Ok guys, I'm going to let you into a little secret. I am truly excited and a little scared about this post because

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL IS MY MOST FAVOURITE BOOK EVER!!!

I want to do this justice and be proud of it and share my love for this book with you dear reader. I have such wonderful memories of this book. From being a 7 year old sat in Mrs Beth's reading corner while she read one of the parts each day to 25 sets of wide eyes and beating hearts who were both entranced and a little scared of this story. To listening to the most wonderful audio recording whilst being poorly and not hearing any other sound other than the rich, plum tones of Daniel Massey. 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' is a staple in our house every Christmas and every Christmas Eve I hum 'One more sleep till Christmas' from the movie.

This book is woven throughout the fabric of my life and I love it.

Released in 1843, this novella focuses on the miser Ebeneezer Scrooge, 'a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching covetous old sinner' who is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner Jacob Marley. Marley warns Scrooge that he must change his miserly ways or wear the chains he forged in life forever. (Not a good thing, we're not talking lashings of gold bling here!). Scrooge will be visited over 3 nights by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Christmas Yet to Come, who will help him achieve this change.

Through the vists Scrooge experiences Christmases long forgotten; as a child, Fezziwig's Christmas party and a painful parting. My favourite visitation is with the Ghost of Christmas Present. When the novel was written, Christmas was starting to be celebrated much as it is now; Christmas Trees, puddings, presents and a goose. Scrooge and the Ghost visit miners, remote lighthouses as well as Scrooge's jocular Nephew and Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's long suffering clerk.

The most chilling part of the book is Scrooge's vistation from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The colours darker, rain instead of crisp, pure snow and visits to the more bleak and slipshod areas of London Town.

Normally when I read a story, I am captured by a good plot or interesting characters. This book for me is about the most wonderful language. It's evocative, it transports and is just glorious. I love the message, the characters, the plot, the richness and the atmosphere. I turn the last page feeling warm and aglow with the Christmas spirit.

So, a cake to go with this. There are so many choices I could choose - a mince pie, Christmas Cake, plum pudding. But I'm going to keep it simple here - a piece of (un-iced) Christmas Cake with a slab of Yorkshire crumbly cheese and a glass of port by the fire. Heaven