A Christmas that changed me
Writers look back to the festive season that turned their lives around
A Christmas that changed me: my life was an adventure holiday – and I just wanted to settle down
It was fun to climb mountains, visit glaciers and slide down volcanoes, until the thought of a house and kids began to seem more exciting
A Christmas that changed me: I was in no mood to celebrate. Then came an epiphany on Hampstead Heath
As I entered the final weeks of pregnancy, I didn’t want to wallow but nor could I summon any sparkle. On a walk with my family, I had a sudden sense of the ineffable
A Christmas that changed me: My family was grieving and behaving oddly – so my wife took us to Norfolk
After my mother’s death, I thought my American family would appreciate the escape of a British Christmas. But we learned that grief has long arms and singular patience
A Christmas that changed me: the oven broke – and I rid myself of expectations
A Christmas that changed me: I dragged myself to work – and had one of the best moments of my life
A Christmas that changed me: the spliff was as big as a parsnip – and Granny got stoned
A Christmas that changed me: I was late for lunch – and learned an important lesson
A Christmas that changed me: I distributed meals on my bike – and found friendship behind every door
A Christmas that changed me: I found my self-confidence on a hellish journey home
A Christmas that changed me: I got punched in the face – twice
I was waiting with some friends to get chips when the first blow landed. Then came another. I ran off and soon signed up for a muay thai class
A Christmas that changed me: I was a sleep-deprived new mother. My Mum’s friend saved the day
Hazel was as much at sea as I was. But we were able to help each other and having her there meant the world to me
A Christmas that changed me: My love for the season was dwindling fast – but my Mum saved it
Last year, my mother’s sudden loss of vision made me despair. But I had underestimated her strength – and her determination that we would all have a good time
A Christmas that changed me: the miracle of my last months with my mother
As a family, we put more effort than usual into our celebrations that year, as Mum struggled with cancer. It taught me something indelible and important
A Christmas that changed me: my best friend and I celebrated in Australia – and finally felt like adults
We were spending Christmas far from home. Very far. It wasn’t easy finding sprouts in Sydney, but the memories formed the basis of a lifelong bond
A Christmas that changed me: I ended up on all fours in A&E having my buttocks syringed
It was just a cup of steaming mint tea – but when it spilled into my lap and onto my seat, the enormous blisters were inevitable
A Christmas that changed me: at seven, I won a magical trip to Lapland with Chris Tarrant
We slept in log cabins, went ice fishing and found Santa, all of which was broadcast live. When the producers asked me to sing Silent Night, it was the start of my career
After my brother died, we barely celebrated Christmas. Then I fell in love and a switch turned on
Fifteen years after losing David, I was in Liverpool, appearing in pantomime. The city was glittering, romance was in the air, and I suddenly felt ready for the festivities
Our song was Christmas No 1 and we wanted to watch it on TV. So we knocked on a stranger’s door
It was Christmas Eve 1968 and Lily the Pink by the Scaffold was top of the charts. We were a long way from home - and desperate to see our performance
My sister was getting married, my father was in hospital – and I realised my relationship was over
I suddenly saw that life wasn’t all that long and you should spend it with people you love. I made a private pact with myself, to stop lying. I would not marry him
At six, I realised the truth about Santa. How deep did the lies go?
I had a lot of existential questions. What is death? What if the dead wake in their coffins? And who was going to deliver my presents: Santa, God or Rabindranath Tagore?
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