In which I wish you all a Merry Christmas. (Duh.)

Merry Christmas, human-skeleton-possessors.

May your day be merry and bright. 

By bright I mean cosy and dark but also with Christmas lights and candles and by cosy I mean Christmas songs and familiar faces and maybe a Christmas jumper hug or two.

May you smell the scent of pine cones and crackers just being cracked. 

May you tell people silly Christmas jokes like: "What's the difference between a Christmas alphabet an a normal alphabet? The Christmas one has No L." (looooooool. Wow. Hilaaaarious.)

May you consider gifts a detail of the day rather than the highest moment of the day and may you avoid singing typos on Church service sheets like I did last year; singing 'did the wide men enter there' rather than 'did the wise men.'

May you have a great day and may you reread the Christmas Story.

And by reread I mean rethink.

May you eat chocolate, say 'Merry Christmas' and never 'Happy Holidays', may you light fires and may you end the day with a smile on your face.

Merry Christmas, girls and boys, Merry Christmas.

Christmassy Thoughts

Two days ago it was Sunday and there was a beautiful Carol Service at our Church in the evening. The big, beautiful building was dark, and endless golden flames bobbed on the rows of little candles at the bottom of the stained glass windows. The organ, the orchestra and the choir filled the front of the Church while the rest of the building was so packed that people had to sit in the aisle and stand at the sides, the back, the hallway and on the stairs. People squashed together on the pews and had to share service sheets. There is nothing I love better than a full Church with Christmas Carols. 

My solo, O Holy Night, went well despite slight nerves and Hark the Herald blew the roof off with it's splendour. By the end, my throat hurt from singing; as well as my ears from all the cymbals. It was lovely, to say in the least. It must have converted many non-Christians. Man, it was beautiful.

Yesterday I heard the news that a girl I used to know several years ago died in a car crash in America. We used to go to Sunday school together. I remember her well; she was the bubbliest, cheerfullest girl of the group; she wore bright bracelets and cool trousers. Probably around the time I was innocently singing O Holy Night, she was laughing her last laugh, saying her last words before being tossed into a coma state by a car slipping into a van, bought to hospital where she died hours; minutes later. I didn't know this girl, Anna, well at all. I remember her; how the kids adored her and how good she was at sports. I remember her infectious smile. I remember her last time at Sunday school, before she left to America, and how we prayed for her. Despite those few memories, I don't know Anna at all, but my heart and prayers are with her friends (she probably had loads) and family. She was only eighteen.

Then I heard about the lorry attack in Berlin, at a Christmas market. People drinking Glüwine one second; dead the next. Twelve dead; fifty wounded. Not again.

Part of me sarcastically mumbles Merry Christmas. 

A Happy Christmas is obviously not attainable for all, to say in the least. I am everlastingly thankful that I will have a happy one, but I am keenly aware that I am one of the lucky ones. Part of me; no, in fact, everything in me is reminded of the fact that Jesus is the hope. Those Berlin attack victims, Anna - they are dead; gone. Their loved ones mourn and they will be reminded of their deaths, and re-mourn, every single Christmas. But oddly and ironically, this gives us all the more reason to celebrate Christmas. They and we are reminded that Christmas is not persé ladida and Christmas crackers and family love. God willing, it is, but the world is corrupt and it has been bruised and it will continue to be bruised till He comes.

But Jesus came and He will come again. He came to the world, died for our sins. We are set free. We have a hope and Christmas makes the hope ever keener and even stronger. We need, God knows, we need keen and strong hope in a world like ours. The world doesn't stop spinning around the 25th of December - in fact, 25th of December should ring the hope even louder. :-D

I know I shouldn't feel guilty, being excited for Christmas. I am excited! Grandma and Granddad are coming over from England, my Mum's side of the family will all be barging into our house on Christmas Eve, we'll sing carols and eat turkey and listen to the Royal Christmas speeches. We'll crack Christmas crackers and open gifts and play games and go to Church. A few days ago I got Emma's package in the mail and I got really excited - it's so square. I love square packages; they're so much more exciting than flat ones. It's going to be a wonderful day and I'm definitely looking forward to it. 

However, you know, I realise I'm lucky. I echo my earlier sentiments. :-)

What are you guys doing for Christmas? (I will refrain from saying Merry Christmas to you because it's still a week and I must waaaait. :-P) I shall finish this post with a cute little Christmassy emoji. Because one must do new things now and then, right-ho, deal ol' fellow human? Here ya go: 🎄)

Pentatonix is Ridiculously Amazing

I am obsessed with Pentatonix. I've been listening to their Christmas songs every single blessed day and I'm still so NOT sick of them. Of course I'm listening to them right now as I write. Probably also while you're reading this. I love them dearly. I quite rarely attach myself to bands and singers; in fact I will never say, 'I HAVE SOOO MANY' when someone asks me who my favourite singers are. I like a lot of singers, but I only have a few favourites. (Unlike books. Hahaha. I have so many favourite books it makes me kind of freaky sometimes.)

I love Pentatonix so much that... I AM DEVOTING A POST ON THEM. To proof my undying love and to seal it with official-ness, and all that.

(If you have never heard of Pentatonix PLEASE GO AND LISTEN TO THEIR CHRISTMAS SONGS. Leave right now and go to Youtube.They're basically a five-group acapella group which likes to blow me away with their talent and creativity and amazing-ness. The twists they put on songs is wow-factor-one-hundred-procent-wow.)

Moving on.

I think one of my favourite things about them is their pop/old-timey/classic/modern feel. It's modern music, but it's classic songs. But it's not modern music as in, every-single-song-sounds-exactly-the-same. Each song sounds so unique and different and beautiful.

As said earlier, all five members of the band are insanely talented. In case you were not aware of this, you know, I'm here to tell you the facts. You're welcome. 

First we have Avi's bass. OH MY WORD. It's like, Josh-Turner-level-ripe-bass-voice. (Just listen to the five first seconds of I'll be home for Christmas and you'll be swooning.) Then there's Kirstie's voice, which is amaze-worthy. I wish I had it. Also, she's so cute. Scott is the handsome blonde and his voice is soooo gorgeous. (His voice in 'Hallelujah' gave me shivers. As did the whole song, but that's beside the point.) And then there's Mitch's man-alto which sounds freakishly like a lady and which is seriously wow. Kevin is the beat-boxer and he's ridiculously talented; it's amazing. (I also love his smile.)

Their Christmas & Winter songs are what makes me love them. They are famous mainly because of it, basically, and no wonder. (I say Christmas and Winter because they're not all Christmas songs. Songs about Sleigh Bells and Santa Claus is Coming and even Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas aren't technically Christmas songs because there's nothing about Christ in them. (Peet Peeve of mine.) (#rantover.))

Here are my top five (CURRENTLY) favourite Pentatonix songs. (Because I need to showw you and FORCE them down your throats.)

Winter Wonderland / Don't worry Be Happy

THIS SONG IS SO SO MUCH FUN. Last year, I must have listened to it 10 thousand times and I still love it. Tori Kelly as a guest star is excellent and the creativity of putting two well-known songs together is just insaaaane. (I dare you not to smile while listening to this.) (I suppose it's humanly possible, but admit it... you wanted to smile. ;-P)

Mary Did You Know

Ahhhhhh THIS VERSION OF THIS SONG. *clutches heart and dies* I can't. Oh my word, it's so gorgeous and powerful and beautiful and it makes me want to cry. (When it goes, 'When you kiss His face, you kiss the face of God' I have so many chills. AND THE END.)

Go Tell it on the Mountain

This one fills me with HAPPINESS. It's so beat-worthy and it's so joyful and so clever. I love it when the bass goes 'go tell it on the mountain' on his little solo and I love the gospel-style beginning. One of my favourites.

Little Drummer Boy

This one is like a gust of fresh air. I mean. Ugh it's so stinkin beautiful I love it so much. Their 'ramramrapam's are so in sinc and the 'ohh's at the back give me that illness called The Goosebumps. Gorgeousness Alore.

Hallelujah

Last but not least, their rendition of Hallelujah absolutely gave me chills. Wow. They are amazing.

I also love their new song 'Coldest Winter', whiiich I've been listening to a lot these past days. This song gets pretty intense (like, creepy level) but woooow. It is GORGEOUS. I must mention it. :-P

There are some things I don't like about them - some of their songs aren't my favourite (I haven't listened to much non-Christmassy songs of theirs, and I didn't enjoy some as much as others) and I dislike some of the band's hairstyles. And fashion choices. (Cough Mitch Cough.) :-P Buuuuuut that's irrelevant. I WUVS THEM A GREAT DEAL.

You too?

A Very Merry Tag

Abby (swell girl) at 'Lavender Spring' (swell blog) has this lovely, long Christmas-themed Advent-calender-days celebrations going on at her blog, and it includes a list of Christmassy questions! So yay, let's go and do this. (IT'S DECEMBRRRR!) (For the questions for yourself, go yonder.) (It's called 'A Very Merry Tag.' Does't that sound ridiculously adorable and cheery? GO AND FILL IT OUT yourself.)

1. Does it snow where you live around Christmas? (If it doesn't, you have my sincere sympathy.) How much? Any special snowy Christmas stories?

I accept your sincere sympathy, my girl. 

YEAH I KNOW. POOR SOUL ME. I knoww. *Weeps on shoulder* I can't remember the last time we had a white Christmas, unfortunately. (Well, I remember that Christmas when I was like, five, and we went to Switzerland and had tons of sledding and snow.) It generally cold here in December, but Mr Snow isn't a regular visitor during this month. January and February see more of Mr Snow, and December does too, but not as often. However, so far this December has been very frosty, so I have a chance. *goes away singing I'm dreaming of a white Christmas* 

2. Do you get a real tree or a fake tree?

Real. Cuz it smells better. And it looks better. And because the world needs more trees cut down, right?

3. What is your favourite Christmas movie?

I don't really know. I've often watched The Sound of Music around Christmas, but I don't classify that as a Christmas movie. Little Woman is very Christmassy, and I loved that.

4. Where in the world would you like to spend Christmas the most?

Home sweet home. Or in England, with Grandma and Granddad. Family.

5. What fictional/literary character would you most like to spend Christmas with?

Married couple Emma and Knightley would be lovely. They're Christmassy people. ;-)

What is your favourite Christmas song?

I have two. Well, I have millions, but my two favourites are O Holy Night and In the Bleak Midwinter. Both are deliciously beautiful and seem to give me a little sneak-peak of how beautiful heaven is going to be. And they both have gorgeous words as well as gorgeous tunes.

What is your favourite Christmas book/story (besides, ya know, the story)?

Besides, ya know, THE story. Hahah yes.

Well, I like The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - JUST KIDDING. I actually dislike that story. I don't get why it's a Christmas classic. 

When I was younger, every year, my mother read a short dutch story to us about these three rich boys who expected great Christmas presents. They got great Christmas presents but they weren't satisfied and just squabbled the whole Christmas morning. And then their father forced them to go and give it to this poor boy and it's just a really cute and lovely story. I love it.

Which do you prefer: multi-coloured lights or white lights? 

White. They're fancier.

What time period/decade would you most like to spend Christmas in?

This one is okay, I'm happy where I am. However, after watching Call the Midwife Christmas specials, a Christmas in the late 50's sounds divine too.

Which period drama has the best Christmas scene/episode?

Downton Abbey Season Two Christmas Special end of story bye.

My 4 favourite Christmas Albums + New Christmas blog look!

Thanksgiving is over, which means I can officially start posting Christmassy posts without getting a scolding from Emma. Although, I've got to say, I have a good influence on her cuz two weeks ago she admitted to me she was really looking forward to Christmas too. So yes. Really, honestly, no-one is complaining. It is starting to become the end of November (waaat? It was literally January yesterday, I'm serious I'm dead serious) and therefore DUH WHAT DO I DO?

I LISTEN TO CHRISTMAS SONGS.

ALSO. I AM SO PROUD OF MY CHRISTMAS BLOG LOOK. I will stop freaking out after I've reloaded the page about ten-thousand times and viewed it from all the different angles my neck can manage. It looks hashtag legit and I have snow. (If only I had snow in REAL life and that my real life was legit, but oh well. Online life is all that matters, haha. :-P) Tell me if you approve of this blog look or if you're sad that I'm becoming all fancy-shmancy and that my blog look no longer feels like 'the old one.' (The only thing *I* don't like is something about the comment section and the labels at the bottom. But otherwise I'm really happy with how this turned out. :-))

Back to Christmas Albums: Here are my top four-favourite Christmas Albums.

4. Michael Bublé

I have said it before and I say it again: Michael Bublé voice is velvet. Dark sateen burgandy velvet. Silky scarlett velvet. Whatever. IT IS VELVET. I love his voice to bits and this Christmas Album is top notch beautiful and feel-good. I approve most strongly indeed. (And now I'm going to use the new blogger emoticons to express my love.)
💗💗💗💗💗
(There.)


3. Libera

Slightly more traditional, this one, but there's nothing wrong with that! (Nothing.) This is officially the beautifullest boys choir in the entire world and their Christmas Album is SILVER. (I am so into metaphors, hadn't you noticed?) The voices are so pure and beautiful and just... zero glitches. How do these children do this.
👼👼👼👼👼
(Now I've started with the emoticons, I might as well find one to describe each album. ;-))

2. Celtic Woman

I used to be obsessed with this album. AND LET'S BE REAL: I STILL AM. Definitely my my most-listened-to Christmas Album (I'm only putting it on no.2 because my current favourite is the following one) and definitely GOLD AND TOP NOTCH. Their voices are divine and the versions are different, fresh and still really dignified and beautiful. And the violin. Ahh. I love this album to bits and pieces and I've listened to it so many times.
😍😍😍😍😍


1. Pentatonix

I discovered these amazingly talented people last year, and I was immediately hooked, from the first song I listened to. When I went back to them several weeks ago, I was re-gobble-smacked at the awesomeness of their Christmas Album. All the sounds are made by humans (so yes, the backing track at the back, is someone human) and it sounds amazing. I love the twist they put on the songs (a Gospel version of Hark the Herald, for instance! Yus.) and I just can't get enough of these.

👌👌👌👌👌

(This is actually the 'ok' emoji, but for me it's the 'wow that was soooo clever' sign.)

Okay, now you tell me! What is/are your favourite Christmas Album(s)? Are what emoji/sign would you use to describe it? (Answer this question in the comments. I can't hear you if you just whisper it to the screen.)

And tell me if I'm too early about the whole Christmas thing. I don't think so.

Books I'd love to read. (+ chocolate.)

Hello, my dear apples and potatoes and chocolate-chip loving human beings, how is life? What's your new favourite word and are you reading any book of the Bible in particular? (My answers would be 'crumbs' and the gospel according to Mark.) Can you say 'Irish wrist watch' five times at a fairly fast pace? (After a lot of practise, I have succeeded.) (Yesterday was national tongue twister day, did ya know?) (Also, my big bro became freaking twenty yesterday. I had chocolate cake. And Maltesers. And more cake. And then a carrot to make me feel good about all the sugar.)

Today I'm going to talk about books that I want to read very badly. Some of these, hopefully, will be gifts for Christmas (eek!) (squee!) (yay!) but ya know, it's fun to talk about books and to read your comments on them. Tell me if any of these are terrible, so I can change my mind about them and not buy them after all. I might not listen though, but these all look dang good. (Also, some I'm just so curious about. I must read them all.)

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

This is definitely the first in my list of BOOKS I YEARN TO POSSESS IN MY BOOKSHELF. So far all the reviews seem to be glowingly positive and the synopsis at the back seems so riveting. At first I didn't like the cover, but now I just want to hold it in my hands and GAZE at it.. bahhh I want to read this so bad. :-P I love the sound of it and I love the names of the characters and I love that the main character is Dutch. Also, it's Lynn Austin + historical fiction, which ultimately means excellent new favourite book. 

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

I've heard of this book a lot. Many bloggers have recommended it glowingly and many Goodreads friends have rated it five golden stars. I want to read this real bad. (Especially after the two bookish Mind the Gap episodes: 1 / 2 /) (Also, 'real bad' sounds so Southern American, ha.) I always love a good inspiring book and I've recently yearned to read a great faith-based book - sometimes I feel like I should read more than just fiction. ;-)

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I don't want to read this BUT YET I DO. It's so deliciously controversial and so deliciously famous and I yearn for more Scout Finch. I feel like my bookish inside-self can't settle down peacefully before I can claim to have read this book. But, of course, before I do, I must reread the MINDBLOWINGLY BRILLIANT To Kill a Mockingbird which I will love till I die. Also, I love Atticus. And I don't want to not to.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Someone recommended this to me after I once raved about The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society, saying that this book has a very similar concept, what with the letter-form and strangers becoming friends in random circumstances, and all that. Obviously, this makes me want to read this book because obviously and obviously. Oh and obviously. (Did I say duh?)

Steal like an Artist by Austin Kleon

The only thing that stops me from buying this darling (apparently ridiculously inspiring and drive-the-creative-ness-inside-you-mad-ing) is that it's not very LONG and therefore might be a disappointment. However, I still REALLY want to read this. I can just imagine how much it'll make me want to be crazy creative and judging from the amazon sneak peaks, it is adorable and darling and so inspirational.

The Complete Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery

I WANT TO READ THIS SO BADLY. A sneaky peak inside the life of my favourite authoress? More sentences and words spun by this beautiful writer? Yes please yes. Unfortunately it is SO expensive to buy though, so I can't see this being in my possession any time to soon. But it's definitely high on my to-read list.

(Also, all these books. Give them.):

Voilà, a couple of gems I wish to devour. Do you have any books on your Christmas wish list? Tell me about them. Maybe also give me some words of consolation because after I hit publish I'm going to go downstairs and watch Downton Abbey Series 3 episode 5 which is the episode where the nicest character under the roof dies. SOMEONE HELP ME. SOMEONE HOLD MY HAND.

I sincerely hope each and every one of you is enjoying this confusing and beautiful and bronze month, and that you're keeping yourself busy and inspired. I recommend making jokes about awkward things and keeping firm hold of the amazing word of God. God is amazing. I love Him. I also recommend Michael Buble songs and Doris Day songs and chocolate hazelnut bars and big sweaters. Have a great night darlings. Remember that you're sleeping under beautiful silver stars.

(It is evening as I write, so therefore it is evening for all of you. ;-P)

Downton Finale Episode - A Review

{THERE BE SPOILERS.}

(And, as always, I own none of the pictures here. All creds to Google Images.)

Back in June, when I stayed at Emma's  (if you don't know who Emma is; she's a very dear friend of mine who I visited back in June and met for the first time ever in person) house, guess what we watched the last evening we were together?!!! THIS BEAUTIFUL FINALE EPISODE. (I know, we watched it at the right moment, right? :-P) I was already a whole mix of feelings (bye America, I miss my house, ughh tomorrow is a long journey, you know the drill) AND THEN I SAW THIS.

Wow, I don't know if it did me good or bad. (ACTUALLY WAIT I DO. I DID ME SO SO GOOD.) (Seriously, it warmed my heart like nothing else did. It was soooo happy and gooey and cosy and HAPPY AND JUST HEART-WARMINGLY EPIC.) (I recommend this to death.) (And for once in Downton Abbey history, it didn't break my heart (apart from the fact that it ENDED) - it warmed my heart instead.) 

(Also, I should stop typing every sentence in brackets, haha.)

Right, so our poor lil' Edith suffers with the lovers parting ONCE AGAIN (she's like 26 and she's done this about nine times; the poor lass.), but this time it's different. You know why? Because it's actually going to end well and they were actually meant to be. Mind blowing, right? 

We should take a moment to appreciate Bertie (I wrote Pertie first and wow that's so embarrassing. How old am I; three or something?) Pelham. Bertie is by faaaaar my favourite of Edith's suitors; he's such a gentleman and he's just such a GOOD SORT. A chump. A brick. I love him. He's also super cute and when he cries about his friend I die a little. (That wasn't in the Christmas special, but it's worth the mention anyway.) I wholeheartedly ship Edith and Bertie (Berdith?) and I wish them all the best in their married life together. Maybe I should send them a card.

(On a side note - are those electric 2016 Christmas tree lights I spot?) (Also, George's outfit is adorable and I would be grateful if you gave me it for my future son. Remember that when the time might come.)

In the meanwhile, Mary is all mumsy and married again - with Henry. I like Henry if I don't think about The Old Days in Downton - but I do really like him. He's fun. I have to say; I think the whole car thing is kind of boring, but I'm glad he and Tom found something to kill time on. (Tom is still cool, but he's so old and I treat him as an uncle nowadays rather than a cool dude around my generation. *cough*)

By the way, am I the only one who's not that fond of Mary's wardrobe in Season Six? Some of it is exquisite, but the long blouses and the 20's silhouette doesn't flatter her very much. She looks... Mumsy. (Although she is a Mum, so I suppose it doesn't matter that much. Times are changing, after all.) It flatters Edith a lot, though.

Rose came back!!! I whooped for joy when I saw her (SLAYING IN THAT OUTFIT - she looks absolutely beautiful) although I was a bit disappointed that her and Atticus didn't even bring Baby with them. They could have managed that, come'on. 

I KNEW these two would be attracted from Very Early On. :-) I'm proud of myself. They are cute, but he is adorabler than she is. But I think they make a fine couple.

The Christmas trees in Downton Abbey are just so amazing. I think it's funny how they are pretending to decorate it when it's so obvious that it got done by professional Christmas Tree Decorators behind the scenes, haha. Good try, Crawleys, but you can fool me there.

Now we must talk about Thomas.

*clears throat* *starts* Okay, so Thomas in Season Six? I LOVE HIM. And wow, never in my life would I have thought I would love him so much as I did in Season Six. Especially in this Christmas Special, I just want to go and give him a hug and be his friend. I love that Miss Baxter is a good friend to him, and I love that even Mr Bates is kind to him. I love that Thomas shows every inch of his good and kind side and that people can look at that and forget his Evil Deeds. (Because Thomas really was a bad guy in the old days. Remember when he and O'Brian thought up naughty tricks outside the kitchen door while smoking cigarettes? Yeah. Those were the days.)

I choked UP when he said goodbye to the Downton folk. WHEN HE SAID GOODBYE TO GEORGE. (Ahhhh, I love it when he hangs out with the kids - it warms that HEART of mine. Thomas should be the Downton Nanny.) I'm so happy for him that he got to stay at Downton Abbey after all - because he's right; there's no place like Downton to have a job. :-P

(Also, it annoys me so much that Mr Carson won't ever give him a chance. Mr Carson has annoyed me lately.)

(Thomas' smile is so lovely. I love seeing him smile.)

SO YES. I LOVE THOMAS NOW. MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN.

Here's a picture of the Crawley family, being terribly lovely in front of the epic tree. I love them. There's Cora, with her head tilted like it always has been tilted (I used to think it was because of the heavy Edwardian hats and hairstyles, but it's just Cora), and there's good old Robert, probably saying something very sappy and poetical and cliché and epic; and pulling it off like a pro, making everyone nostalgic and teary-eyed.

There's Edith, not single anymore for long (and not wearing the best dress she's ever worn) and there's Tom, loyally staying in Downton, a good friend and a carved-in Downton Abbey Family member forever. And Mary, looking swell as always, and getting the attention.

So Mr Carson is retiring!! I SAY. Good luck to Mrs Hughes (who I will always be so fond of - she has never set a foot wrong) for keeping him entertained and cooking stuff for him that he approves of.

No really, they are very sweet together and I think they'll stand strong together for a long time to come. And Mr Carson will have fun telling Thomas how to run Downton Abbey like it has been run for 50 years.

I'm REALLY happy that Mary and Henry are expecting a baby! I'm not surprised, but it made me happy. My guesses are on another boy - called Charles - or a girl called Charlotte. (*Wink to all the Royalty fans out there who get this*) (You know - GEORGE AND CHARLOTTE.)

We must take a moment to talk about Andy. WE LOVE ANDY. I have a mild crush on him right now - he's so cute and adorable and he means so well. I think Daisy's an absolute moron for saying that 'she could do so much better.' I absolutely LOVE Mrs Patmore for telling her what's TRUE - she always falls in love with people who aren't in love back and she never loves those who love her. Daisy is a complicated soul; and it got on me nerves. But worry ye not, she finds her brain in the end, and they have some cute moments. (Not enough though. And Andy sort of deserves more cute moments and more attention from Daisy. I like them a lot together, and I wish we saw more of it.) (I mean, can you IMAGINE how cute their first kiss would be?!!)

(And Daisy's bob? Welllll. It looks better in the movie than in the pictures here, but the fringe kind of annoys me.)

(Here I am with the brackets again.)

BATES BABY!!!!!!!!!!!! And of course they leave us without a name because oh, Mr Fellowes likes to tease us, don't he. (I think they'll call him David. David Bates.) And is this is first time Anna calls her husband 'John'? :-P

Also, Mr Carson: "In Lady Mary's bedroom? Surely not." Hahahahaha.

(Ignore the lack of Robert's jacket on the picture. It's confusing because he wore a jacket (thank GOODNESS) in the movie scene. Maybe this is a picture from a rehearsal!?! I don't know. Maybe they photo-shopped the jacket on afterwards, haha.)

THEN WE HAVE DARLING EDITH GETTING MARRIED. ON NEW YEARS EVE.

Ahhhh, I have a cold, I have a cold, I have a cold. Edith looks so ridiculously pretty in her high-fashion, showing-her-ankles, big-veil, big-epic-bouquet wedding dress and their wedding party is a New Years Party as well... and SHE AND BERTIE ARE SO HAPPY AND BLAHHHHHH.

This is what the viewers have been waiting for ever since they discovered Edith was a good sort - A HAPPY ENDING FOR HER. Edith has gone through so much misery and woe, more than the average Downton persona, which says a lot because do you realise how many tragedies are buried in this house? Like, a million. She so deserves this happy ending and no-one can help but shed a tear when she says she never knew what it felt like to be this happy. (Aww, the love.)

This couple whispers during the service. I thought that was kind of weird; why hold a conversation when your sister is literally walking down the ISLE?! I like Mary a lot, but sometimes, you must admit, she does weird things. (No big deal though, this time. :-P) And why aren't George and Marigold at the wedding? I hope Marigold is the flower girl, because that would be so sweet.

THEY LITERALLY ARE THE SWEETEST COUPLE EVER. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR WEDDING. IT WAS PERFECT.

(Oh yes, I have one more thing to say: I love how it's always the same pastor doing all the weddings!)

Of course, I must end this post with The Last Shot Of Downton Abbey... it just leaves us bawling the night away, because wahhh, IT IS OVER. IT IS OVER. :'-( And look at the beautiful home of mine, looking so majestic in the New Year night, with snow and silvery highlights everywhere. (Julian Fellows, I've decided I love you after all. Although I still haven't forgiven you about Matthew and Sybil and I never ever shall.)

Right; so now. Have you seen this glittering finale? Did you cry as much as I did? Wasn't it GORGEOUS AND HEART-WARMING?!!! Let's talk about it together because gosh I need someone to talk about this with me. The feels must be shared. They are too much to be borne alone.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Have a wonderful day with your family and friends; with your new stuff, and your good food. Most of all, let's be happy together; about Jesus coming to earth. That is the present above all presents and it just fills this day and season with endless joy.

(No, We wish you a merry Christmas, we don't all like figgy pudding. I much prefer chips and cake.)

There's a story contest somewhere...

Hi dear people scattered around the world happening to read this post. Hello, and happy six-days-before-Christmas. I hope you've got your red and green outfits all ready, and I hope you're singing Christmas songs all day (because you should be.) (I sang 'I'm dreaming of a White Christmas' about five times while laying the table today. I sang it very passionately. Because I am dreaming of a White Christmas so there.) (Seriously, it's almost summer weather here. Ghastly business.)

ANYWAY.

This post is to say that my friend Melody is having a Story Contest. If more than eight people enter the prize is a 5$ Amazon giftcard. SO PLEASE. Go and enter. Because just think. If there are plenty of people there is this PRIZE. :-)

Also, it's good for your thinking skills and writing skills and all that.

AND IT'S FUN.

Melody has written down all the rules and all the information in this post. So buzz off now and go and read it and then go and write and then go and enter. Thanks. Goodbye.

The Christmas proposal in Downton Abbey

It's time for the inkling exploriations! And for this month, it's obviously (OBVIOUSLY) Christmas-themed. (Click here for zee post of Heidi's)

"A Christmastide movie scene." 

There are PLENTY of those I love to bits, but the prize always has to go to Matthew Crawley's proposal to Mary Crawley. (Funny how they have the same last name.)  I mean, that SCENE. Can I even start on how priceless it is?!!! It's beyond gorgeous and romantic and snowy and Christmassy. Mary's red silky dress is beautiful, and Matthew's blue eyes are so HAPPY and twinkly... GAH. Best proposal ever in any movie or series history ever. I want a Christmassy proposal one day. (But I think I'll want to wear a coat.)

I LOVE THIS SCENE WAY TOO MUCH. (Everything about it. Matthew's adorable LOOK when Mary says she won't answer unless he kneels down and everything. I LOVE THESE TWO. (And their hug melts my heart. And of course everything looks like a shimmery, perfect Christmas card.)) Gah.

Please, tell me I'm not the only one who's seen that scene about 50 times.

A-very-important-PS: SEVEN MORE DAYS. Christmas, I love you.

"Pleased to meet you, Otto."

Most of you know my unending love for this Gorgeous, Beautiful, Everything Christmas Advert. I believe it's the BEST Ad ever made (no seriously. Ever.) And it is, in my 'umble opinion, the best video on Youtube. (Not even an overstatement.) Gahhh. I adore this video. I've seen it about Frigillion times, and still it makes me sniff and cry and smile and griiiiin. I just LOVE it. To biiiits.

I remember watching it for the first time. This was my reaction to it.

0:01 - Oh! It's set in 1914. Oh look, it's the trenches. OH WAIT. IS THIS ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE.

0:04 - What an unappetizing biscuit. They're not trying to sell that - don't tell me.

0:08 - Oh, the post. I love letters. That boy looks ridiculously young to be in the trenches.

0:13 - Awww, it's a package from his sweetheart. ("Rose, her name is.") Nice picture - I like the Edwardian style of the dress.

0:16 - AHH. ZEE CHOCOLATE. That is what they're trying to sell. Now I know.

0:17 - Look at his adorable grin. He's adorable.

0:21 - Oh, hark! He hears something. I KNOW WHAT IT IS. IT'S SILENT NIGHT. *listens quietly*

0:29 - Yes! It's the Germans singing Silent Night.

0:38 - Ahhhh. Shivers are already coming up my spine, for the English and the Germans are singing it together. It's just so saaaad and happy.

0:43 - Oh, that guy is handsome. I love the way his eyes twinkle.

0:58 - They're all singing with great gusto now and it's amazing.

1:06 - The snow is so pretty. (I wish I would snow right now, by the way. I'm tired of having no snow - I haven't had a good layer of snow for such a weary long time.)

1:10 - Hello, Mr Robin.

1:12 - I love his lopsided GRIIIIN. He looks so much like Robbie in 'Violins of Autumn.'

1:15 - WAIT. What is he thinking? Why is he rubbing his hands?????

1:17 - HE'S DOING IT. azguuzhreuhu.

1:20 - "A Brit is coming!" Wait they can't shoot him. No, they won't shoot him. No, it's Christmas.

1:26 - THE HANDSOME GERMAN SAVES HIM. He saves his life peoples. "Halt! Es ist nicht bewaffnet!" (Which means; Stop! He's not armed!)

1:34 - He's going over toooooo. Stop itttt guys this is way to sad.

1:42 - GAHH. They're walking towards each-other and I'm starting to cry and OHHH. The piano music starts and they're so scared and happy and pit^rutareu; 

1:47 - I love these boys.

1:49 - They're putting their hands down - they're all walking closer. STOP IT. I AM CRYING.

1:51 - REALLY CRYING RIGHT NOW OKAY.

1:56 - "My name is Jim." "Meine Name ist Otto."

1:57 - PLEASED TO MEET YOU OTTO. Shut up all of you darling boys this is way to emotional for me.

2:01 - They're taking pictures together. All the happy faces together. Germans and Englishmen arm in arm. *bawls*

2:03 - "Rose, she's called." "Sie ist shön." They're talking about girls together just like friends do.

2:08 - NOW THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY FOOTBALL TOGETHER. NO I AM NOT CRYING. I JUST HAVE A TERRIBLE COLD OKAY.

2:10 - His smile breaks my heart.

2:15 - I love that a German is shaving an Englishman (or vice-versa, I can't tell). 

2:19 - I'm still crying by the way. ALL THE HAPPY VOICES. AND THE MUSIC ON THE BACKGROUND. Guyyyyyyyyyyyyyys.

2:21 - They're cheering each other. THEY'RE CHEERING EACH OTHER.

2:27 - Jim and Otto fall on the ground together. Why can't they just be best friends and marry sisters and then have a double wedding???????

2:34 - I'm still crying. Just saying.

2:37 - WAIIT. Is something wrong?

2:40 - THERE IS.

2:45 - SOB. NO. IT'S TIME TO GO BACK. Look how their all shake each other's hands and thump each other's shoulders. Sobbbbbb.

2:48 - Jim gives Otto his (Otto's) coat (Spoiler: he put the chocolate in)

2:50 - GAH THEY ARE SAYING GOODBYE WHY MUST THIS HAPPEN. Noooooooooooo.

2:53 - "Happy Christmas." "Frohe Weinachten." *sobs for hours*

2:56 - Look how sad he is.

3:00 - OTTO GOT THE CHOCOLATE. geyét"é!ot'd"bort"zètdobtr.

3:02 - I NEED SOME.

3:03 - Sobbbbbbbbbbbb.

3:09 - He's so handsome though.

3:10 - And he's so cute and adorable shut up.

3:12 - AND NOW I AM STILL CRYING BECAUSE I SEE THE WORDS CHRISTMAS IS FOR SHARING. What a beautiful, simple, deep message. I don't even have the words for this video people I just don't. I am crushed for life and in love with both Otto and Jim I can't choose.

Gah. This video really knows how to tug at my heartstrings and rip my heart apart. Everyone should see it. EVERYONE. I love it to death.

The Christmas Truce

If there's something that makes me cry, it's the Christmas Truce that took place during the First World War. The more I think about it, the more it strikes me as one of the most beautiful and one of the saddest things that ever happened in history. Every Christmas, I find myself sitting in this trance, thinking about what it must have been like - what those lads must have felt. Last Christmas, it was mentioned several times, even in Queen Elizabeth's Christmas speech, because it marked 100 years since it happened, and since then I just can't get over it. It must have been amazing, emotional, terrible, beautiful; all at the same time.

Imagine you are a soldier in the cold, stony trenches. You've seen people die, you've suffered. You've shot men of the other side, doing your duty. You've probably seen some of your very own school-friends die; you've seen wounds, heard screams of pain and nightmares. I know life in the trenches must have been ghastly. My great-grandfather served in WW1, and my father says that he would never talk about it. People were traumatized for life.

I am currently writing a story, which has a thick chapter about a soldier telling his war story. I suppose this is a good excuse to show you some snippets. 

Douglas got killed. I saw him fall down. Part of an explosion bomb hit him on the chest. I saw his hat fly into a puddle, and I saw his khaki vest drenched with blood. I thank the Lord that I didn’t see more than that. I am traumatized enough.  

Michael and I clung on to each other. But he died, too. In the gas. The last thing I saw, Jane, was his face, yelling, getting more distant in the gas. I heard him yell. “Lionel! Lionel!”

And then you had that one Christmas, in the middle of it all, when several hundreds of men decided to have peace and get together in No Man's Land. They sang Silent Night Together, the British lads and the German lads. They played football together, gave each other gifts, swapped coats and hats, lighted each other's cigarettes. They took photographs of them together, casually giving each other hugs. They wished each other a Merry Christmas.

You see now why this makes me cry? The men weren't at war, the Countries were. The men so weren't. They were just doing their duty - they could totally be best friends with the Other Side.

"First the Germans would sing one of their carols and then we would sing one of ours, until when we started up O Come, All Ye Faithful, the Germans immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the Latin words Adeste Fideles. And I thought, well, this is a most extraordinary thing — two nations singing the same carol in the middle of a war."

"I walked across to my man and shook hands, I asked him how he liked it. ‘Terrible, I wish I was back in Germany’ (in Good English!). I wanted a souvenir so I took my knife out of my pocket and he let me cut a button from his coat. I could only give him a few old biscuits from my pocket."

"Eventually the English brought a soccer ball from their trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued. How marvellously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it.

Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together for a time... I told them we didn’t want to shoot on the Second Day of Christmas either. They agreed."

"Really you would hardly have thought we were at war. Here we were, enemy talking to enemy. They [are] like ourselves with mothers, with sweethearts, with wives waiting to welcome us home again. And to think within a few hours we shall be firing at each other again."

"They say they won’t fire tomorrow if we don’t so I suppose we shall get a bit of a holiday — perhaps. After exchanging autographs and them wishing us a Happy New Year we departed and came back and had our dinner. We can hardly believe that we’ve been firing at them for the last week or two — it all seems so strange." 

"Even as I write, I can scarcely credit what I have seen and done. It has been a wonderful day."

(Actual WW1 letters about the Christmas Truce.)

War is so pointless - so ridiculously pointless. The Christmas Truce shows that more vividly than anything else can. These chaps were just... chaps. They fought against each other, killed each other - while they should have played football together every day. Imagine what they must have felt like, when they said goodbye after their time together in no-man's-land. They must have felt so emotional; they must have looked at each other and thought, "Tomorrow I might kill you."

It just breaks me, okay? Shush. Don't talk to me. Just watch this beautiful Christmas ad about it. You will probably cry, because I always do, and I've watched it loads of times. (And the music is from 'True Grit', if that makes some of you want to see it. Heh, heh.)

"Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together for a time..." (A WW1 letter.)