THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS CATCH (2018)

 

After a disastrous Christmas singles mixer Detective Mackenzie Bennett (Emily Alatalo) meets Carson (Franco Lo Presti) and they instantly connect.

However the next morning Captain Bennett (Lauren Holly), who just happens to be Mac’s mother to boot, and FBI Agent Robinson (Genelle Williams) inform her that he is a suspected diamond thief, and she has to go undercover to catch him in the act.

While undercover, Mack not only falls for Carson, she begins to suspect that he's been framed, but could that be right or are her feelings clouding her judgment.

Christmas Catch is an excellent mix of humour romance and Christmas, one not to be missed and Emily Alatalo is perfect in the role.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 10 - Santa baby

 

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.

Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my tenth selection.

 

“Santa baby” written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer and Fred Ebb and performed by Eartha Kitt

 

Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree,
For me.
been an awful good girl,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa baby, a 54 convertible too,
Light blue.
I'll wait up for you dear,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Think of all the fun I've missed,
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed,
Next year I could be just as good,
If you'll check off my Christmas list,

Santa baby, I wanna yacht,
And really that's not a lot,
Been an angel all year,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa honey, there's one thing I really do need,
The deed
To a platinum mine,
Santa honey, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex,
And checks.
Sign your 'X' on the line,
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Come and trim my Christmas tree,
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's,
I really do believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me,

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,
A ring.
I don't mean on the phone,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight,
Hurry down the chimney tonight,
Hurry, tonight.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS STORIES – CHRISTMAS NOVELLA # 5 - The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain, A Fancy for Christmas-Time

 

The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain, A Fancy for Christmas-Time was written by Charles Dickens.

It’s perhaps more often known as The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain or even just as The Haunted Man.

It was the fifth and final Christmas novella and was first published in 1848.

It is more a story about the spirit of Christmas than about Christmas itself, in the same style as A Christmas Carol, the first in the series of Christmas books.

But instead of Ebeneezer Scrrooge the story centers on a Professor Redlaw and those close to him.

Redlaw, a teacher of chemistry is an embittered man who often broods over wrongs done him and grief from his past life.

He is haunted by a spirit, who takes away all of his grief and sorrows but without them he develops uncontrollable anger and bitterness as he interacts with those from in his sphere.

The moral of the tale is that you have to remember past sorrows and wrongs done to you and forgive those responsible.

The novel concludes with everyone back to normal and Redlaw, like Ebenezer, a changed man.

CHRISTMAS FARE

 

There has never been a good time to be poor

Certainly not Christmas

As Dickens wrote

“This time when want is keenly felt by the poor”

And there has never been a good place to be poor

Certainly not Victorian London

Now a wealthy Victorian family

Would dine upon a Christmas dinner

Of Vegetable soup

Oyster patties,

Roast turkey or goose,

Boiled leg of mutton with caper sauce

Followed by Port wine jelly,

Mince pies and plum pudding

Queen Victoria is known to have eaten roast swan

While in the country

A piece of Smoked bacon

Or rabbit pie was had

The poor in town or country

Dined upon whatever could be found

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LOVE ACTUALLY

 

The huge cast of stars (too many to mention by name) pull out all the stops in this uplifting Christmas movie, as characters fall in love, fall out of love, make you laugh, make you cry and thoroughly entertain you.

The multi-threaded storytelling is very engaging and added to it's a lighthearted holiday flavour makes it a film you can watch again and again.

The final scene at Heathrow airport ends the film on a very uplifting note.

I see Love Actually as a new holiday classic.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS STORIES – CHRISTMAS NOVELLA # 4 - The Battle of Life: A Love Story

 

The Battle of Life: A Love Story is Christmas novella number four by Charles Dickens, first published in 1846.

It is set in an English village that stands on the site of a historic battle.

Some characters refer to the battle as a metaphor for the struggles of life, hence the title.

Uniquely it is the only one of the five Christmas Books that has no religious of supernatural themes and is ostensibly a love story for two sisters, Grace and Marion.

As is typical with Dickens however the ending is a happy one.

CROMWELLIAN

 

The lord protector Oliver Cromwell

Killed thousands, the truth to tell

Beheaded the king and closed hostelries

And he cancelled the Christmas festivities