ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS ... READING, READING, READING

... then watching period movies and dramas, relaxing, chatting with my dear ones near the fireplace, to make much of this time... I really hope I'll have enough time to do as much as I'd like to. But I must be realistic ... family -  and the house too -  have their demands and little spare time is left. Let's see what I can manage. First of all I'm finishing THE PROFESSOR by Charlotte Bronte and preparing a proper review for the beginning of January as one of my first tasks in the ALL ABOUT THE BRONTES Challenge.

Then I 've started  reading INTIMATIONS OF AUSTENS, a collection of short stories inspired by the world of Jane Austen,  written by one of my favourite blogger buddie, very sensitive and talented Jane Greensmith. I usually follow her at Reading, Writing, Working, Playing and there I won my copy of Intimations in a giveaway. I've just read the first two short stories and ... I can't wait to read them all. I love Jane GS's  style, it's lyrical , you find yourself immersed in  a "pure" Astenesque atmosphere (and last but not least, no vampires nor monsters so far!) Oh, the first one! My beloved Wentworth! But I'll stop here for ... also in this case I'm preparing a proper review.

By the way, I'm almost embarassed by my luck this year ... I've just received a mail  from Stephanie at Stephanie's Written Word which says ... I've won a copy of THE INTRIGUE AT HIGHBURY by Carrie Bebris signed by the author ... unbelievable,  it is the fourth time in a few months I win a book in giveaways. But I'm so happy, I really love books and always treasure them as the most pleasant enriching gifts. An Austen based detective story, I'm so curious!

From reading to watching. My TBW pile is definitely huge. Impossible to see all those DVDs in the next days but ... what I'm sure of is that I want to see the final episode of SPOOKS 8 airing tonight at 9 on BBC 1. I won't see it tonight, of course,  but I hope in a Christmas gift from my little fairy - always ready to help me - in the next hours.
Above,  the last image of Lucas North we will see in this series . Will he survive the blast? We'll have to wait about a year to know!
Meanwhile, let's have a look at the trailer of this last episode ...

What about period drama and costume movies? Don't worry! I'm going to watch and review several things I hope you'll like.

Have you got snow in your country? We've had some on the mountains all around in the last days, but not as much as in the North of  Italy ( I live in the centre, near Rome) . They are having serious problems there as for transport: airports and railways are blocked by the snow just when lots of people are going to leave for their holidays! Why can't snow mean joy and pleasure for everybody, as it is for the little girl in this wonderful picture?

(this photo is taken from Mo's wonderful blog  FRESH EYES ON LONDON)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TIME, EVERYBODY!