‘There was a young man of Herne Bay who was making some fireworks one day; but he dropped his cigar in the gunpowder jar. There was a young man from Herne Bay.’ Ogden Nash
For the last few years, I’ve been south of the equator during November. Consequently the big build up to Christmas, including the November 5th shenanigans have been missing form my life. And I have really missed it.
Now, 2025 provides me with the opportunity to not only indulge in all that wonderful pre-Christmas build up, atmosphere and general bon homie, but I can absorb some of the best of it at a variety of Christmas markets.
Anyone who’s read my blog for any length of time knows that I am a sucker for Christmas. Like most of us, I hate the commercialism of it all, but I am no miserable lemon-sucking, bah-humbuging Scrooge. Christmas offers us light and hope in the darkness metaphorically, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It may make a hole in our pockets, the size of which depends very much on the choices we make but, nevertheless, weather aside, it really can be ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’
So, I am currently looking forward to attending my first seasonal market, not as a peruser of stalls but as a seller of children’s books which are ideal for all purchasers of Christmas presents for boys and girls in the 7-11 year age group.
Books, as ever, are calorie free, easy to wrap and full of adventure. They get children off their screens, can be read and enjoyed multiple times by youngsters and adults alike. They are portals to other worlds, providing the opportunity for imaginations to take flight, refuge for those struggling with the realities of life and a good excuse to laugh. ‘Laughter,’ the nineteenth century American writer Josh Billings (pen name for Henry Wheeler Shaw) told us, ‘is the fireworks of the soul.’ Whether a giggle or a guffaw, we all know that laughter is a good medicine and in the darkest, bleakest months of a European year, that may never have felt more true for this generation.
So, before the Christmas spirit takes over completely, I will also get to indulge in the delight of bonfire night. I’m well aware that many people loathe this event just as they do halloween, although perhaps for different reasons, but a well-organised firework display can be a fantastic night out for the whole family. I remember those from my childhood with great delight.
Friday 7th November will see me at a fireworks event in Cippenham, Slough (not Chippenham, Wiltshire) for which over 2,000 tickets have already been sold. I’m quite excited! Not only may I get to meet some potential readers and sell some books, but see a fireworks extravaganza for the first time in years.
I’ve been sorting out moustaches for those who buy a copy of The Magnificent Moustache and other stories, and sachets of pumpkins seeds for those who prefer a copy of Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories. A stack of bookmarks are ready to go, pre-signed copies should save me time, and specially priced bundles of both books as a seasonal special have been tied with appropriate red ribbon. I’m good to go!
If you’d like to come along, get in touch with the Cippenham school PTA asap. They have to be one of the most effective and efficient PTAs out there, having taken the more pedestrian jumble or cake sale to a whole new level. This year they are expecting 2,500 people to join the fun and there will be multiple stalls selling food, treats, and goodies.
And, of course, some excellent books direct from an author.
[Images from Pixabay, with thanks, and my own.]
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