Especially for you, Fiona tells us about the special inspiration behind the stories and what they mean to her: Season's Greetings Receiving the annual round robin from friends is a Christmas tradition I devour with the same indulgent pleasure as the green triangles in the Quality Street box. Season's Greetings tells Holly's story through a decade of Christmas letters. The Nativity Scene I'm now proud to count myself among the ranks of tear-stained parents who hold camera phones wonkily aloft at the school nativity play each year. In The Nativity Scene, the under 9s in home-made wings are not the only ones for whom the day could spell high drama. Dine Out On It When I was moving house a lot in the nineties and noughties, I clung onto spare front door keys as a keepsake. Dine Out On It came from seeing the clutch of Yales swinging on a hook at the back of a cupboard, and wondering what would happen if I ever tried them out again. Elizabeth Elizabeth was written for a Sunday newspaper at a time my heart regularly came unglued when falling in love without a safety net. I loved the idea of a complete reinvention, and the secret hope that somebody would one day find my leopard's spots beneath the whitewash. Freudian Slips This story was inspired by something a friend of mine did, and the image of lipstick on cricket whites was so heavenly, I just had to write Freudian Slips . . . Plus bonus content! This collection contains the first three chapters from Fiona's bestselling novel The Summer Wedding .
Release date:
December 2, 2013
Publisher:
Sphere
Print pages:
80
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This is the first Christmas letter from Mrs R. J. Lupton! And what a year to look back upon:
The build-up to the wedding was a true rollercoaster (thanks go to my darling sister for booking us all onto the Flying Colossus
at the hen weekend … apparently my panic attack was the first they’d had since opening the theme park, and I still can’t drive
up the circular ramp in Cheltenham’s multi-storey!). Organising the Big Day was so stressful that Robin suggested eloping
to Vegas, but it was all worthwhile in the end, with so many of you there to share our joy – and umbrellas. When Auntie Jean
sang ‘Come Away With Me’, even Robin cried, although he insists that was caused by the painkillers reacting with the champagne.
My new husband was so noble to keep quiet about the disc he slipped on the stag weekend – who knew a mini-cruise around Holland’s
canals could be so dangerous? There was no carrying me over any thresholds (so much for me dropping a dress size on the Atkins
diet), but we’re both grateful it wasn’t worse, and daily massages in the lagoon spa certainly helped on honeymoon.
Mauritius was amazing, and having eaten our weight in seafood, it was back on the Atkins for me straight afterwards. You can
spot the Luptons power-jogging together around the park at 7am some days, although when Robin’s got a big meeting he needs
all his energy and sticks to a health shake. He’s having a lot of big meetings these days, and I’m so proud of the hours he
puts in to be such a rising star in the world of corporate finance. My job at the gallery continues to be interesting and
rewarding, and we’ve exhibited some fabulous new artists this year, including an eighty-year-old from Anglesey who makes beautiful
erotic triptychs from sheep’s wool and seaweed. His debut was a critical triumph (despite Robin nicknaming it the ‘Baa-ma
Sutra’, ha ha).
We’ll be spending this Christmas with Robin’s mother in Yorkshire, which will no doubt be a culinary treat. Her fig, sherry
and almond stuffing is legendary, and Robin insists that nobody will ever match her bread sauce. As ever, I can’t wait!
May Santa bring you everything you could want, most especially health and happiness.
Much love to you all and a very merry Christmas from us both.
Holly and Robin xx
Dear Friend,
Another year has raced past, and it’s been such a busy one, I hardly know where to start, but be prepared for news of the
patter of tiny feet!
We now have two British Blue kittens, Bogie and Bacall, Valentine’s gifts from Robin. It was so romantic when they burst out
of the box over our candlelit meal (well, fell out of it really, because they’d had a few ‘accidents’, making one corner soggy),
and then snaffled up the smoked salmon roulade I’d made for starters. Darling Robin explained that he knows I’ve always been
more of a dog-lover, and the cat allergy is a bit of a drawback, but he sensibly pointed out that cats are the best option
for a full-time working couple. They are great entertainment, still running up and down the curtains and attacking everything in sight, most especially Robin’s ankles – thick socks are on this year’s Christmas
list, along with silk ties and cufflinks as befits my corporate high flyer …
In March, Robin became the youngest associate at Carew Knighton to be made a partner (all those dinner parties to impress
the boss paid off!). He’s worked really hard for this career break, and now even has his own PA, Sian, as well as a designated
parking space for the new Audi TT. Meanwhile, at the gallery, we hosted the hugely successful ‘Summer Laid Bare’. Robin, who
took a keen interest, has bought a large oil of a nude on a chaise as an investment.
We enjoyed our skiing holiday in Austria with Mark and his new wife Angie amid much Glühwein, strudel and good-humoured daring.
Apparently my accident was the first time that anybody had been airlifted off the black run, but thankfully the X-rays showed
nothing serious was broken and I was dancing at wedding discos again in no time.
This year, we went to no less than eight weddings – perhaps we’ve started a trend? – and amongst the most memorable was Mark
and Angie’s in an amazing stately home near Bath, at which Robin was proud to return the best man favour and made a very funny
speech that will be remembered for years to come, especially the PowerPoint slideshow of the stag night. I was very relieved
to learn the Nebraska brothel scene had all been Photoshopped! All those wedding buffets threatened the waistlines again,
but Robin is lucky that a new gym has opened right next to his office, and I’m doing aqua-aerobic classes at the local sports
centre. We both went on the cabbage soup diet before our Nile cruise to fit back into the honeymoon swimwear, although Robin
dropped out because the side-effects were a bit alarming (even the cats left the room!). Thankfully they had subsided by the
time we flew to Egypt, taking in the pyramids and bartering for local artefacts. Robin drives a particularly hard bargain,
and the stallholders called him ‘Muti’, which is apparently a great tribute.
This Christmas we’re sharing festivities with my parents in Oxford and really looking forward to Mum’s fabulous goose and
Dad’s home brew. Robin has stocked up on Alka Seltzer. Hic!
Much love to you all and a very merry Christmas from us.
Holly and Robin, Bogie and Bacall xx
Dear Friend,
The year started out with a tragedy as we lost our lovely boy cat, Bogie. Poor Robin, who doted on him, was very upset, but
he genuinely didn’t see him when he reversed out of the garage. At least he didn’t suffer, although it cast a sorry shadow
over January and Robin insisted on trading in the TT (although I’m not sure the visibility in his new Porsche is much better).
Bacall was not impressed by the cat flap we installed to keep her in during rush hour, especially when she kept getting attached
to the fridge door by her magnetic collar.
We didn’t manage the usual skiing break because Robin had a lot of conferences to attend on international corporate law. One
was in Singapore – a thirteen-hour flight and lost baggage made for a stressful time, but his PA, ‘super efficient’ Sian,
travelled with him and was brilliant, arranging a tailor to make a complete wardrobe for him within forty-eight hours. He
came back looking like a new man! At the gallery, we’ve had a busy year including hosting a hugely popular retrospective for
local street artist Kerb (who Robin nicknamed ‘Grafit-Titian’) that involved taking visitors to public loos, which led to
some unfortunate publicity. Apparently it was the first time the police have cautioned art fans for loitering!
In April, we made the big decision to put 12A on the market, knowing we wanted a bigger place with more garden for Bacall
(and any other family additions that may come along). Keeping the coffee brewing and fresh flowers arranged paid off when
we found buyers in May and could start house hunting in earnest.
I fell in love with Partridge Roost Cottage the moment I saw it … there are literally roses around the door, and it has the
sweetest higgledy-piggledy roof. Robin took a bit more persuading because he preferred the big Cheltenham townhouse that needed
renovating, but I used all my womanly wiles and here we are.
Summer was all about moving, nesting and decorating, but we did manage a short holiday to the Dordogne, sunbathing and wine-tasting
(Robin) while I was designated driver (R says that’s the best thing about a broody wife). We returned with the car boot rattling
with wine cases and ponging of fromage ( plus a Toblerone mountain for me). Our buttons were popping off afterwards, so we’ve been trying out the Blood Type diet which Sian recommends (she is super slim, so it
must be good!). She belongs to the same gym as Robin, and is also helping him with his carb burning. Meanwhile my exercise
campaign has been decorating – I’ve found you can burn a lot of calories wallpaper stripping and sugar soaping, as well as
taking out latent aggression if hubby’s late home again!
This year, the plan was to spend Christmas in our new nest, but the kitchen is still a building site, we have no carpets and
Robin has that shifty look which tells me he’s up to something … I hope it’s good!
Much love to you all and a very merry Christmas from us.
Holly, Robin and Bacall xx
Dear Friend,
There’s nothing like starting the year in Times Square watching the famous ball drop! Our trip was a fabulous beginning to
a life-changing year, and a surprise gift from Robin who was wildly romantic with flowers, candlelight and Manhattans galore,
his phone switched off throughout.
I am typing this while six-week-old Martha sleeps in her Moses basket alongside me, an absolutely beautiful baby who has brought
so much happiness to all the family. It was a difficult pregnancy, but our excitement far outweighed my morning sickness,
backache and high blood pressure, and the day she was born was the hap. . .
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