large slurp and then they proceeded to the lounge.

Matt followed her along the hall and had another chance to admire her form encapsulated in her evening dress.

As usual she was perfectly accessorized with long elbow length gloves, and clutch purse etcetera, and knowing what a classy lady she was, he imagined her to be fully accessorized under the dress as well.

“You’re a bit overdressed for my humble abode” he observed.

“I know” Amelia said as she sat down “I was going to the New Year Ball but…”

“But?” he asked

“I couldn’t face everyone quizzing me about Harry”

“About what?” he quizzed, fearing the worst.

“He told everyone that we were a couple, and very much in love” she replied, “and that we were moving in together”

“And you’re not?” he asked hopefully

“No we’re bloody not” Amelia said definitely “But people believed him, how could they think that, why on earth would I do such a thing?”

“Well he’s a good-looking man, and a very…. athletic man” Matt said

“Yes, he is both of those” she agreed “but he’s also a boy”

“He doesn’t look much like a boy to me” he said

“None the less, he is” she corrected him “It’s flattering of course, to have a young stud pay me some attention, but a physical relationship with someone like that, on tap 24-7 would probably kill me”

Amelia laughed at the thought and then continued

“It would probably be like a marathon and a triathlon combined, and would send me to an early grave”

She was laughing again while Oliver digested the information that there had been no physicality between them.

“He did however open my eyes and show me that I’m still an attractive woman, still a sexy woman”

“I could have told you that” Oliver said a little to definitely, which didn’t go unnoticed by Amelia as she continued

“My husband didn’t appreciate that, and I need to be with someone who sees me the way that you do”

Matt raised his eyebrows, and she laughed and then said

“I’m not just here because I couldn’t face the Ball” 

“Oh” he said, and Amelia was giggling and blushing as she slipped out of her seat and knelt on the floor in front of him, and when she had slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him to the accompaniment of Big Ben chiming, Amelia kissed him from one year to the next.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (136) – Feast of St Stephen

 

December

 

The village of Pepperstock Green was where the home for the Long family, which was where the family were expected to return to for Christmas.

There were four daughters in the family Karen, Laura, Sally and Amy, the older two were married and had been in the village since the schools broke up for the Christmas Holidays, but the younger pair couldn’t get there until Boxing Day because they were both Nurses at the Pepperstock and Winston Churchill Hospital and were both on duty on Christmas Day.

       

Sally and Amy lived together and were as different as chalk and cheese, Amy was tall, slim and blonde while Sally was shorter and brunette, in fact the only things they had in common were blue eyes, a surname, a profession, and a taste in men, in every other way they differed, and the best way to sum them up would be to say that Sally had a heart and a brain whereas Amy possessed neither.

 

They set off from Abbottsford at the crack of dawn after Amy’s boyfriend Tim Garratt picked them up from the hospital, he was medium height, black hair, gypsy eyes, a kind heart and Sally loved him.

As the sisters had been on duty all night they slept all the way to home and when they arrived, refreshed by a few hours’ sleep, they found there was a house full at the Long’s and a great day followed, a huge family dinner and plenty of wine and as they were staying the night they all got a bit merry, apart from Amy who got hammered after gorging herself.

It was a big house but even so a reshuffle on the accommodation front was required, due to their mother’s insistence that Amy and Tim sleep in separate rooms, because their mother was a good Christian woman and didn’t believe in that kind of thing.

The result of the reshuffle meant that Tim shared the spare room with Cousin Steve while Sally was forced to endure her sisters’ constant drunken snoring and farting as they each slept on a sofa in the lounge.

Sally found it difficult to drop off, partly because of Amy and her horrendous snoring, but also because her head was full of images of her sister’s boyfriend.

After tossing and turning for about an hour her attempts to drop off were further frustrated by an acute need to pee so she got up and tiptoed her way upstairs to the loo.

 

Sally was yawning as she left the bathroom and stepped back onto the landing, not really paying attention to what she was doing and subsequently bumped into Tim coming the other way, who wrapped his arms around her and carried her back into the bathroom where he planted a passionate, sensual kiss on her lips.

“We shouldn’t be doing this” she said coming up for air

“Why? You were enjoying it” Tim said and kissed her anew

“That’s not the point” she protested

“So, you admit you were enjoying it” he said “so let’s do it again”

“We mustn’t” Sally insisted and opened some distance between them

“But it’s really nice” He said wistfully

“I know but we can’t be doing it anymore” she said indignantly

“I know you like me” he continued as he leant against the door

“I’ve seen you looking at me when you think no one’s looking”

“Ah” she exclaimed and sat down on the loo.

Tim had been going out with Amy for about three months, and Sally fell in love with him the instant she brought him home.

But the thought never crossed her mind to do anything about it, she had a strong moral compass, and you didn’t do things like that, it wasn’t cricket, even if her sister didn’t deserve him.

So, she just worshipped him from afar.

“I’m sorry” she said

“Why are you sorry?” Tim asked

“For being too weak” she replied “I had no right to fall for you”

“I don’t think you’re weak” Tim said “Far from it, a weak person wouldn’t have stopped me kissing them”

“Maybe” she conceded

“Your sister wouldn’t have stopped” he added

“I’m not my sister” she pointed out

“I realize that only too well” he said and stepped forward

“I’d better go, but this is for Christmas” he said and kissed her gently

“Merry Christmas”

 

Sally went back downstairs and tried to sleep but she found it even more difficult after her encounter with Tim than she did before.

“This is a real Christmas surprise” she thought as she lay wide awake with only her sisters snoring for company.

When Amy rolled over onto her side she let out a ripping fart, which was as a result of her skinny body trying to deal with all the food and drink she shoved into it during the course of the day.

A minute or so later a cloud of noxious gas drifted over Sally, and it was so foul she decided to leave the room and take sanctuary in the kitchen.

 

She walked out into the hall and turned towards the kitchen and just as he reached the kitchen door a voice from behind said 

“Hello again”

She turned around to see Tim sitting on the stairs.

“Hi Tim” she said, “Are you stalking me?”

“Would you mind?” he asked

“No comment, do you want a drink?” she said and went into the kitchen and Tim followed on behind.

 

She made the drinks and sat down at the table opposite him.

“So, you can’t sleep either then” she said

“I’m afraid not”

“Something on your mind” Sally asked

“Something” he agreed but didn’t elaborate so she didn’t pursue it any further.

But after five minutes he asked

“Would you go out with me if I wasn’t spoken for?”

“If you weren’t going out with Amy I’d go out with you in a heartbeat”

She replied

“Why?” Tim added

“Why would I go out with you?” she said

“Where do I start? Your hair, your eyes, your smile, your laugh but most of all your heart”

Tim gave her a dazzling smile when she had finished her catalogue and said

“I’ve broken up with her”

“What?” Sally asked

“We broke up” he replied

“When?”

“Last week”

“But why?”

“Well partly because she’s been seeing my best friend Benny” he replied “or my ex best friend Benny I should say”

“Was she?” Sally asked in disbelief

“You didn’t know then?”

“No, I didn’t, honestly” she said “she wouldn’t tell me something like that because she knows I’d disapprove”

“No, that’s because you are a better human being” Tim said proudly

“I don’t know about that” Sally said, “What was the rest of the reason?”

“What?”

“You said Amy and Benny was only part of the reason”

“Oh yes I see” he said “well mostly I broke up with her because she’s not you”

Sally couldn’t believe her ears, did those words really come out of his mouth, it wasn’t possible that he was really attracted to her.

“So, if you broke up with her last week why did you still come today?” she asked

“Because you’re here” he replied and walked around the table, bent down and kissed her.

It was a long and lingering kiss and when it was over she enjoyed it so much she was feeling guilty.

“Does Amy know?”

“Yes” he said eager to resume

“So why didn’t she say something?” he asked “she’s rubbish at keeping secrets”

“Because I told her I’d send the nude selfie she’d sent me to all my friends if she didn’t, especially if it spoiled my chances with you” he replied and kissed her again before she could speak anymore.

The prolonged kiss showed no sign of abating until a voice said

“What’s going on in here then?”

It was Cousin James who Tim was sharing the spare room with.

“He’s just wishing me a Happy Christmas?” Sally said

“Result” James remarked as he poured himself a glass of water and then added

“I’ll leave you two alone”

“Good because I want to wish her a Happy New Year now” Tim replied

“I think that’s a given” Sally said

 

They left Pepperstock Green shortly after lunch the next day and had a clear run back to Abbottsford.

Tim was driving and Sally rode shotgun while a rather fragile Amy sat in the back and judging by the aromas emanating from back there it was obvious her digestive tract was still processing the garbage she consumed the previous day.

It was a very quiet and uneventful journey home with all of them lost in their own thoughts.

Sallys were quite philosophical as she pondered the difference a day makes, on the journey up she was envious of her sister and felt guilty for the way she looked at Tim, while on the way back she couldn’t stop smiling and looked like the cat that got the cream, which of course she had.

Thursday, 2 October 2025

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (135) – St Stephen’s Day

 

December

 

It was quiet in the village on Boxing Day, and it was even quieter than would be expected as it was snowing.

In fact, it was eerily quiet as Lisa Morgan and Lee Kingsley conspicuously stood in the corner of the bus shelter.

It was conspicuous for the simple reason that no buses ran to the village on Boxing Day, but then they weren’t there for a bus, they were there for some kissing.

“I have a confession to make” Lisa said.
“Oh? What?” Lee asked her “Are you Gay?”

“No, I am not Gay” she said indignantly “Why, do I kiss like a Lesbian?”

“No, no you just said you had a confession to make” he said defensively

“And you automatically thought, Lesbian” she snapped “Why would a Lesbian be kissing a man in bus shelter in this weather?”

“Fair enough, sorry” Lee said, “Are you married then?”

“What? No, not that I remember” she replied “I would hope if I were, I wouldn’t be standing in a bus shelter kissing another man”

“Good point” he said but she could have been married for all he knew, he hadn’t known her long and they’d only had their fifth date on Christmas Eve and so there was still a lot he didn’t know about her.

Lisa was new to the village, her family had moved into the house next door to his parents, a few weeks before Christmas from somewhere in Abbottsford.

He liked the look of her from the first minute he saw her and asked her out, but it took a couple of attempts before he wore her down.

It was kind of an instant attraction thing, for him, and since the first attraction it had gradually deepened, and by Christmas he was head over heels in love with her.

 

They were on the way to the village pub, The Black Wolf, when they stopped for an intimate interlude in the bus shelter, they were heading to the pub because they showed live football in the bar and there was a huge match on.

It was an FA cup 2nd round replay between Pipershaven City and Sharpington Rangers which was a first because neither team had been on TV before, and the prize would be another first for either team, a tie in the 3rd round, and if that wasn’t enough of an incentive, their opponents would be Man Utd, so it was hugely important because Lee was Pipershaven fan.

Everything was going great when they were kissing in the bus shelter until she said she had a confession to make.

“What then?” he asked
“I’ve been dreading saying this” she said “But here goes”

Lee was really worried, especially after she said she was “dreading it” and began to wonder if he really wanted to know, and when Lisa took a deep breath Lee braced himself

“I’m a Rangers supporter” she said and closed her eyes and grimaced, it took a moment for the full implications of her statement to sink in.

“I think I would have preferred it if you were married, or a Lesbian, or a married Lesbian” he said, and she moved close into him and asked

“Do you mean you would prefer a married woman to be in love with you rather than a Sharpington Rangers supporter?”

“She loves me” he said to himself, and he wasn’t sure if that shocked him more than the fact she supported Rangers.

“I'm sorry” she said “Not much of a Christmas present for my new boyfriend I’m afraid”
“You couldn't be more wrong” he said “It was the perfect Christmas
present, when you said you loved me”

Then he kissed her and when they paused she said

“We’re going to miss the match”

“It’s only a game” he replied and returned to the kissing

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (134) – Maxine the Muse

 

December

 

Jeff Forman couldn’t imagine who would be knocking on the door at 7 am on Christmas morning, but he opened it anyway and found Maxine’s Aunt Anne standing there.

“Happy Christmas Anne” he said

“Happy Christmas Jeff” she responded but without any real conviction.

“Have you seen Maxine?” she asked “I saw her coming this way last night when I was walking the dog”

“I went to the cottage to wish her Happy Christmas and there’s no sign of her and her bed hasn’t been disturbed” she continued pacing the small hallway.

“All the lights are still on but there’s no sign of her and I’m really worried”

“Shhh” he said putting a finger to his lips “Come here Anne, she’s asleep in the lounge”

She crept to the door and had a glance through the gap into the sitting room.

“How long?” she asked

“Over six hours” he replied

“She obviously feels safe with you” Anne said

“I won’t wake her” he said

“I’m sorry you have been disturbed like this” she added

“Nonsense, I enjoy having a beautiful girl for company at Christmas”

“You think she’s beautiful?” she asked

“Of course, doesn’t everybody?” he asked

Anne smiled at him and kissed his cheek “Happy Christmas Jeff” she said

“Christmas Dinner is at 3 o’clock”

 

After Anne had left, he finished his drink and the lack of sleep suddenly caught up with him and he knew he had to sleep.

He didn’t want to leave Maxine to wake up on her own, but he was too tired to sleep in an armchair.

He thought for a moment and then went into the bedroom and got out the spare duvet before returning to the lounge.

He carefully drew back the throw from around her small frail frame and then picked her up.

“Hmmm” she murmured as he held her, then he carefully carried the beautiful featherweight little creature into the bedroom.

Jeff laid her on top of the duvet and covered her with the spare.

He then went out and turned off the lights and locked the front door before returning to the bedroom and gently slipped between the duvets to lay down beside Maxine.

“Hmmm” she murmured as she snuggled in against him, so he put his arm around her and drifted off into a contented sleep.

 

It was remarkable how life can surprise you, when he rented Honeysuckle Cottage it was only ever intended as a short let, but he knew when he woke up in bed next to a smiling Maxine on Christmas morning, he would never leave the village.

The book was well under way now and he could easily have moved back to civilization, but while he had struggled with a particularly troublesome chapter, she had become his muse and his love.

 

Maxine, who had for so long held the world at arm’s length and avoided forming emotional attachments of any kind for fear they might lead to her heart being broken again, never imagined the course of events would take after she rescued the panicky man lost in the woods.

She certainly never imagined she would wake up in his bed three months later or that she would have fallen in love with him.

 

When they woke up, they just lay beneath the cozy comforting warmth of the duvet and talked for an hour, all the unsaid things they had wanted to say in the weeks preceding Christmas when they had lost their hearts, before they reluctantly agreed that they needed to move as they couldn’t disappoint Aunt Anne.

Jeff got up first and showered shaved and dressed then Maxine showered while he warmed up the car.

When she had redressed, he drove her to her house, where she finished getting ready and he waited in the house.

It was the first time he had been inside there and it had an almost museum feel to it, no wonder she was always wandering.

They left the car outside Maxine’s house and prepared to walk the hundred yards or so to Aunt Anne’s when it began to snow.

“This is the best Christmas ever” she said and took hold of his hand

“It’s a perfect Christmas” he concurred and kissed her

 

The moment they walked in through the front door of Annes he realized the wisdom of leaving the car at Maxine’s because he would not be using it anymore that day as Uncle Norman thrust a cocktail of gargantuan proportions and indeterminate strength into his hand and he had no reason to suppose it wasn’t to be the first of many.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (133) – Christmas Morning

 

December

 

In the two years since Toddy Phelps left the St Adelaide’s convent her life had changed beyond all recognition, she had moved to the village, met and married Charlie and was managing the reincarnation of the St Adelaide’s as a Retreat.

Having only just celebrated their first wedding anniversary a week earlier Charlie and Toddy were enjoying a quiet Christmas as the year before they were away on their honeymoon, so they had attended all the Christmas celebrations this year, including Midnight Mass and as they sat in the semi darkness Toddy made a declaration

“I love you Charlie Phelps”

“I love you too” he replied “and I really want to kiss you”

“There will be time enough for that” she said and squeezed his hand

 

After midnight, Toddy and Charlie shared the peace with their fellow worshippers and then when they went outside Charlie got his kiss and then they went back home.

 

Early the next morning, just before dawn, Toddy woke up and when her eyes grew accustomed to the dark she kissed Charlie’s shoulder and got up to spend a penny before she returned to bed and cuddled up to Charlie.

“Merry Christmas Darling” Toddy said as she kissed her love awake.

“Merry Christmas honey” he replied sleepily, and they cuddled up close.

“This is really nice, but we’d better get up and have breakfast” He said

“I’ve been up already”

“Really? So, I’ve nothing to get up for then” Charlie said and started nibbling Toddy’s ear.

 

Charlie and Toddy finally dragged themselves out of bed and Toddy put the bird in the oven and Charlie made breakfast.

After they’d eaten, they both needed to shower but time was running out.

“We’d better get in together” Charlie said

“Ok but no “funny business”” Toddy retorted

“But you like the funny business” he pointed out

“I know but we don’t have time” Toddy said

Without any “funny business” they made it to the Morning Service on time and when they returned to the house they got the lunch prepared and enjoyed the first of many quiet Christmases together, including present opening after lunch followed by Christmas “Funny Business”.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE LITTLEST LIGHT ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE (2002)

 

The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree is an animated tale of love, peace, friendship and magic.

After Emanual Girthmore (Kenneth Kantor), a money-grubbing owner of the G & J General Store discards a faulty light bulb and a broken angel, Timothy and Melissa Wiggins (Jordan Duffy and Brianna Steinhilber) take them home.

Their doll making Mother Maggie (Jane Seymour) repairs the angel and puts it and the broken light bulb on their tree and that night magic comes alive in the house, and when Emanual gets lost in a snowstorm it’s the Littlest Light that shows him the way to safety and the joy of Christmas.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS TREE (2021)

 

After a “Three Spirits” episode the night before a formerly mean and unscrupulous  boss, Strickling (Shane Ryan-Reid) comes into the office overflowing with Christmas Spirit and directs all his staff to a variety of festive tasks to put on an office party.

Accountant Pace (Socks Whitmore) is sent off to find a real Christmas Tree, but not from a lot, she must go into the California forest to cut one down.

So she sets off armed with an axe on a grand adventure where she meets an Elf called Buddy (Ky Mullen) and they set off on a search for the Magical tree.

But she returns to her car without a tree but with a new love.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS CLASS REUNION (2022)

A group of High school classmates and friends reunite for their 15th high school reunion at Christmas; however something always goes wrong for the class of 2007 which earned them the title of the “cursed class,” and this time is no difference despite being meticulously planned by former class president Elle Chamberlain (Aimee Teegarden).

She is hoping to reconnect with her former crush Kam Westin (Marshall Williams) but instead she is reacquainted with the school clown Devin Ryan (Tanner Novlan) and they see each other in an entirely different light.

 

Also starring Dejan Loyola, Maya Ford and Stephanie Bennett as her friends Jay and Katie Frick and Samantha Smith.

Yasmeen Kelders as Devin’s daughter Skylar, Andy Thompson as Principal Holt and Miriam Smith and Pete Graham as Elle’s parents. 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WITH LOVE, CHRISTMAS (2017)

 

Hard-working, Christmas loving advertising executive, Melanie Welch (Emilie Ullerup) is unexpectedly teamed up with Christmas hating, uptight coworker Donovan Goodwin (Aaron O'Connell) on a major Christmas commercial for a new cell phone.

On top of that, the situation is complicated by the fact that Melanie has drawn Donovan in the annual Secret Santa office gift exchange.

In order to get the best possible gift and to keep her identity secret, she sends Donovan emails from Santa to determine the perfect gift for him and a protracted converse develops between them and they learn about each other.

However, her plan goes awry when Donovan assumes that co-worker Alicia (Lindsay Winch) is his Secret Santa, prompting her sister Jude (Rebecca Davis) to urge Melanie show Donovan that she's his perfect Santa.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SECRETLY SANTA (2017)

 

Hard-working, Christmas loving advertising executive, Melanie Welch (Emilie Ullerup) is unexpectedly teamed up with Christmas hating, uptight coworker Donovan Goodwin (Aaron O'Connell) on a major Christmas commercial for a new cell phone.

On top of that, the situation is complicated by the fact that Melanie has drawn Donovan in the annual Secret Santa office gift exchange.

In order to get the best possible gift and to keep her identity secret, she sends Donovan emails from Santa to determine the perfect gift for him and a protracted converse develops between them and they learn about each other.

However, her plan goes awry when Donovan assumes that co-worker Alicia (Lindsay Winch) is his Secret Santa, prompting her sister Jude (Rebecca Davis) to urge Melanie show Donovan that she's his perfect Santa.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A NOVEL CHRISTMAS (2024)

 

Beloved bestselling children's book author Chloe Anderson (Brigitte Kingsley) ends her book signing tour at the Noelleville bookstore in her hometown and meets the kind-hearted owner, Ethan Carter (Landy Cannon), a devoted single father, and his book-loving daughter Alex (Ariella Cannon) who is also an aspiring writer.

The shared passion for literature sparks an immediate connection between Chloe and Alex, while her connection with Ethan is more of a slow burn.

She is at a crossroads in her career after the tenth book in her series of “Sally” books and really wants to write a novel, and everyone is very supportive, but her publisher is against it.   

So will she follow her heart and embrace a new future, or will she be dragged back into what’s safe?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – DECEMBER BRIDE (2016)

 

Layla O'Reilly (Jessica Lowndes) is an aspiring interior designer who has dreamed all her life of being a December Bride, but then her cousin Jessica (Pauline Egan) invites her to her Christmas Wedding to Layla's ex-fiancé.

Despite the fact that Seth Murphy (Daniel Lissing) was responsible for introducing the bride and groom, she begrudgingly accepts his offer to be her date to the wedding, as going to the wedding alone would have intensified the humiliation.

However he gets carried away at the reception and announces they're engaged, and in the spur of the moment she decided to go along with it.

But as the faux couple spend more time together, pretence turns to something very real.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE MAGIC STOCKING (2015)

 

Three years have passed since Gilford town planner Lindsey Monroe (Bridget Regan) lost her husband during the lead up to Christmas, and because of the timing and the fact that her husband Doug was so integral to Christmas she had struggled to celebrate it.

However, she had decided that for the benefit of her daughter Hannah (Imogen Tear) it was time to put the Christmas decorations up again.

Then two seemingly innocent and unrelated occurrences take place, firstly she meets Scott Terrell (Victor Webster) who has been hired by the town to rebuild the town square gazebo, which must be completed in time for the lighting ceremony, and second Hannah buys a tattered old Christmas stocking at a holiday craft fair.

When the stocking is hung on the mantle, the family begins to “magically” find items in the stocking that they learn have importance in their lives, however Lindsey is sceptical of its “magic” properties even when it seems to create small trinkets on its own.

But as the single mom and the carpenter spend more and more time together, she is left in no doubt.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – RUNAWAY SLEIGH (2016)

 

A busy single mom Laurel Bishop (Erin Cahill) works for Parks and Recreation in Mission City, where she is raising her daughter Scarlett (Dakota Guppy), and is tasked by Mayor Howard Finnegan (Chad Riley) with organizing an elaborate Christmas Parade just two weeks before Christmas, and if she takes it on, and succeeds, she will be promoted to City Manager.

After she borrows a beautiful old sleigh from Mr. Winter (Donovan Scott) she discovers it has a mind of its own when it delivers her into the path of her old flame Alex (David Alpay) who is back in town to help his Aunt Audrey (Robyn Bradley) sell her antiques store.

Laurel knows the sleigh will be perfect for the Santa float if she can fix it up in time, but it seems to keep nudging her back to her handsome ex, despite her reluctance to be reminded of their past.

So can Laurel hold out against the influence of the magical sleigh or will she succumb to Christmas romance.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SLEIGH BELLS RING (2016)

 

A busy single mom Laurel Bishop (Erin Cahill) works for Parks and Recreation in Mission City, where she is raising her daughter Scarlett (Dakota Guppy), and is tasked by Mayor Howard Finnegan (Chad Riley) with organizing an elaborate Christmas Parade just two weeks before Christmas, and if she takes it on, and succeeds, she will be promoted to City Manager.

After she borrows a beautiful old sleigh from Mr. Winter (Donovan Scott) she discovers it has a mind of its own when it delivers her into the path of her old flame Alex (David Alpay) who is back in town to help his Aunt Audrey (Robyn Bradley) sell her antiques store.

Laurel knows the sleigh will be perfect for the Santa float if she can fix it up in time, but it seems to keep nudging her back to her handsome ex, despite her reluctance to be reminded of their past.

So can Laurel hold out against the influence of the magical sleigh or will she succumb to Christmas romance.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS AT THE GREENBRIER (2022)

Widowed mother Abby (Alicia Leigh Willis) and her son Carter (Hudson Barry) lives with her parents while working at the Greenbrier Hotel.

Then one day around the holiday season she is unexpectedly reunited with her former sweetheart, retired professional football player Ben (Josh Murray) whose relationship ended when his football career took off.

Though it was many years after the event feelings were rekindled and it was obvious to everyone that there was still love between them., But will that be enough for them to have a future together?

Barbara Zablocky and Caitlin Clark also star.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS WITH THE FOXES (2023)

Thomas Fox (Patrick M.J. Finerty) is hosting the family's fiftieth annual grand Christmas party for the first time since losing his wife.

It’s a daunting task as she was the perfect hostess and did everything to perfection.

When his daughter Rebecca (Gina Vitori) arrives home she is unhappy, firstly with the décor, secondly that her “boyfriend” Hayden Cooper (Doug Noble) want to delay telling the family they are not together anymore, and finally the appearance at the house of Juliet (Andrea Lee Davis) who she fears is her Dads new girlfriend.

Things are further complicated by the arrival at the party of her former sweetheart Daniel (Tyler Harlow).

Thinking that Juliet is a gold-digger she plots with her brother Brad (Max Budroe) and Aunts Nora and Hazel (Lisa Long and Sophie Arrick) to unmask her during a marathon of Christmas events with unexpected results.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (132) – Midnight Maxine

 

December

 

Once they got into December, Jeff Forman was no longer disappointed at her absences as he saw her every day.

It began on the 1st of the month when she helped me to put up the Christmas decorations and as they were hanging the last of the garlands, she said

“I love Christmas decorations”

“Me too” he said “I’ll help you put yours up when we’re done here”   

“No thanks” Maxine replied

“Why not?” he asked

“I never put decorations up at home” she said

“Why not?”

“I don’t know really” she mused “it makes me sad I suppose, it reminds me of a happier time, and I suppose that makes me sad”

“But you love decorations?” I said

“Yes”

“You love these decorations?” he asked

“Yes”

“Do they make you sad?” he asked

“No”

“Why not?”

“Because I wasn’t a child in this cottage” she replied

“That’s nuts” he said

“I know” Maxine agreed “what can I say”

 

Anyway, Maxine came to the cottage every day to enjoy the decorations, watch classic Christmas movies and eat his stew, but they had kept most of her visits during normal hours until Christmas Eve.

He was burning the midnight oil because he was stuck on a tricky chapter, the first of three chapters which needed to be submitted to his publishers by New Year’s Day.

It was partly Maxine’s fault he had got behind, but she was such a pleasant distraction, but to be perfectly honest she had become more of a distraction when she wasn’t there.

 

So, it was just after eleven o’clock on Christmas Eve and he was rewriting the same section for the umpteenth time when Maxine knocked on the door.

He could tell it was her before he opened the door by her unique knock.

“Hey” he said

“Do you mind me popping in on Christmas Eve, I don’t want to upset your artistic flow” she said

“No flow to interrupt at the moment I’m afraid, this chapter is giving me a lot of trouble” he replied

“What is it, writer’s block again?” Maxine asked

“No, I’m not blocked, I’m writing ok, it’s just not very good” he said and laughed

“I could use a break” he lied

 

They sat on the sofa watching an old movie on cable, about half an hour into it she yawned and rested her head on his shoulder, he assumed it must be one of her infamous cat naps, and half an hour later she was still sleeping.

He could tell by her breathing, even though he couldn’t see her, that she was properly asleep.

So, he placed a cushion on his lap and gently lowered her head onto it.

Her legs were already on the sofa as she had been sitting in that side saddle fashion that girls have.

So, he dragged the edge of the throw from the back of the sofa and draped it over her slender body.

He watched the end of the movie and then switched off the TV.

Maxine was still sleeping so he reached for the A4 note pad he kept on the end table and resting it on the arm of the sofa he began writing and the words flowed from his pen like an inexhaustible stream and after three hours of furious writing he had put the troublesome chapter to bed.

Jeff looked firstly at the sleeping girl with her head on his lap and saw she was still sleeping soundly and then up at the clock which told him it was 6.45am,

Not that the time was relevant, but he desperately needed to pee.

So, he slowly extricated himself, being careful not to wake Maxine and settled her onto the sofa and then tucked the throw around her.

As soon as he was up, he realized the temperature had dropped so before he went to the loo, he revived the fire in the grate and put some more wood on.

Jeff then partly closed the door; he didn’t want her to wake up in a strange place and panic.

After having a much-needed pee he went into the kitchen to make a drink, which was when there was a knock at the door.