When I posted the first Christmas reading yesterday it was completely unplanned. Was it my mum? Was it a higher power? Was it sleep deprivation and overwhelm as we limp towards the end of the school term? Whatever it was I’m going to try and record all three Christmas chapters from The New Arrival and three more from Our Country Nurse before Christmas Eve. It would mean a lot to me if you’d listen along, bear with me.
When I wrote this chapter a decade ago in which Sarah goes to have a Christmas meal with her father, Eric, at The Dorchester Hotel, my mum cried when she read the pages. “You’ve given me my Dad back.” She told me. Now it is me who feels the connection with her as I reread this book. What’s interesting is the Sarah in these pages isn’t my mum, she’s a young nurse. In them I can see so clearly the determination, tenderness and compassion in the woman I knew for 41 years. My friends often ask me where I get my confidence from. I think anyone who connects with these stories will see that Sarah lives on, not just in these pages, but in me and our girls. That’s the most beautiful gift, though sometimes, it feels like a lot to live up to.
This is my second Christmas without her. I miss not just her love and support, but how seen she made me feel. She knew how much I put into making Christmas special for my family. In this chapter I also can’t help but notice what champagne socialists we are. Somehow inhabiting different worlds at the same time, completely in the moment in each. I often wonder what made her like this? I truly believe she was put on this earth to help people. She had a way of making you feel safe, and loved and special, she didn’t judge you. My mum had the knack of turning the smallest of things into a luxury. I hope you enjoy the reading, I do hope they’re fun to listen to, and feel gentle and Christmassy.
Love A x
P.S. You if you like this please do ❤️ and leave me a comment to let know what it brought up for you?
Christmas Stories and Community
You know that feeling of I was supposed to be doing something else today, when out of nowhere you’re compelled to do the unexpected? That’s this post. I had the privilege of listening to amazing Substack writers read their work at a very special Christmas event organised by
If you missed Christmas Stories Episode 1 you can listen here.
Like to read more?
If you’d like to read any of my published books then please consider buying from my online bookshop. The New Arrival, Our Country Nurse and Happy Baby, Happy Family. To find out more about my life as Head of Storytelling visit Wordsby Communications.
West London Meet Up For Writers January 2025
“I can’t think of anyone more welcoming to writers and creatives than Amy Beeson…pop along if you can.”
You’re invited to the next Substack Writers Meet Up in West London on Saturday 13 January 2025.
Would you like to be one of my readers?
It would be lovely Christmas present if you’d support my writing by upgrading to being a Paid Subscriber, because the more Subscribers I have, the more time it will give me to write. If you’re on your phone then you can’t upgrade in the app. Open a window in your browser and go to the I Need To Finish This Before I Die homepage, click on the purple Upgrade to paid button top right. You can choose from pay monthly for £3.99 or Annually for £42.71 or become a founding member for £120 a year (there’s lots of extras for each membership tier).
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