Forthcoming Events

There are a couple of events in November at which I shall be making a personal appearance.

The first is the Ealing Arts and Crafts Fair, where I shall be selling (and signing) copies of What is Myrrh Anyway? The fair is being held at St James' Church on Saturday 7 November, and I'll be there between 10.00am and 4.00pm, apparently in a marquee outside - so pray for good weather for me!

And then on Tuesday 10 November I shall be appearing at the Beyond Words Festival, at University College School from 2.30-3.30pm. I shall be talking briefly about the how I came to write What is Myrrh Anyway? and will then be hosting a fun - but challenging - Christmas quiz, as well as signing copies of my books. To reserve your ticket for this event, ring the UCS Box Office on 020 7433 2219.


Maybe I'll see you at one or the other? If you do pop along, say "Hi!" and tell me the blog sent you!

Scrooge and the demise of the office Christmas party

Apparently, this Christmas, one in five businesses have cancelled the festive celebrations they would usually put on for their staff and half were undecided as to whether to go ahead or not.

And of course, it's all down to the recession we've been enjoying lately. Last year's financial woes led to companies cutting back on the cost of Christmas parties, but this year some are cancelling them altogether.

To read more about this tale of Christmas woe, click here.

Lego Winter Toy Shop

If you're a fan of Lego - and let's face it, who isn't? - then you'll be pleased to know that there is a brand new Christmas themed set out in time for this December 25.












It's the Winter Toy Shop and comes complete with Christmas tree, carol singers and a mini-figure that would appear to be Noel Edmonds, who always used to be on the telly on Christmas Day (although here he appears to be bothering a cat).


To get hold of your Winter Toy Shop, click here.

Stop the Cavalry!

Heard this for the first time this year today and as far as I'm concerned, it's never too soon for a bit of Jona Lewie.

Paul McCartney's Christmas Concert

Sir Paul McCartney is to play a special, one-off Christmas show in London, his first arena show in the capital in over six years.

The former Beatle will end a seven-date European tour, his first in five years, with a concert at The O2 arena on December 22.

The performance will be 46 years to the day since The Beatles played their first Christmas show at Liverpool's Empire Theatre and it will be McCartney's first arena show in London for over six years.

The 'Good Evening Europe' tour will kick off in Hamburg, Germany, the city where The Beatles played extensively before being signed.

He said: "This is my chance to bring our current show home to where it all began. Starting in Hamburg, ending in London and rocking everywhere in between. I'm very much looking forward to ending the year on a high."

McCartney, 67, has only played a handful of UK shows since his last tour in 2003, including a headline slot at the Glastonbury musical festival in 2004 and a performance at the European Capital of Culture show in Liverpool last year.

Other cities McCartney will be stopping at include Paris, Berlin, and Dublin.

Tickets for the concerts go on sale at 9am on Monday October 26. When he played in Las Vegas earlier this year, tickets sold out in seven seconds.

Cute Christmas Penguins

How cool are these guys?


To get hold of your own pack of 12 - or even 60! - penguins, click here.

Win tickets to the premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol!

Radio Times has four tickets to the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol plus an overnight stay in London to give away to one reader.

The festive celebrations take place on Tuesday 3 November and the winner and three guests will have a night to remember, attending the film premiere alongside its stars and also witnessing the first ever simultaneous switching on of festive lights - on the theme of Disney's A Christmas Carol - in the West End and City of London.

For your chance to win, click here.