Sunday 20 December 2009

A VERY PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TO ALL


Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I wish you whatever varieties of pleasure you need and / or deserve over the holiday period, and a very peaceful time. One sort of peace I promise* is peace from me, since I'm going to take a little blogiday, and not pester you until the New Year. At which point I shall expect to hear all your writerly resolutions, and I hope to have a few myself.

[* OK, possibly not exactly promise, as you never know when the spirit might move me to get my soap-box out from under the bed. But kind of offer with some probability, at least.]

Meanwhile, during Christmas I will raise a glass to all of you, my lovely blog-readers - you have been a true highlight of my year. Honestly. I know, I know: you're welling up with emotion, but you really have given me lots of pleasure, masses to think about and an insight into so many different mindsets and situations. You have informed and enriched me. You have soothed my crabbity brow on many occasions. In fact, the only thing I can criticise you for is that through your constant willingness to follow my advice and say nice things to me you have rubbed the edges off my inner crabbitness and if I'm not careful I will no longer be the first Google result for Crabbit Old Bat.

I'm sure you agree that this would be a shame and a loss to the world. So please return in the New Year and try to be a bit more annoying.


On a more serious note, I know that Christmas can be a sad or difficult time for many people, especially if you are missing a loved one, but whatever your circumstances, I wish you the greatest possible peace and happiness. And indulgence and silliness, both of which are important and much-to-be-welcomed on occasion. To all writers, may your Muse rest and rise up rejuvenated for a wonderful 2010. Time away from your desk can be a powerful trigger for new and better ideas, so use your time well, letting your mind and imagination wander free, possibly even liberated by a glass or two of the sparkly stuff.

And I don't mean lemonade.

A very good Christmas to you all. I will be back.

Nicola xxx

36 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you Nicola, look forward to your posts in future, Happy Christmas,

Carole.

Flixton Mum said...

Oh, you nearly moved me to tears with all that emotion. Thank you. Have a good Christmas yourself and I hope you get lots of chocolate to ease your crabbitness.

HelenMWalters said...

A great Christmas to you too, and many thanks for all the helpful and supportive posts throughout the year.

Suzie F. said...

Peace and happiness to you and yours, Nicola. One of the highlights for me this year was finding honest publishing advice from great blogs like yours.

Thank you for all you do to help people like me believe that I might just have a chance to achieve my dream.

p.s. You'll always remain the Supreme Crabbit Goddess in my eyes. Er, that was supposed to be a compliment.

Elen C said...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Cheers!

Marisa Birns said...

Happy Christmas to you!

Thanks for all the humor, banter, and good advice.

2010 will be a very good year for all of us!

See you then. x

Thomas Taylor said...

Happy Christmas, Nicola. Funnily enough, I've been working down a pile of books and one of yours is next.

Cathie Hartigan said...

I see I'm not alone in thanking my lucky stars that I happed upon your very excellent Batness.

Your awesome energy and wise words have been inspirational. And I hear you write books too. Lawks!

My New Year's resolution: flap arms, hang upside down and wear unsuitable shoes more often.

A very Happy Christmas and a big thank you, Nicola.

David John Griffin said...

Here's hoping you and family have a great Christmas, Nicola!

Your help and support to all of us is very much appreciated, thank you; especially your unwavering optimism and enthusiasm.

:-)

Sally Zigmond said...

And may your and your family's Christmas be everything you wish it to be. Don't worry about not being crabbit any more. Once the tinsel and fairy lights have been packed away, you won't be able to contain yourself. I can't wait!

Anonymous said...

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too Nicola!!!!

Isla :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Enjoy a wonderful Christmas season!

Nicola Morgan said...

Oh, for goodness' sake all of you: stop being so bloody nice!! What's a C.O.B to do? Grrrrr.

Seriously, of course, have a lovely time. Am off to cook first festive meal now, probably accompanied by sparkly stuff.

Catherine Hughes said...

Merry Christmas everybody! We finally got our share of the snow here in wales and so it certainly does feel very festive now.

Have a good one!

Cat x

catdownunder said...

Nicola, thankyou. You deserve the bubbly and the chocolate. (I promise you I'll bring some with me when I eventually return to Edinburgh.) I know I nearly drove you crazy with furry and ill-thought out comments. For a COB you are extraordinarily patient with cats! Have a marvellous Christmas (and find someone else to do the washing up) and an excellent writing New Year with all the right words.
To the rest of the you - Season's Greetings and best wishes for the right words in 2010.

Marshall Buckley said...

This is my first "writerly" (is that a real word?) Christmas... and the thought of taking a break is driving me mad.

Of course, I'm happy to take the time off from my day job, but I don't want to break the writing habit - except I have to, because I've vowed not to go near Book 2 until all my beta-readers have reported back.

So, excuse me if I'm all grumpy and - dare I say it? - crabbit...

Seriously, a Happy Christmas to one and all - my new found friends.

Pen said...

Merry Christmas to you too. We'll definitely miss you while you enjoy your well earned bolgiday and look forward to your return in the New Year.

Elizabeth West said...

A very Merry Christmas to you also, Nicola! Thank you for the great advice and funny stories!

P.S. Your blog has helped me so much, I linked to it on my blog. :)

Administrator said...

Wishing everyone the Xmas they hope for.

xx

Rebecca Knight said...

Awwwww :). That was rather sweet, Nicola, and not crabbity at all. You'd better get your game face on for the New Year!

Seriously, though, thank you for all the wit, fancy boot pictures, and great advice this year! Yours is one of my absolutely favorite blogs, and my face lights up whenever I see a new post from you in my reader :).

Merry Christmas everyone, and happy holidays!

JaneF said...

Well you certainly deserve a nice long break - I can't believe how much you've managed to cram into your posts over the past year. Helpful and crabbit and entertaining all at the same time - a heady mix!

Also very helpful have been all those book recommendations for Christmas presents. Several are waiting to be wrapped as I type.

Merry Christmas Nicola and everyone!

Donna Gambale said...

New Year's Resolution #1 - Help restore your inner Crabbitness. Can't have you going soft!

BUT since we're still in 2009: I find you to be a lovely person who gives excellent advice, and I hope you have a wonderful blogiday and holiday filled with Bubbly, Books, and [one more b-word... one more...] crabbity Brilliance!

Jane Smith said...

Nicola. One of my 2009 highlights has been meeting you via your lovely blog. I'm so glad you started blogging: not only have I gained a valued friend, I've watched you help all sorts of writers sort themselves out and reach new heights. It's been just brilliant. Thank you.

I look forward to 2010, and all that it will bring. Which includes more of your fabulous blog posts and, I hope, the chance to meet you in the flesh, one of these days.

Have a lovely holiday. I'll raise more than just one glass for you.

Sally Clements said...

Have a happy Christmas Nicola!

Stroppy Author said...

Damn, that was a short post. Here was I, hoping I could defer writing that pb text a bit longer by noodling around on your blog, and it was all brief and over too quickly (sounds like Lily Allen, doesn't it?). Happy Christmas - now I'll have to write that dratted book!

Jo Treggiari said...

Wishing you the same, Nicola. And plenty of chocolate!

Nicola Morgan said...

Awwww, thanks for all your lovely comments, everyone. It's been a lot of fun meeting you.

I hope those of you who have snow are not badly affected by it and that you are able to spend Christmas with the people you want to spend it with. We have serious snow here, which is very unusual for edinburgh. I'm sure Jane in the wilds of Yorkshire is a past mistress at dealing with it and is even now forcing her children to pedal the generator to power her aga.

Early in the New Year, I'll be asking you to suggest the topics or questions you'd like me to blog about. So, don't relax too much: get your thinking caps on.

Have a lovely holiday, everyone. You deserve it. (As far as I know!) Nx

Anonymous said...

Nicola, have a wonderful, relaxing Christmas. May your mug be filled with spiked eggnog, your tree full of gifties, your family in harmony, and your writing brilliant.

I await your words of wisdom in 2010 with baited breath!

Clare said...

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, Nicola - may 2010 be a happy and peaceful year for you all.

Thank you for your wonderful posts throughout 2009 - and your lovely behind-the-scenes posts too. (Crabbit - this old bat? Methinks not! :) )

Under the Christmas tree is the lovely book posted by the Edinburgh Bookshop (thanks, it looks just up my street - not that you can see anything up my street but snow at the mo!)

Not quite complete apparently, is the story being written by Isla for my Christmas present because you encouraged her to keep writing - that is a present beyond monetary value, a testament to the power of this blog and your unselfish goodwill. I just wish you could see her enthusiasm, the fun she is having writing it - I have no idea of the content but I know to whom I owe the thanks for re-kindling her teenage enthusiam.

Lang may yer lum reek, lang may yer blog bloom! :)

Jenzarina said...

Merry Christmas, with plenty of sparkly stuff and good books!

Jen x

Harry Markov said...

A belated Merry Christmas. :) Thanks for the magnificent advice and if you really really want it, I can let out my inner annoying-ness.

Melinda Szymanik said...

Too late to wish you merry christmas but hope it was a good one. Here's to a very cool yule!

cheers from the antipodes (where protection against sunburn is the order of the day rather than protection from too much snow) - Melinda

* said...

Merry Christmas to you, Nicola. May your holidays be filled with anything but lemonade!

Anne Lyken-Garner said...

Hi Nicola,
I just wanted to visit your blog and thank you for commenting on my post over at Year Zero Writers.
You have a fantastic blog here, full of useful advice too!

Nicola Morgan said...

Clare - I hope you've now received your story from Isla and I'm so touched that it was partly my encouragement that got her going on it!

Anne - thank you and lovely to "meet" you.

Terresa, Melinda and Jenzarina - hope your Christmasses were good!

Harry - I can't wait!

Lynn - not sure about my writing but everything else was good, thank you!

Right, must go out into the horrible snow to go and do a radio interview. No rest...

Harry Markov said...

Kay, but you will have to know that I will need to split personalities to manage both annoying and admiring, so I hope you appreciate the effort. *grin*

What did Santa bring you? Boots?