Heavy snow from the north was sweeping in, the wind was scooping it up and swirling it into a blizzard. He reached the door and was blown inside, a flurry of white accompanying him indoors.
The heat thawed him. He shook off his heavy jacket and slipped out of his boots. He put the extra logs in the pile next to the warm fire. The smell from the kitchen filled the wooden shack with scents of turkey and sage. The clock chimed midday, another hour and the food would be ready.
He would be eating alone, but he was comfortable with that. He moved here for the isolation and the open space.
He sat himself down in his chair by the tree he had chopped down two days ago, the smell of pine mingled with the other fragrances. He picked up his book – Dickens, of course – and settled down to read.
Linking up with the prompt at What Pegman Saw. The task is to write a story in 150 words or less based on the destination that Pegman is visiting. This week’s destination is Saskatchewan, Canada, and a tale of an alternative holiday season that could be seen as wish-fulfilment by the author!
You can read other stories based on the prompt HERE.
A couple of weeks until Christmas and there’s still time to order either (or both!) of my novels for the reader in your life. Perfect if you’re looking for a new action thriller.
A JUSTIFIED STATE:
U.S.A. – AMAZON.COM UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA CANADA INDIA BRAZIL MEXICO GERMANY FRANCE SPAIN ITALY NETHERLANDS JAPAN
STATE OF DENIAL:
U.S.A. / AMAZON.COM UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA CANADA
INDIA BRAZIL MEXICO GERMANY FRANCE SPAIN ITALY NETHERLANDS
JAPAN
Iain Kelly 
I love how you’ve mixed the photo with the upcoming season – and a little glimpse into Iain Kelly’s ideal Christmas! We all love our families, of course, but sometimes it would be lovely to escape the madness of enforced jollity, wouldn’t it? I used to read A Christmas Carol every year for a while, aiming to finish on Christmas Eve, of course. These days, I fall asleep before I’ve read a couple of pages – my age, no reflection on Dickens’ prose. Fab story, Iain
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I can guarantee you this will not be the way I get to spend my Christmas, but I will attempt to read A Christmas Carol! 🙂
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Oh, it’s a grand read. And what an opening line. It’s a perfect little redemption story, which is why it gets adapted again and again
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Great stuff. Reminds me of Jack London in style and substance. Nice mood, too.
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Thank you, nice compliment
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He makes his chosen isolation from society sound like pure bliss.
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Perhaps not for everyday, but I wouldn’t mind a few days like this every now and then!
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You are preaching to the choir!
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I could handle that scenario! Sigh . . .
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Absolutely, unfortunately not going to happen for me!
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Idyllic tale of solitude. I hope you find at least a little peace this season!
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I might get the odd hour here and there when the kids go to bed, but that’s about it! 😉
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Idyllic tale of solitude. I hope you find at least a little peace this season!
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Lovely to read some cold and winters words on this stinking hot day in Aust.
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And we would welcome a little warmth and a bit of sunshine! 🙂
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Oh please take some – I would love to curl up with the rain pouring down for a few days 😊
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I can definitely see the appeal of a quiet holiday off in a cabin by myself! You set the stage very nicely. Cozy little house, and I can almost smell the food cooking from here! Hmm, makes me want to settle down with a good book in front of a roaring fireplace.
(Hopefully if you ever do this in real life, you won’t try to burn logs from a tree you’ve just cut down, though. Unless the tree was already dead and dried out? I’m sure that’s what you meant!)
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Thanks Joy (yes, the tree had been put up a few days before 😉 )
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Doesn’t it take about 6 months to dry out a chopped tree?
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Dear Iain,
Sometimes the best company is one’s own. Lovely, sensual tale.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle
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Christmas, alone, far from home, with nought but a book for company. By Jove, that strikes me as comfortable.
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It certainly takes care of a lot of the stress that comes with this time of year!
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Absolutely 🙂
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You make a solitary Christmas sound quite attractive, Iain! I like the way you use the senses of smell and touch to broaden the appeal of the scene.
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Thank you Penny, a touch of wishing involved!
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I really like your blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and very interesting blog. I’ll come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon. Happy Holidays.
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Hi Angelilie, nice to connect with you and so pleased you like my blog. I look forward to visiting your world, see you soon, Iain 🙂
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