Thanks to a particularly ill-timed stomach bug, I’ve spent most of the holidays, including Christmas, enjoying Electra’s lovely soups. Which is how I found out that Christmas dinner is not the same when you’re in bed with a bowl of hot minestrone instead of a turkey leg.

Still, there is a silver lining in everything. In this case, my mother kindly offered to point it out for me, in her own, inimitable style:

It’s probably for the best. You had been getting rather heavy lately. I just hope you don’t put back on those pounds right away.

This, from the woman who spent the best part of my childhood chasing me around with a half-full plate, trying to shove a fork into my mouth. Oh, the irony…

So, as 2014 is leaving not with a bang, but with (my) whimper, I can only wish you all a happy 2015!

From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's books

Thank you all for making this year a most memorable one! Your love and support mean the world to me 🙂