FREE Christmas Read December 2025 - ‘Christmas Wish.’
Just a gentle little ghost story this time. Enjoy!
Christmas Wish
“I hope you will be comfortable down here. If you need anything, give me a call, okay?”
“Seems ridiculous, calling you on the phone when you’re upstairs!”
“It’s better than you shouting, Mary. We might not hear you, especially if we’re all asleep. You’re sure you know how to use the phone?”
“Of course I’m sure! I’m old, not stupid!”
“Right, well,” Rachel said tactfully, “If you’re certain there’s nothing else you need?”
“A stairlift might be nice, so I can sleep upstairs like a normal person”
Rachel sighed, “We’ve talked about this. A stairlift is a big expense at this time of year. Maybe if you need to stay long term.”
Mary eyed her balefully. “I won’t need to! My flat will be sorted in no time and I will be going home, mark my words. I will be out of your way. I know I am not welcome here, not even with my own son and his wife!”
“That’s not fair, Mary. You are welcome here. It’s just that there are lots of family staying, that’s all. Let’s try to make the best of things. It’s nobody’s fault your flat was flooded out. Let’s just be grateful you got out safely.”
“Part of me wishes they had let me drown!”
“Don’t say things like that!” Rachel snapped, “It’s not that bad! You have a comfortable bed here. You have the dying warmth from the fireplace. Everything is decorated and Christmassy. I even found you a beautiful, vintage stocking to hang alongside all of ours.”
“Dying warmth. Vintage. Nice choice of words! You mean old, like me.”
Rachel groaned, “It’s been a long day, Mary. I am going to bed. It will be Christmas when you wake up. Let that cheer you up if nothing else will. Goodnight.”
She slipped out, closing the door behind her. Mary heard her muttering something under her breath before treading up the stairs.
She shifted position on the fold out bed, leaning back onto firm pillows. Rachel’s departure made the room feel suddenly empty.
She grunted irritably, tucking her hands under the duvet for warmth. She wanted to be in her own flat, with her own vintage decorations and traditions. In her own bed, eating her own food. Not a big feast, like Rachel had planned, but good food nonetheless. She had been looking forward to it. Alone with her memories and her pleasant dreams, nodding off in front of the television.
It was not fair.
She stared moodily at the embers of the fire. The warm glow together with the soft lamplight did make the room cosy, she grudgingly admitted.
She had lived to see eighty-seven Christmases, she reflected. Ever since Charles died this past February, she dreaded seeing another. She wanted to be alone; to look back at her life in peace. At this moment in time, she could think of nothing worse than being surrounded by a gaggle of family excitedly opening gifts, drinking eggnog and trying to cheer her up. She did not want to cheer up; she wanted to dwell.
Nothing worse. Except maybe getting flooded out two days before Christmas Eve.
She thought of her little flat, under more than a foot of water. Of her lovely carpet, covered in sludge and soil. Of how she had watched, helpless, as the few meagre gifts beneath her tree floated in the dirty water, their once pretty wrappings peeling away like flaky skin.
Charles’s record collection had not been spared either, the water invading the cabinet he stored them in. Fortunately, she had put his favourite Christmas single on top of the Welsh dresser, ready to play on Christmas morning. Nat King Cole, ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.’ In all the fuss, she had forgotten to bring it with her. She did not want to hear it played on some modern technological contraption. She wanted to play the record, listen to it properly.
No chance of that now.
She kept Charles’s shoes under the bed, where he always left them. They would be ruined, too.
With a shudder of embarrassment, she recalled the indignity of being rescued by a neighbour. Picked up and carried out, for Heaven’s sake! She was not sure she would have cared if the water had gone over her head. She wished it had.
“They will soon get fed up of me here, mark my words.” Mary muttered, feeling as if the room was listening.
She eyed the row of hanging stockings. Eleven in all, including hers.
“There should be twelve,” she murmured, suddenly teary.
Her tears must have blurred her vision. She thought she saw her stocking, move. Not as if shifted by a breeze, but as if there was something inside it.
“Spider, I expect. Or a mouse, knowing my luck. A mouse, mark my words, eating whatever is in there!”
She rubbed her eyes dry with the ends of her sleeves, and looked again. The stocking was still.
“Imagining things,” she told herself, wriggling further under the covers as the temperature in the room dropped.
She closed her eyes, willing sleep to take her even though the lamp was still on. Unusual for her, to sleep with the light on. She felt she needed it, tonight.
She lay there, her mind racing. She should be exhausted; she was exhausted, she just could not sleep.
“Blast it!” She spat, her eyes flicking open.
Something drifted in front of the fire.
Mary, ignoring the ripple of fear traversing her spine, considered for a moment.
“Nothing more than a gust of wind down the chimney, blowing smoke into the room,” she said, her voice unconvincing. There was no smell of smoke in the air; the fire sat tame and low in its hearth.
She snuggled deeper under the covers, realising she was staring wide-eyed at the fireplace, unable to take her gaze away.
The tree in the corner shivered, making the baubles clink softly, like Christmas bells. Mary froze, unable to come up with a ready explanation this time.
She lay there, chest inexplicably tight, scared to turn and look directly at the tree. The shivering stopped, the baubles fell silent.
“Do they have a cat?” She asked the empty room, “They probably have a cat, climbing the tree.” Even as she said it, she knew it was not true. Her son was allergic to cats. There was no way he would allow one as a pet.
Once more, her gaze fell upon the beautiful vintage stocking. Rich colours of gold, red and green adorned the velvet fabric. It reminded her of her own childhood, when she would be grateful for an orange and some walnuts at the bottom of a stocking.
At last, her eyes grew heavy, began to close. Her body relaxed as she drifted off. She was at the point between sleep and waking, when the world seems muted and distant, when the first, faint whiff of roasting chestnuts reached her.
She rubbed her nose, turned to her side, obviously dreaming. When the faint crackle of a healthily roaring fire began, she realised she must really be asleep. It was thinking of that old Nat King Cole song that had brought this on.
“Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow,” she murmured, barely audible, unaware she was even speaking.
“Will find it hard to sleep tonight,” came the answering refrain.
May stirred, frowning. Even in the depths of slumber, she knew something was not right. That line of the song had not been sung in her dream, nor in her head. It was here, in this room. She had heard it clearly.
It took forever to open her eyes. Another eternity to realise when she did that the room was both just the same and somehow different.
Stiffly, Mary turned over. She had not imagined the roaring fire, nor the chestnuts roasting on it. The blaze gave the room a warm orange glow.
Confused, she sat up with some effort. Perhaps Rachel had come in, though why on earth she would roast chestnuts at this time of night, she had no idea.
Perhaps it was morning. Perhaps she had slept after all.
Another billow of white smoke drifted across the fireplace. Mary watched, more puzzled than afraid, as it traversed the length of the stocking. It wrapped around the Christmas tree, making it shiver. It hovered at the foot of Mary’s bed, grew tall, appeared to be looking down at her.
As she watched, mesmerised, the amorphous shape took form, until a figure that looked a lot like Charles floated at the end of her bed.
He did not speak, yet somehow Mary heard his words, “All is well Mary love. Turn out the light and go to sleep.”
Unquestioningly, Mary did as she was bade, though she could not help but say, “I’ll be awake all night, mark my words,” as she turned off the lamp.
“Mary? Mary!”
She awoke to Rachel leaning over her, a concerned expression on her face. A cup of steaming hot tea sat on the end table serving as a nightstand, two of her favourite ginger biscuits with it.
Rachel sighed in obvious relief, “Oh thank God! I’ve been trying to wake you for ages! The whole house is awake and waiting for you. I don’t think I’ve ever known you sleep so late!”
“What time is it?” Mary asked, sitting up and looking around,
“Almost eleven o’ clock, on Christmas morning! Oh! Merry Christmas!” Rachel leaned in to give her a quick hug, “I’ve brought you a cuppa. Why not get your dressing gown on and I will bring it through for you. We’re all ready to open our gifts.”
Mary looked up at the mantelpiece, now bare of stockings.
“Tell me Rachel, were you in here roasting chestnuts last night?”
Another flicker of concern crossed Rachel’s face, “No, of course I wasn’t. Is something wrong?”
“No, no. Just dreaming I expect. Help me up, would you?”
As Rachel helped her into her dressing gown, Mary checked the fireplace. The embers were cold: long dead, no sign of even a single roasted chestnut.
Just as Rachel said, everyone was up and waiting in the lounge. After a chorus of ‘Merry Christmases,’ Mary was helped into a comfortable wing chair.
“Here mum, you go first. Merry Christmas,” Her son said, planting a small kiss on her cheek and handing her the beautiful stocking.
It was every bit as soft to the touch as it looked. Mary, feeling suddenly like a child again, reached in to pull out two small boxes, prettily wrapped. She put them aside for later, feeling in the toe of the stocking, delighted to find a satsuma and some chocolate coins. She pulled them out, laughing, her face glowing.
“We remembered what you always say about Christmas stockings when you were little,” Rachel provided, “Keep feeling, there’s more.”
Mary dipped her hand back into the stocking. This time she withdrew a handful of walnuts.
“I am going to need my teeth in to eat these!” she joked, making everyone laugh.
Her stocking done, the others fell to opening theirs. As she watched her family, she smoothed the velvety fabric across her knee.
Something hard remained inside. She must have missed a walnut. She reached into the stocking, grasped the hard little object, pulled it free.
A chestnut. Copper-red, shiny and perfect.
“How on earth did that get in there?” Rachel said, looking over at her, “I didn’t even buy chestnuts this year!”
Mary smiled, clutching the small object tightly, “Must have been in with the pack of walnuts by mistake.”
Rachel shrugged, looking away again.
“That’ll be it, mark my words.” Mary said, though no one was listening.
S P Oldham
And the winner is…
Thank you to everyone who entered my recent little competition. The winner, chosen at random, is...
Alix Smith!
Alix entered via my website. Congratulations Alix, I will be in touch to arrange delivery of 'Sleep, Think, Die' as soon as possible.
Again, thank you to everyone who took part. Keep coming back for more competitions in the future. In the meantime there are lots of free reads on my site or find out more about me and my books there!
Sharing the Written Undead Authors - Angel Ramon
Getting to know the featured authors of the Written Undead!
Thank you for love shown to our first featured author James D. Dean. Today it’s the turn of one of the longest serving members of the Written Undead, Angel Ramon.
Not only is he one of our glorious admins who puts so much time into keeping this group an awesome and safe place to hang out, he’s well known for his love of bacon and his penmanship of LitRPG fiction, along with The Fifth Survivor zombie apocalypse books!
Lately he’s taken a successful turn into writing creature feature horror with his books about killer frogs and rats! I dare to think what’s next. Leave the guinea pigs alone please Angel!
That’s not all, and you can check out his many series available from amazon!
Audible Codes up for Grabs!
Want a FREE Audible code for Hag’s Breath: A Collection of Witchcraft and Wickedness, or Wakeful Children: A Collection of Horror and Supernatural Tales?
The first to claim a code below will get one. (While stocks last.) Simple as that! All I ask is that you please redeem the codes and consider leaving me a review, however you may feel about the books! I have been doing this a long time, and without doubt, getting feedback and getting my work out there is the hardest part of all. I am struggling to get anywhere in terms of sales or readers and would appreciate your support, even if it is just a share of this post. Thank you.
P.S I am also on TikTok, #booksfrommybed or of course as S P Oldham. I will do occasional lives there, share all things book related and other things too, if you feel like joining me!
Competition Time! It’s been a while…
Cannot remember when I last ran a competition, so it is high time we had a new one! If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a paperback copy of ‘Sleep, Think, Die,’ Book 1 in the Mindless Trilogy, then comment ‘Thinkers’ below.
First name drawn randomly will win. Feel free to share the competition. Good luck!
Competition runs until Midnight 30th September 2025 GMT. If the winner does not claim their prize within two weeks it will roll over to a second prize winner. No prize alternative, no communication will be entered into. Competition in no way associated with Facebook, TikTok or any other online platform.
Sleep, Think, Die: Mindless Trilogy: Book One eBook : Oldham, S P: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Picture this: you’re sitting in a bar minding your own business, having a quiet drink or two, when trouble steps in off the street. A shambling wreck stumbles over the threshold, bloodied clothes torn, muttering incoherently. Just another idiot who doesn’t know when enough is too much. You raise your glass, take another slug. It’s okay, security can handle it.
But then over by the juke box a woman screams, a man swears loudly. You look up to see the barman drop the pint he’s pouring and back off, pale and shivering. Maybe you should turn around and take a closer look…
Then the world goes crazy. Before you know it, you’re shoulder to shoulder with security, fighting a wave of undead. Someone throws you a cue – a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘killer pool.’ When it’s over, there’s only four of you left; you, two hard men and the terrified girl you find hiding beneath the corpse of her boyfriend.
So begins the story of a new kind of world; where the dead are far more ambulant than they should be, and the living must walk amongst them, fighting to survive.
Written Undead - New Feature
I am very proud and grateful to be a founding member of this group. The following is written by my colleague Gareth Stevens:
Welcome to our new feature - Getting to know the featured authors of the Written Undead!
Today’s featured author is James D. Dean, best known for This Dying World, a zombie apocalypse series!
In his spare time he loves wrangling dogs, hopefully his own, loves BBQ (I’m sure the two are not related), watching anime, playing videos and is an avid reader. He’s also keen to design new forms of entertainment, and I think he’s got something here. Amongst his ideas are a new sport of nursing home wheel chair jousting, old man shouting at clouds competition and Nascar but the drivers can only use stolen local city busses.
If you want to check out his books, they’re available on amazon!
Find us (the Written Undead) on Facebook: (5) Written Undead | Facebook
It’s Finally Time!
It's finally time! If you missed out on pre-ordering, you can now snap up M. Purkiss's new book, 'New Fears Unlocked,' in paperback or on Kindle, from Amazon!
Chilling tales to make your skin crawl, I was delighted and privileged to be invited to take part in M. Purkiss's book and write small verses to precede each story. What an honour and such fun, too!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Fears-Unlocked.../dp/B0FJ6PYCW8
New Fears Unlocked!
Confront your fears in this haunting collection of short stories!
4 Terrifying tales combined in one book!
Bites - A couple take a relaxing holiday by the sea, but everything is not as it seems!
Paralysis - A woman is plagued by sleep paralysis and finds herself confronted by an unknown entity!
The Dollhouse Maker - The stories of magic seemed to unbelievable, until it was too late!
House - He wanted the house, needed the house. But when all is said and done, was it worth it?
Scared?
You will be!
Big News!
It’s been a while! So much going on, but in the little world of my writing, I have been busy!
I am very pleased to say that all of my books are now available in paperback! A lot of people have been interested in my writing but don’t go in for Kindle reading, so I hope that now my stories will be more accessible to you, too.
Thank you for all the support, interest and encouragement. Links to all of my books are available via their individual pages here on my website, or just type ‘S P Oldham, Author’ into Amazon and it should take you right to them.
There will be a competition coming up soon, since it’s been a while. Keep checking back and spread the word!
Best Wishes, everyone. Hope you’re all well and happy.
S P
New Fears Unlocked…
I was delighted to be invited to write some short, introductory poetic verse to preface each of author Matthew Purkiss’s creepy tales. New Fears Unlocked will be released very soon. Watch this space for details.
The Blurb: Confront your fears in this haunting collection of short stories!
4 Terrifying tales combined in one book!
Bites - A couple take a relaxing holiday by the sea, but everything is not as it seems!
Paralysis - A woman is plagued by sleep paralysis and finds herself confronted by an unknown entity!
The Dollhouse Maker - The stories of magic seemed to unbelievable, until it was too late!
House - He wanted the house, needed the house. But when all is said and done, was it worth it?
Scared?
You will be!
Interview with Local Author, M. Purkiss
I was very pleased to meet a fellow indie author recently, living in the same town as me! We met for coffee, had a lovely chat and he kindly agreed to be interviewed. I am pleased to introduce you to M. Purkiss. Please take a minute to visit his socials after you have read the interview. Thanks!
1. Introduce yourself! Tell us something about you, where you are from and how you got into writing.
Hi all. My name is M. Purkiss, and I write primarily horror, although my debut release was considered sci-fi/mystery. I currently live in South Wales but am originally from Southampton in Hampshire. I have always loved books, although growing up I struggled to read and write, but I somehow knew that I wanted to write even before I understood how too. It wasn’t until I left school and college when I really sat down properly to write. Although I used to write tales of horror growing up, only for my own amusement.
2. How long have you been writing?
As soon as I grasped the basic concepts of sentences and structures, I started creating stories. My first book was published in 2015, and it spawned two sequels in the following years (2016,2017). After this I took a break from writing seriously until 2024, when I decided to properly pursue writing as a full-time commitment.
3. Why horror?
I have always loved horror, growing up I would spend endless hours watching horror movies. I would play horror games and when I was able to read properly, read horror books. I find the genre to be very expressive and without too many barriers. I am able to go in any direction I feel is necessary. Horror had always been a part of my life and so it made sense that the love I have for the genre is something I wanted to share with others.
4. Who is your favourite horror author?
I have several horror authors I love to read and who inspire me. Of course, a big one for me is Stephen King, The Shining being the first adult horror book I read front to back. But aside from him I look to others, such as Rick Wood and Ania Ahlborn who are able to create captivating and exciting scenarios to get lost in terror with. I am always open to trying new authors of course, I love to see different perspectives on similar situations, it always fascinates me.
5. Have any authors inspired you to take up writing?
I knew I always wanted to write horror before I had my favourites as it were, but then when exploring different authors, I am able to get inspiration. There has not been one particular author that inspired me to write, just the genre in general was the inspiration I required.
6. Do any of the people you meet in real life inspire your characters? Anonymity is key here!
There have been on occasions when someone has said something to me or acted a certain way when I say to myself “save that for later”. A lot of my characters are fabrications of my own imagination with a sprinkling of real traits from people to give the characters more depth.
7. Of your characters, which is your favourite? Why?
I love this question, mainly because it can change at any moment. I guess if I had to pick one current character it would be Adam from Spirals of Grey. I love his journey, although tragic, I feel like the way it plays out is something that is grounded in reality. My favourite upcoming character is from an as yet unannounced project, Sara. But more on her when the timing is right.
8. Which is your least favourite? Why?
I don’t have a least favourite character as such; I have had difficult characters. One being Barbara from Spirals of Grey. She was a character who was quite stubborn, she wouldn’t act or do what I wanted her to do, mainly because it wasn’t in her personality to do certain things, so this led to many re-writes to fit in with her.
9. What is the scariest/weirdest experience you have ever had personally?
Life in general can be quite terrifying. There have been a few encounters that I couldn’t explain away easily. I have always been interested in the paranormal and have had the experience of seeing a few apparitions in my life so far. There have been times when I have been reading and something strange happens. For example, I was reading The Exorcist and when reading the possession scene, the lights in the room began to flicker. Bad electrics? Maybe, though it hasn’t done it since.
10. There seems to be a vague theme of houses or home running through, ‘New Fears Unlocked.’ Was that deliberate?
It wasn’t deliberate, although I guess I like to create fear in safe spaces, which for most in home. New Fears Unlocked! was created as four unconnected stories, although the theme of houses or home is cool, ill take that.
11. Have you ever stayed in a haunted house or home?
I have and I love the experiences I have had. One of my inspirations for ‘House’ was due to a house I grew up in. Especially the character of the man in the hat. I used to say to my parents about a man who came into my room and sat at the end of my bed, years later a neighbour said that she had seen the same man walking through her kitchen, so must be something in it.
12. Do you believe in ghosts?
Definitely. My answer to this question is never anything different.
13. ‘Paralysis’ is a story I think many people could relate to. Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis yourself?
I have. When my anxiety gets really going, I do suffer from sleep paralysis. It is such a terrifying experience. You literally cannot move and have no reaction to things going on around you. I have wanted to write something about these experiences for a while, which is why ‘Paralysis’ exists. I knew exactly what the character was feeling and thinking and her tricks to bounce from the experience is tricks I have used.
14. What do you like to do to relax or have fun?
It may seem quite boring but when I am not writing, I’m normally reading. I read mainly horror but do read thrillers and other genres as well. I also like walking, this helps with my mental health also, so it has dual purpose. I also have an obsession with Disney, so I’m either watching movies or planning a Disney trip.
15. What are your plans for the future in terms of writing?
I have so many plans for the future. New Fears Unlocked! is of course my current project I’m focussing on. Once that book is out, I have already one other project in editing. I have also finished a first write up of another. I have literally not stopped; the ideas keep coming. I have a document which I update regularly of upcoming projects, and I currently have twelve in the pipeline, although nothing comes quick, so this will keep me occupied for the next few years, so watch my socials for all the exciting announcements.
16. When can we expect a new release?
New Fears Unlocked! will be coming this year, 2025. I do have a date pencilled in, but I can’t officially announce this yet, but I am overflowing with excitement with this project. It started as a small project of short stories, but has turned into a much bigger machine, which has attracted exciting attachments which I cant wait to share with the world.
17. Where can your readers find you? Include as many links as you like.
Readers can find my work on Amazon which can be purchased in paperback, my work is also on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
Amazon.co.uk: M Purkiss: books, biography, latest update
For all updates and news, I am currently active on the following social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mpurkissauthor
Instagram: m.purkiss_author
TikTok: @m.purkiss.author
LinkedIn: M Purkiss
M. Purkiss grew up in Hampshire, England. Studying at the local schools and colleges.
Growing up I found it difficult writing and reading and was taught through special workbooks which used basic language and grammar. Despite this I wanted to be a writer. I soon found myself reading book after book and though I still find writing difficult, I have managed to write and publish books.
Entity was released in 2015, and this was followed by Entity 2 & 3 in 2016,2017. I took a long break in which time I moved from Hampshire to South Wales. It wasn’t until 2024 when I re-released Entity as Entity: The Complete Trilogy and used that as a starting point to pursue a full-time writing commitment along with a full-time job. In October 2024 I released Spirals of Grey, and the writing is moving full steam ahead.
I have had many exciting experiences since my re-release of entity, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. I have built up an amazing support network around me so am fortunate.
If you want to pursue a dream my advice is to take the time and just do it. I have, and if nothing becomes of the final work, at least I can say that I have realised one of my dreams and tried.
Introductory Horror Poetry - Meeting M. Purkiss
Had the pleasure of meeting a local indie author, M. Purkiss this morning. https://www.facebook.com/mpurkissauthor Always great to connect with like-minded horror readers and writers. Why not take a minute to check out his work? Further to that meeting, I was given the privilege of writing introductory horror poetry for his upcoming horror short story collection. Keep your eyes open for this release, coming soon... #newfearsunlocked #horrorshortstories #mpurkiss
Come watch me do a reading from ‘Sisters’ on TikTok!
I have done a quick reading from Hag’s Breath: A Collection of Witchcraft and Wickedness, from the story ‘Sisters.’ Come and take a look at my warts and all, should have left it to the experts (aka Paula Hines) reading if you feel like it! Here’s the link: https://www.tiktok.com/@spoldhamauthor/video/7501325327776369942?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7497245378624210454
A Research Question - Victorian Apothecaries and the Sale of Contraception
Hi, me again! Hope you are all well.
Does anyone out there happen to have knowledge of the purchase of contraceptives from apothecaries in the late 1800’s, in the UK? Or just knowledge about apothecaries of that era in general? If so, I have one or two very specific questions I would love to ask of you, if I may. Google just doesn’t seem to be quite up to it!
Thank you. I hope to be back here soon with more writing news.
S P
Updates and News from Me
Hello everyone, how is your January going? I have had such a lot going on in the background that, sadly, I have not had as much time to keep up to date with my online commitments as I would like. I have also struggled to find the time to write, though I have finally got back on track with a book I started two years ago!
I am still doing Silly Sunday Zombie Limericks, and I intend to keep going with them for as long as I am able. I enjoy writing them and I like to think that people enjoy reading them, too. They are just a bit of daft fun, which we all need, now and then.
Because of so many demands on the personal front, I am putting Guest Interviews on hold for a while. Ditto newsletters, unless there is something important, exciting or special I want to share.
Just thought I would keep you up to date. To those of you who continue to support me, thank you. It means the world.
S P Oldham
Happy New Year for 2025
Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
Not necessarily prosperous in the materialistic sense, though most of us could do with some extra cash these days. I mean ‘prosperous’ in all the areas of your life that you want to grow, evolve, improve or change for the better. I think it is important to make that clarification.
Speaking for us, we know that the year ahead promises changes and challenges for us as a family that we would rather not be facing. At least we have fair warning, and can anticipate some of those changes. We will get through it. As for the rest, the things that none of us can see coming, let’s just hope that they are good, or at the very least they leave us stronger for having faced them.
I wish the same for all of you. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I will keep writing because it is who and what I am, even though most of the ‘reading world’ so to speak, don’t even know who I am!
If you’re still with me, thank you with all my heart.
Happy New Year!
S P Oldham
Save Llancaich Fawr!
Llancaiach Fawr at Risk of Closure
Caerphilly council is proposing to ‘mothball’ stunning Tudor mansion Llancaiach Fawr, in an effort to save money. There are a lot of voices raised against this, and against the imminent closure of Blackwood Miner’s Institute in Blackwood.
The manor house is such a community hub, offering a wide variety of events, workshops, ghost tours etc… as well as meals in their lovely restaurants, the Lounge and the Conservatory. Apart from anything else, it seems to me that rather than saving money, they will be cutting off a means of bringing money in, not to mention the loss of jobs when those currently employed there lose their positions.
That this is even being contemplated is unbelievable to me. Llancaiach Fawr is always so popular, you have to get in quick if you want to take part in their events. Especially at Christmas, when the house is even more beautiful than ever. I understand the need to budget, money is tight and so on, but to close down such an historically important venue that brings money in makes no sense to me. All of which also applies to Blackwood Miner’s Institute. I have enjoyed several shows there. My little granddaughter has seen shows and pantomimes there. The thought of losing it makes me very sad.
It is worth noting that the same council also proposed stopping a meal delivery service, which delivers meals to some of the most vulnerable people in the community, again in a bid to save money. Why does it always seem to be the case that the most needy are the first to suffer? Thankfully, this proposal has recently been reversed.
The word ‘mothballing’ bothers me here. I have a feeling that once mothballed, these places will remain closed permanently, being sold off to some rich developer or private buyer or something.
Something similar happened years ago now, to a building called Insole Court in Radyr, Cardiff. That wonderful place was saved by the community and is now a thriving hub, with all kinds of amazing things going on there, including a community garden, which I personally think is fabulous. If they saved Insole Court, then they can save Llancaiach Fawr and Blackwood Miner’s Institute too.
I will watch carefully, with fingers crossed, to see what happens regarding this important and beautiful buildings. I hope that when I report back, it will be with good news. Surely, there are other ways the council could cut back, without causing such upset and damage to the communities involved, and without depriving necessary causes such as schools, medical facilities and so on. I hope so.
https://blackwoodminersinstitute.com
Llancaiach Fawr by S P Oldham
FREE READ Christmas 2024
Christmas free read 2024
Your free read for Christmas 2024 is in Portfolios#2. Lots of other free reads here, t I hope you enjoy it. Have a very happy, safe and heathy Christmas!
Give Me a Monster
Enjoy your free Halloween read here: https://www.spoldhamauthor.com/portfolios/christmasandhalloweenfreereads
Thoughts and comments welcome. Happy Halloween, stay safe out there.
Elementary Undead - Alice B. Sullivan
Pre-order now for only 99c!
For fans of The Walking Dead, 28 Weeks Later, and the gripping, critically acclaimed video game and television series The Last of Us comes a white-knuckle story of survival in the face of unfathomable horror… Elementary Undead. When classmates and teachers suddenly develop a ravenous appetite for human flesh, thirteen-year-old Karly Weiss soon realizes fighting her favorite meant-to-be fictional monster isn't as easy as the movies make it seem. She and her ragtag group of friends will have to find a way to survive the zombie-infested halls of Renn Elementary until this nightmare ends. If it ever will. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0DK2NH9D1
