THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE SNOWMAN (1982)

 The Snowman is a delightful hand drawn animation of the story by Raymond Briggs about a young English boy who builds a snowman on Christmas Eve that magically comes to life and takes him on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.

the film has no dialogue apart from the opening narration by Raymond Briggs and song "Walking in the Air".

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – FATHER CHRISTMAS GOES ON HOLIDAY (1991)

Father Christmas is a delightful hand drawn animation of the story by Raymond Briggs, Dianne Jackson and Michael Adams about a down-to-earth Father Christmas (Mel Smith) recounting a tale about a past "blooming vacation" from his small British house.

It was after a hard night's work, when he decided to convert his sledge into a caravan and visits France, Scotland and Las Vegas before returning home in time to answer the mail, get the gifts ready for another Christmas and get to the Snowmen’s' party which he makes just on time, but he’s forgotten something. 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – FATHER CHRISTMAS (1991)

Father Christmas is a delightful hand drawn animation of the story by Raymond Briggs, Dianne Jackson and Michael Adams about a down-to-earth Father Christmas (Mel Smith) recounting a tale about a past "blooming vacation" from his small British house.

It was after a hard night's work, when he decided to convert his sledge into a caravan and visits France, Scotland and Las Vegas before returning home in time to answer the mail, get the gifts ready for another Christmas and get to the Snowmen’s' party which he makes just on time, but he’s forgotten something.

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.

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