Guest post:Christmas with Bourbon and Pearls

As I look back on the 18 months that I have been blogging, I am still astounded by some of the truly lovely people I have met and friends I have made; something I had never envisaged when I started my blogging journey.

So this month, I would like to showcase a few of them.

It was very difficult to pick only a handful, so in the end my criteria became:
* to pick some bloggers from different parts of the globe
* to pick those bloggers I know don't have young children. I know all my wonderful friends with children barely have time to catch their breath in the lead up to Christmas, and I didn't want to put anyone in the position of saying yes when they were really thinking, "Damn, I can't add one more thing to my to-do list!"

That was it!

So here is our first guest blogger, the lovely Tabitha from Bourbon & Pearls
Tabitha's blog is really very humerous (sometimes satirical), and always has me spluttering over my cornflakes whilst reading her latest offering. Warning: have your dictionary close at hand, she uses "big" words. She is definitely up there with some of the literary best when it comes to writing.


Here's a peep through Tabitha's window in Scotland, this Christmas.
How important is Christmas for you, or can you take it or leave it ? Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, here in the northern hemisphere we would die without this festival which is rooted in our pagan heritage. Holly and ivy offer protection for the year ahead and the lights associated with Christmas lead us on our way to the New Year.

What one gift are you really "hoping" to find under the Christmas tree this year?Flannel pj's.

Flats or heels on Christmas Day? I am usually barefoot indoors but I'll gussy myself up and put on ballet pumps for Christmas Day, I'm a bit of a hippie at heart, I have never worn heels indoors in my life!

Do you cook/serve anything unusual for Christmas Day fayre? Not really, it's fairly traditional here, goose with all the trimmings, brandy butter, and Christmas pud.

Nat King Cole, Michael Bublé, Handels Messiah or Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite playing in the background? Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

What one book do you hope to receive this year? The Penguin vintage classic edition of Madame Bovary.

Best Christmas film? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

The beauty product you can't live without over the festive season? Aveda Air Control hairspray - I have Texan hair.

What do you buy the girlfriend who has everything? A donation to the Dog & Cat Home in her name. Who doesn't want to buy a dog its Christmas dinner?

Favourite Christmas tipple? Winter Pimm's and Champagne.

If you could spend Christmas somewhere else other than Scotland, where would you choose? The Beverly Hills Hotel

Christmas pudding or not? The best Christmas is a little bit Dickensian and this festive bomb of suet, flour, sultanas and brandy indulges the Mr Fezziwig in all of us.

Is there one gift that will always unlock your heart? Anything which comes with a heartfelt inscription.

Anything else you would like to share about Christmas? Each year I toast Coca Cola for giving us our jolly red Santa.

Thank you so much Tabitha. I wish you a wonderful festive season, and nothing but health and happiness for 2012 xx

p.s please pop over to Hampton Hostess and see my Spanish-inspired Christmas guest post over there ;-)