Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Christmas Party – Just One Wish – Guests, Food, Music and laughter

The theme for this year’s party is ‘Just One Wish’. We are all familiar with the story of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother, who was pretty liberal with that magic wand of hers and managed to turn a pumpkin into a golden carriage.

Unfortunately, she has long since retired and hung up her wand, but because I asked nicely (and she would like me to promote her memoir – The Prince Charmings I have Known!) she has agreed to allow my guests, just one wish…

My thanks to everyone who sent in their special wish and with a great deal of positive thought from us all, and of course a little assistance from the magic wand of the Fairy Godmother, they might just come true…

Please help yourself to food and drink and if you would like to dance on the tables… that is great. You will find links to authors author pages and a selection of their books and their social media so please head over and discover more.

And to get the party started on a high … something that will definitely work off the mince pies and Christmas Cake (please don’t try this at home unless you have consulted your doctor first!).. courtesy of Riverdance

You can find all the Riverdance tour dates for USA, Canada, UK and Europe: Riverdance tour schedule

John W. Howell.

Thank you, Sally, for this beautiful party and for the opportunity to submit a wish to the Fairy Godmother. My one wish is that the entire population of the Earth pause for a moment and reflect on the beauty of our precious home.

It seems to me that if we all paused for just one moment, we would realize that this Earth is what we each have in common. Our petty squabbles and desire to dominate one another, would I believe, diminish in the presence of the awe inspired by this beautiful blue marble.

Fairy Godmother here: A wonderful wish John and I hope that these images will encourage others to share your dream.This is the live stream from NASA where you can watch as the world turns throughout the day and marvel at its wonders: courtesy of Space Videos

John Howell, Buy: Amazon US – Goodreads: John Howell Goodreads – Blog: John Howell

Katharine Everson –

Dearest Fairy Godmother, I am desperate for snow. What a delight it would be to celebrate a white Christmas! Also, while I have you, please use your special wand to eliminate the snow-and-ice ‘sandwich’ effect which we’ve had too many times. I’ll make you a special snow woman as a thank you! Katharine

Fairy Godmother here: Thank you for your wish Katharine, unfortunately the Winter Fairy has a mind of her own and does not always stick to the rules… I get this wish a lot at this time of year and not just from humans…I hope this will keep you smiling until your own smile arrives. Courtesy of Epic Laughs

Katharine Everson – Teachez Well Blog – Twitter: @Teachezwell – Facebook: Teachezwell

Janet Gogerty

It’s about time this was invented, but then I doubt I could afford it; the modern version of a magic carpet… a solar powered airship. It need not be big, just like a camper van in the clouds that floats gently, but fairly fast, to visit family on three continents for Christmas. Starting with Western Australia as they are 8 hours ahead of us and finishing in Nevada as they are 8 hours behind us. I expect it to be fully equipped with food and comforts for a luxury holiday and entertaining those we visit.

Fairy Godmother here: I had a word with Goodyear and they have built an airship for you but you will need an intensive pilot training course.. I hope that you enjoy your flights…Courtesy of YOUCAR

Janet Gogerty books: Amazon UK – Blog: Tidal Scribe WordPress – Twitter: @ytregog

Balroop Singh…

Hi Fairy grandmother, my only wish this Christmas is to take me around the world in a golden chariot, decked with Christmas lights. I want to keep the reins in my hand so that I could stop wherever I want and I would surely stop at Sally’s home to hug her, dance with her and wish her Merry Christmas. I wont be alone, so keep the size of the chariot a little bigger with at least six seats. I hope there would be enough space to carry some gifts and cakes too. Thank you for granting this tiny wish. Love you.

Fairy Godmother here: What a lovely wish Balroop. I don’t think I have time to create a gold chariot in time, but I have had a word with the Christmas Train and they have agreed to put Wexford in Ireland on the schedule and Sally will be waiting for you on Christmas Eve for a hug and a dance….Courtesy of LoyaltyDynamics

Balroop Singh, Buy: Amazon US – Blog: Balroop Singh on WordPress – Goodreads: Balroop Singh

Darlene Foster

My biggest wish for the Fairy Godmother is that all children be safe and happy. I know it is a big wish, but perhaps the Fairy Godmother will sprinkle some of her fairy dust over all the little children and take their troubles away. Thanks for putting in a good word, Sally.

Fairy Godmother here: That is an amazing wish Darlene and you already do a great deal to bring happiness to children with your books and encouragement to read, develop an imagination and dream.

I wish would be that I had the power to wave my magic wand and make all children happy but sometimes it takes humans to make the difference and whilst some governments do make every effort to support children, sometimes the people have to step in. In most countries there are fundraisers that do a great deal of good and millions of good people support these every year.. Such as Children in Need

This video revisits stories of children whose lives have been made better and happier because of ordinary people. Courtesy of BBC Children in Need

Many countries have something similar but if you live in the UK here is the link to find out more: BBC Children in Need

Darlene Foster, Buy: Amazon US – Website/Blog: Darlene Foster WordPress – Goodreads: Goodreads

Valentina Cirasola

My wish is to open an art school community where experts, teachers, speakers, and inspirational people share their knowledge, train new minds and leave their legacy. A community for the young and young at heart, who want to create and live surrounded by beauty. I envision theatre art, visual art, painting, music, fabric art, glasswork, sculpting, writing, fashion design, interior design, the list is infinite. The building I need to host all the activities is a large antique home or an industrial building, with many floors, a courtyard with fountains for relaxation, for private reflection, or for meeting people surrounded by fragrant plants and flowers.

Fairy Godmother here: What a wonderful vision Valentina and with your love of colour and design you are bringing art into all our lives. I wish that I could wave my wand and bring you the building of your dreams but I am sure that one day it will be a reality. In the meantime, on a small scale but still supporting artists is this artist co-op in South Carolina which is doing so much for creative artists in the community…Courtesy of GreenGiantMedia

Valentina Cirasola, Buy:Amazon US – Website: Valentina Designs – Goodreads: Valentina Cirasola Goodreads

Diana Wallace Peach

Since Peace on Earth is a given, I’m going for something a little closer to home… as a writer, I have no time for housework. My cobwebs are so dusty that the spiders have moved out, and I could knit a sweater with the dog hair collected under the couch. The refrigerator is a terrarium of exotic spores, and the laundry pile requires a haz-mat suit and gas mask. Anyway, my wish is for Santa to bring a gaggle of industrious elves with mops, sponges, brooms, dusters, and toxic-free cleaning products to get this place in shape. And sunglasses for the whole family to deal with the sparkle.

Fairy Godmother here: Diana I am completely with you on the subject of housework and I am most lucky in that I have an excellent daily cleaner who relieves me of the burden. I am sure you will be very happy with them and they are cost effective as they work for sausages and cheese. Here is an example of their services courtesy of jbiniok

D. Wallace Peach, Buy: Amazon US – Website/Blog: Myths of the Mirror –  Goodreads– D. Wallace Peach

Robbie Cheadle..

I wondered if this poem was suitable for your Christmas wish posts? I wrote this a few years ago when we were having a drought. It broke on Christmas morning and the rain bucketed down. It was really amazing and such a relief after weeks of dry heat.

The best gift of all

I woke up this Christmas morning;
and what miracle did I hear?
The splatter of heavy rainfall;
It’s sound so distinctive and clear.

Santa, I’m glad you got my wish list;
and thought my request worthwhile;
The downpour has revived the earth;
The flowers are sparkling in style.

You brought us the gift of water;
I wonder, were the clouds in your sack?
Did you set them free this morning?
To help alleviate a very serious lack.

©Robbie Cheadle

Fairy Godmother here: That really was a wonderful gift Robbie and I would love to help that happen again this year…. here is a rain dance but do expect a little more than water.. It is Raining Men….courtesy of Stockholms Studentsångare

Jemima Pett

Dear Fairy Godmother My wish is for the fairies at the bottom of the garden to be more diligent with their attention to the weeds and the slugs.

In particular: remove the daisies and the buttercups in the lawn. The guinea pigs love the clover and dandelions, but daisies and buttercups are poisonous.

As for the slugs – they ate all my young bean plants last year. This year I have promised to raise some so the Heritage Seed Library can increase their stock. You wouldn’t want this type to be delisted, would you? Please explain to the fairies. I’m sure they’ll understand.

Fairy Godmother Here: Sorry some of my fellow fairies have been a little lax in their duties Jemima and I have had words. They assure me that they will pay better attention particularly to the slugs and as you can see they are busy at work in the area….courtesy of LIONATE

Jemima Pett, Buy: Amazon US – Blog http://jemimapett.com –  Goodreads: Jemima Pett

Audrey Driscoll

My wish: that people all over the world will be visited by the Indie Book Elves, and wake up on Christmas Day with an insatiable desire to read books rather than watch TV or movies. (Especially books by a certain group of authors.)

Fairy Godmother here: I have waved my magic wand as this is wish close to my heart as my own book The Prince Charmings I have Known is only in Eversion… we have to encourage them to start reading as young as possible. They are currently undergoing computer training to enable them to download the books at Christmas.

Audrey Driscoll, Buy:Amazon US – Blog: Audrey Driscoll –  Goodreads: Audrey on Goodreads

A.J. Alexander

Dear Fairy Godmother- My wish for this Christmas, 2019, is that I would like to meet my future partner. I’d like to meet the man of my life, who has everything I’m looking for and really, one last time in my life, fall in love – head over heels. I’m talking about that kind of falling in love, that we never think is still possible at our age. The kind of love that is electrifying with every touch and every single kiss – that kind of love that makes my life richer and complete. Thank you.

Fairy Godmother here: Over my long life I have been a bit of a matchmaker, and I know that finding the right man can be a rocky road. I will do my best Aurora Jean and I wish you romance and love in 2020… In the meantime a song that has been danced to by millions of men and women seeking that perfect connection, from one of the most romantic films – Roman Holiday and don’t believe the ending of the film…they lived happily ever after. Courtesy of Muse of Music Olga Vels

A.J. Alexander, Buy: Amazon US – Website: Aurora Jean Alexander

Jan Sikes

If I could be granted just one wish, it would be to take a Holiday trip to the Spirit World to spend one more day with my husband. There is so much I need to tell him and show him. He has grandchildren he’s never seen, and I’d love to show him the books I wrote telling our story. Then, I’d want to know everything about the afterlife. Just to feel his arms around me one more time would be the most amazing thing I can think of! And that would be my One Christmas Wish!

Sally here: A beautiful wish Jan and if I could wave a magic wand and bring it true, I would in a heartbeat. I do believe that those we love never truly leave us and remind us of their presence daily, in the faces of our children and grandchildren and generation after generation to come. I also sense that they are watching over us and we will meet again one day.  One of my favourite songs is from Billie Holiday – ♥

Marjorie Mallon

It’s been a tough year. We’ve had injuries, some minor but two ended up with a trip to hospital: my husband with an injured ankle whilst on his golfing holiday and my eldest daughter with a 2cm bleeding gash to her head after an accident on a night out. My youngest daughter was with her boyfriend in Birmingham when a hooded gang mugged, attacked and threatened him. He sustained injuries and ended up in hospital.

So, please Fairy Godmother grant: no hospital visits, success in all our future endeavours and compassion, love and kindness to prevail. Here’s hoping for a better 2020 for all.

Fairy Goodmother here: Well Marjorie, that has been a very tough year and I am sorry you and your family have had to go through it. I am not sure my magic is strong enough to ensure that it does not happen again, all I can do is send you positive energy and hugs and wishes for a carefree 2020. And perhaps this might help give you a boost..The Beatles courtesy of Christmas Songs

M.J.Mallon, Buy:Amazon UK – Website: M.J. Mallon –  Goodreads: Goodreads

And last and of course never least…D.G. Kaye, Debby Gies

It’s easy to say that one wish for world peace could save the whole world, but if that isn’t a realistic wish, how about – I wish the whole world had freer access to health care. I think that is a reasonable wish because it is possible if all governments would put their greed aside. I always say that nothing else on a wish list could possibly be put ahead of a wish for good health – because without it, nothing else would matter. Healthcare is a human right, not something to be treated as an option.

Sally here: I am with you one hundred percent Debby as I am sure everyone reading this is too. I join you in this excellent wish and let’s hope that all our governments put politics aside in the coming year and focus on the essential well being on those who matter.

We as writers are privileged to be in a position to help facilitate change for the better. And perhaps this song reminds us that we can all make a difference starting in our small part of the world and sending out our wishes into the world.

Courtesy of Marcelo Reis Couto Fernandes

D. G. Kaye – Buy: Amazon US – Blog: D.G. Writes – Goodreads: D.G. Kaye on Goodreads

And perhaps a thank you to all the doctors, nurses and other medical staff who will be working this Christmas and New Year and who keep our health services running in our various homelands. Here is the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir with ‘Something inside so Strong’  courtesy of NHSChoirVEVO

Thank you to my guests who shared their wishes, to the Fairy Godmother who has taken off to join Santa’s elves at their staff Christmas party and there will be shenanigans… and to you for dropping in today.

Please leave your own wishes in the comments and it would be wonderful if you could share the post far and wide. Thanks Sally.

I will leave you with Michael Buble – Courtesy of MusicFluxer

You can find out where Michael will be touring in 2020: Michael Buble – Tour Dates.

And here is a lovely poem from Anita Dawes Amazon UK and Christmas best wishes from Jaye Marie Amazon UK – You can find both of them: WordPress Blog

And now my wish. I would love to share 2020 with you all and continue to experience the friendship, generosity and love that this writing community shares with each other. And I wish you all peace, health and success for the coming year and hope you will raise a glass of your preferred tipple with me.

Happy Christmas and healthy, wealthy New Year.