a world of pure imagination

[pensnest]

Magnificent Christmas Dinner prepared by my Bun and her man, possibly with additional assistance from her out-laws. We had roast pork, full sized pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, individual Yorkshire puds, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, roast carrots, cauliflower and broccoli cheese, cabbage cooked with pancetta, apple sauce, and gravy. Deeeelicious. And followed by a pannettoni bread and butter pudding with cream.

*

I have been perusing Yuletide stories today, and rejoicing once again in the quality of the writing! I tend to old-fashioned fandoms, so perhaps that helps—do the Young People These Days even read, say, Swallows and Amazons?—but it is certainly satisfying.

Some recs, in no particular order.

The Princess Murdered Princess Bride/Colombo

Even though I haven't seen Colombo in *years* and have held no particular affection for the show, I started smiling in the paragraph that introduces Colombo, which is completely perfect. Absolutely delightful. And Humperdinck is also spot-on in his entirely selfish machinations and general contempt for the rest of the world. Only problem with this one is, I want more!


A Gentlewoman's Debt A Civil Contract, Heyer
A charming story! Jenny Lynton is one of my favourite heroines, and this one gives a glimpse of her married life and a new friend she makes by chance.


The Cruelty of Man"- Sweeney Todd
Ooh. Poor Lucy. This is an entirely believable characterisation. She's a gentle soul. I can almost imagine the song she might have sung, quietly, on her own with the baby. And the Judge is sooooooo sinister. Very well done. Mrs Lovett also perfectly pragmatic.


I Will Be True Austen
Whenever I read Sense and Sensibility I find myself hoping that this time, Elinor will get to marry Colonel Brandon. Somehow, it never happens. And in this story, she comes to her senses, deliberately does not encourage Edward, and learns to love Brandon instead, while he at the same time recognises that his feelings for Marianne were based on a false starting point. It's a delightful read.



Dick and Dorothea's Week in London World of Swallows and Amazons
This is lovely! I am so charmed! The D's, sharing the bad raincoat. Susan, turning into a woman and learning more about cooking. And the image of the D's yelling "Titty!" in a crowded railway station is somewhat hilarious. This is very much like a little slice of the life the children led in between adventures.


A Succession of Remarkable Changes The Princess Bride
Inigo needs training if he is to become a proper Dread Pirate Roberts. This left me chuckling with glee. Dread, but with panache! It is entirely correct and wonderful, and I hope Inigo enjoys himself enormously as Dread Pirate Roberts. Just delightful!


Once, Long Ago - a Persuasion fic,
A very good alternate timeline, although it left me quite teary. So much regret for years of happiness missed! It's very well characterised, from the main couple down to the little appearances of Sir Walter, Mary, and Lady Russell. If you need a bit of melancholy after the joys of Christmas, read this one.

Comments

[kitarella_imagines]

Oh the Jane Austen and Swallows & Amazons ones sound great! Is there a link for Dick & Dorothea? It doesn't seem to work.

I agree about Elinor/Brandon, that was a much better way round.

Also, that's a lovely meal! Yum!

[pensnest]

Oops - I borked the html, should be ok now. Enjoy!

It was a very fine dinner! I usually make sure the last few bites are the things I liked most, with the last bite being of the best thing on the plate, but it was very hard to decide which thing that was!

[kitarella_imagines]

Oh thanks! I'll mark it to be read.

That's a good idea about the last bite, I'll do that from now on! We had roast chicken, potatoes, onions, pigs in blankets and stuffing; steamed cabbage, carrots, broccoli; gravy of course. I forgot the parsnips this year! Doh!

We didn't eat for hours afterwards, we were totally stuffed.🤣

[word_geek]

These sound most excellent and I may have to check them out tomorrow when Alex is gaming with the imported Norwegian

Glad you had a lovely Christmas

H

[pensnest]

I think it's probably true of all Holiday Gift Fic Exchanges that the writers put in a lot of effort. I've not so far read any stories that I thought were not good.

[watervole]

My 11 year old granddaughter has read the whole of the Swallows and Amazons series. Loved all of them. I read my dad's copies and got hooked as a child. I got them for my daughter. She got them for hers.

[pensnest]

Excellent! I don't think my children read them, though they were certainly in the house. :-(

[turps]

Way to go Bun and mr Bun. That sounds like an amazing feast.

[pensnest]

We had lasagne today, here, consuming a vast amount of lamb mince....

[turlough]

Your dinner sounds amazing!

I'm also reading Yuletide stories but have sadly found far too few stories in my favourite small fandoms. I know it happens some years but it's still disappointing.

[pensnest]

There seem to be a fair number to keep me happy, though of course we all have different preferences. I hope you find a few more!

[jacieleigh]

That sounds like a fantastic feast. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Kudos to Bun, her man, and the in-laws for creating such a wonderful meal!

*sigh*

I do miss SeSa. I used to meander back now and then, but last I checked, both sites (DWNOGA and MTYG) are gone. It's a shame the stories weren't archived anywhere (that I know of). But I'm glad you've found a new Yuletide challenge that you enjoy!

[pensnest]

I think DWNOGA is gone forever, which is an immense shame, but the MTYG site will be up again soon. They were having trouble with the server, but it'll come back.