Today, I have a special guest post as part of the Twenty Four Days to Christmas blog tour.

Twenty Four Days to Christmas

Poppy is in agony – it is the First of December and she has twenty-four days to wait until Christmas and she is convinced that she will not be able to contain her excitement and impatience: How can she possibly wait so long for Santa to arrive? Poppy’s parents put their heads together and come up with a cunning plan that has Poppy completing a different, Christmas themed activity every day, to keep Her busy until Christmas (and Santa) finally arrives. Twenty-Four Days to Christmas is an Advent Calendar of a book, which can be read one day at a time, or as a complete story, and centres on Christmas, family and the magic of the Christmas season.

Purchase from Amazon UK

 

Fred Arthur’s Top 12 Christmas Songs

1. I wish it could be Christmas everyday – Most children do…and quite a few adults too!
2. Do they know it’s Christmas – The song that inspired a generation and caused such an effect – Christmas is about those less fortunate than ourselves!
3. Silent Night – carol – Fred’s Grandmother would sing this to him every year even up to her 99^th year!
4. Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer – Who hasn’t sung this at the top of their voice in the car with their friends and family?!
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – You can’t help singing and tapping your feet to this.
6. Happy Xmas (War is over) – This is a Christmas classic and contains a real sense of hope and idealism.
7. Dominick the Donkey – Love singing this with children and in the pub La La Lala!!!
8. A spaceman Came Travelling – Mrs Arthur loves this song!
9. Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens at his best – listen out for the extensive use of Jingle Bells
10. Mary’s Boy Child – Bony M – Fred grew up with this song and remembers his Mum singing along every time it came on the radio.
11. Little Drummer Boy – Cash/Young – Countless versions made of this tune, but Cash and Young’s hit the mark every time!
12. White Christmas – Bing Crosby – Every child dreams of snow at Christmas!

About Fred Arthur

Fred Arthur is the combined pen name for friends Pincher Martin and Mike Dineen who met working in the Royal Navy. Leaving school at the age of fifteen Pincher Martin entered the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman and now holds the rank of Commander. Living with his family in Plymouth but working in Portsmouth writing creative emails and text messages to his young daughter has become part of his daily life. Mike Dineen graduated from St Andrew’s University before joining the Royal Navy, and he too holds the rank of Commander. Mike lives with his wife in Pickering, North Yorkshire and works in Scotland. Both are keen sportsmen and qualified life coaches. Their goal is to become successful authors, so that when the Royal Navy finally forces them to retire, it will enable them to fulfil their shared desire to support local schools and libraries, satisfy their passion for writing and foster a belief in the importance of reading and imagination for children of all ages.

You can connect with Fred Arthur on Twitter