Category: Arts and Culture
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🎄 December Newsletter
December was filled with winter warmth, creativity, humour, and reflection on alisonlittle.blog. From winter running essentials and mindful hobbies to festive flash fiction, community celebrations, recovery at Christmas, scenic walks, and darkly comic seasonal stories, this month looked back on the many ways we moved, paused, laughed, and connected as the year came to a…
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The Chirk Walk via Two Aqueducts: Canal Paths, Tunnels, and Industrial Heritage
A scenic walk starting from Chirk railway station, taking in Chirk Aqueduct, the dark canal tunnel, and the breathtaking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This dog-friendly canal walk blends industrial heritage, Welsh valley views, and practical tips for tackling one of the most memorable aqueduct walks on the England–Wales border.
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Iron Men, not Snow Men
Set on Crosby Beach, this flash fiction gives voice to one of Antony Gormley’s Iron Men, blending humour and reflection on public art, tourism, and cultural legacy.
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An Engagement: at the Museum
A woman arrives alone at a historic museum on the opening day of a literature festival, her thoughts drifting through solitude, past relationships, and the comfort of chosen quiet. As coffee cools and anticipation builds, a familiar figure enters, carrying more than expected. A moment of connection unfolds beneath stained glass and gold-faced clocks, where…
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Mrs Badger – A Winter Flash Fiction Portrait of Isolation and Irritation
Step inside the smoky warmth of a winter cottage and meet Mrs Badger, a fiercely stubborn, wonderfully irritable character battling cold weather, smart meters, and the frustrations of modern life. This flash fiction portrait blends humour, grit, and atmosphere in a sharply drawn glimpse of rural isolation.
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Love of the Second Hand
A chance visit to a charity bookshop on Liverpool’s Smithdown Road stirs childhood memories of Arabian Nights, cassette tapes, and the magic of being read to. When a half-heard song leads to an unexpected conversation with a stranger, books become a bridge between generations—parenthood, music, feminism, and nostalgia quietly intertwining. Love of the Second Hand…
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Loggin’ This Christmas: A Simple, Creative Festive Craft Anyone Can Try
Feeling creative this Christmas? Before the Brussels sprouts steal the spotlight, try loggin’—a calm, stylish, and sustainable festive craft. Using a simple branch, a touch of paint, and a hint of gold leaf, you can create a beautiful Christmas log centrepiece for your mantel or table. It’s budget-friendly, nature-inspired, and the perfect hands-on pause in…
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Reindeer versus Diesel
Christmas isn’t all twinkling lights and jolly “ho-ho-ho’s” — just ask Santa. After a night of global gift-drops, endless milk offerings, runaway reindeer, and children demanding high-tech gadgets the North Pole could never mass-produce, Santa finally snaps. From astronomical vet bills to a whisky nearly stolen in New York, this is the real story behind…
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Making Christmas More Meaningful: Simple Traditions, Less Waste & Proper Family Time
If Christmas usually leaves you knee-deep in wrapping paper and family chaos, this guide is for you. Explore easy ways to make the season more meaningful — with homemade touches, thoughtful gifting, peaceful get-togethers and cosy winter outings the whole family can enjoy.
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Presents for the Despised: A Gift Guide for the People Who Drive You Mad
A hilarious, no-holds-barred gift guide for the people who drive you absolutely mad — from insufferable in-laws to over-talking bosses and gossiping neighbours. Completely satirical, utterly outrageous, and guaranteed to make you laugh at life’s most irritating characters. These presents aren’t real (thankfully), but the humour is painfully relatable. Dive in for the ultimate cathartic…