Winter is Coming...

(Courtesy of Hamlet's Danish)

A late Christmas present...

For everyone!

Now I know Krampusnacht was celebrated back on the 5th December and the Feast of Saint Nicholas was on the 6th December, but Family Green are away in the snowy Austrian Tyrol at the moment, and in a fit of seasonal generosity, inspired by the inspiring surroundings, I am giving away a story I wrote back in 2012.

You can download a pdf of Claws here.

If you enjoy Claws, and you like you future police enforcement Mega-City One-flavoured, then chances are you will also enjoy my latest seasonal Judge Dredd offering, You'd Better Be Good, For Goodness' Sake.

And of course you can find out all about the Krampus in my Christmas book Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - The Chrismologist's Christmas Quiz 2014 - The Answers!

Okay - here are the answers to the Christmas Eve Eve music quiz...



Question 1
What is the name of this Christmas carol? In Dulci Jubilo
Bonus point – Who is playing all of the instruments? Mike Oldfield

Question 2
Who is singing with Bing Crosby here on Little Drummer Boy? David Bowie
Bonus point – What was the year? 1982

Question 3
Which band had a number 2 Christmas hit with this song in 2003? The Darkness
Bonus point – Which song beat them to No. 1? Mad World

Question 4
What is the name of the group singing this song, first recorded in1982? The Spice Girls
Bonus point – What is the name of the song? Christmas Wrapping

Question 5
What is the name of this Christmas song? Fairytale of New York
Bonus point – Name either of the singers. Ronan Keating and Marie Brennan

Question 6
Which character sings this song in the 2013 Christmas movie frozen? Elsa
Bonus point – Who is the singer? Idina Menzel

Question 7
Who is this singing in 1969? Pinky and Perky
Bonus point – What is the song they are singing? Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Question 8
Who is this singing Jingle Bells in 1995? Julie Andrews
Bonus point – Which festival was the song originally written to celebrate? Thanksgiving

Question 9
Which Christmas carol is this from 2010? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Bonus point – Which band was the singer in during the 1980s? Eurhythmics

Question 10
Who is this singing One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas? Kermit the Frog
Bonus point – Which 1992 Christmas movie is it from? The Muppet Christmas Carol

Happy Christmas!

BBC Wiltshire's Mr Christmas

In case you missed it, here's my appearance on BBC Radio Wiltshire from this time last week...

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - The Chrismologist's Christmas Quiz 2014

Here's a bit of fun to entertain the family this Christmas. Play the following video (with the volume turned right up to 11) and see if you can answer the questions below. Or, even better, split into teams and see who in your family knows the most about Christmas carols and popular festive songs.



Question 1
What is the name of this Christmas carol?
Bonus point – Who is playing all of the instruments?

Question 2
Who is singing with Bing Crosby here on Little Drummer Boy?
Bonus point – What was the year?

Question 3
Which band had a number 2 Christmas hit with this song in 2003?
Bonus point – Which song beat them to No. 1?

Question 4
What is the name of the group singing this song, first recorded in1982?
Bonus point – What is the name of the song?

Question 5
What is the name of this Christmas song?
Bonus point – Name either of the singers.

Question 6
Which character sings this song in the 2013 Christmas movie frozen?
Bonus point – Who is the singer?

Question 7
Who is this singing in 1969?
Bonus point – What is the song they are singing?

Question 8
Who is this singing Jingle Bells in 1995?
Bonus point – Which festival was the song originally written to celebrate?

Question 9
Which Christmas carol is this from 2010?
Bonus point – Which band was the singer in during the 1980s?

Question 10
Who is this singing One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas?
Bonus point – Which 1992 Christmas movie is it from?

(Answers to follow on Boxing Day.)

Christmas Explained, and that last minute Christmas shopping

Not matter how hard you try to be prepared, more often than not you’ll find yourself braving the chaos of the Christmas Eve last minute shopping spree, either in order to pick up that essential festive gift for the dog or another jar of gravy powder.

But before you dash off to the local garage to buy that special someone another chocolate orange, bear in mind that if you've already left your Christmas shopping a little late, you risk paying up to 50% more than those people who are – how shall we put it? – a little better organised.

A survey of Christmas shoppers conducted in 2013 revealed that 16-24 year-olds are actually the most organised when it comes to getting the Christmas shopping done, with nearly 44% of them buying their festive gifts in, or even before, November! Those aged 45 or older are the ones who are more likely to leave it to the last minute with almost a third not even starting on the seasonal shop until the week before Christmas.

The good news is that it's not too late to purchase a copy of my new book Christmas Explained: Robins, Kings and Brussel Sprouts and for it to be delivered in time for Christmas in the UK (which is also true of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks).

And if you do happen to find a copy of the book for you under the tree this year, please consider adding a brief review here. ;-)