Merry yuletide. I appear to have woken up in a Victorian novel judging by the creeping fog outside which always makes me jolly.
Here is a list from writer’s site Litreactor that should satisfy all you festive weirdos out there, have a read.
P.S. If I were to add my own seasonal jollies I’d include The League of Gentlemen Christmas special (the final scene alone is worth it).
Want your Christmas to be the ultimate in odd? Feast your face on these DIY projects and present ideas. You still have time before the last post day tomorrow!
Firstly is this selection from Year of Halloween, Needful Things (13 things to get horror fans). Pop over and roll your eyeballs on this lovely selection. I’m weirdly drawn to the Taxidermy Art Diorama…
Next up is this Weeping Angel (from Dr Who) Christmas Tree topper tutorial from blog The Creative Crossing. Joy to the world!
Follow the link here to peruse RDSPress’ book suggestions for every kind of strange person you know. Though I’m no goth, I myself am the proud owner of illustrated book Haunted Homes and Gardens, it’s very pretty.
Visit Squidoo for these creepy Christmas decorations amongst others: 
The site Ophelia’s Art sells gifts, spooky holiday cards and t-shirts as well as art, all spooky and pretty. I believe the shop is currently under maintanence but it looked worth waiting for so I’m adding it here and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. Except perhaps threaten me or something. But I probably won’t listen cause I’m a right nutbag.
Artist Beth Robinson’s custom made Strange Dolls are very pretty in a very disturbing way. Not really recommended for children, unless your child is unlikely to weep at the very sight of it. She also does brooches and pendants: 
Well, there we are. Have a merry Christmas and remember, Santa’s watching every move you make…
Basically, having endometriosis is rubbish. It’s not life threatening (as you’ll hear many times) but the frequent trips to A+E and having plans scuppered by chronic pain are somewhat grating.
I often think of it as a guest at a tea party who always turns up late and only ever brings Garibaldi biscuits, despite me telling them constantly I don’t like raisins.
However, there are a few small victories I’ve claimed. They’re not much in the scheme of things but they make me feel a bit better, and here they are:
Keep a diary: I should confess I haven’t got round to this yet but my doctor tells me I should keep a regular record so I know where I am in the month. I can see it makes a lot of sense. Perhaps tomorrow…
I have to spend several days at a time in bed with a hot water bottle, so I’ve taken time to ensure my hot water and bed clothes look brilliant. Whether its a Salvador Dalek t shirt, tie dyed nighties (find out how in this post) or a rainbow hot water bottle, at least I look colourful when I’m in pain. And that’s the main thing.
Read Coping With Endometriosis by Jo Mears. It will at least make you feel less of a weirdo. Well, as much as could be possible for me…
Make a bath as pleasant as possible. Having a hot bath of course soothes pain and I make sure I have my favourite products on hand. As I mentioned before, the colourful soaps from Lush and the vintage inspired Soap and Glory range are brilliant.
If all else fails, at least you’re not one of these ants:
It’s definately wintery here; sometimes snowing, then raining, then both at once. Christmas will soon be upon us! I’ve decided in future to put up Halloween 
decorations for Christmas rather than the traditional although I’d still have a tree, just an unusually adorned one. I don’t abide by all this ‘I hate Christmas’ cynicism, put tinsel in your hair and run through the streets naked and weeping I say! I’m not remotely religious but there’s always time to do that. Unless you’re Jewish. Or Muslim. Or Hindu. Or Budhist. Or Sikh or…something else.
Anyway…rather than watching repeats of Only Fools and Horses for the 500th time I’ve concocted a witch’s brew of eye goodies to make Christmas a spooky, strange or otherwise unusual affair, as I often do each year. If you don’t own any of these things I recommend them.
1: The Last American Freak Show. A documentary by Richard Butchins covering the exploits of a modern day travelling freak show. Reality, as is often the case, never quite lives up to expectation and Richard, a disabled man himself, struggles with the implications of the show and the haphazard way its run.
2. Freaks. It just makes sense to watch it after viewing the first one. Made in 1932, Tod Browning’s film is as good as ever.
3. Psychoville Halloween special. I love all of psychoville, particularly the librarian, but the Halloween special is a good spooky/funny standalone hour.
4. The League of Gentleman Christmas special. Same as above but different and more Christmas orientated. And brilliant.
5. Amicus horror compilations. The above two are heavily influenced by such films as Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. Entertaining fun!
6. The Others. I love this film. Alejandro Amenábar’s direction is extremely atmospheric with enough fog for an early Hammer horror. Plus Christopher Eccleston’s in it and I love him.
7. Oddities. It’s ridiculous fluff in the style of Pawn Stars for weirdos but I enjoy it, I think its fun. Watch it online somewhere or on Discovery Realtime.
8. Coraline. It’s cute! From a story originally by Neil Gaiman and directed by Nightmare Before Christmas’ Henry Selick.
9. Black Mirror. Disturbing viewing and best avoided during the festive dinner, but otherwise Charlie Brooker’s three stories are amazing and necessary watching.
10. Dr Who. The disturbing episodes are my favourites, usually either by League of Gentleman co-writer Mark Gatiss (also have a look at his History of Horror on BBC 4) or head writer Steven Moffat.
11. Dead Set. Again by Charlie Brooker its tense, atmospheric and Derren Brown co-writer Andy Nyman gets to spout some very inventive insults.
12. Derren Brown. Is it wrong to find him hammering nails up his nose and walking on glass slightly erotic? My favourites are the disturbing series Trick or Treat, live show Something Wicked This Way Comes, his latest offerings The Experiments and the third series of Tricks of the Mind.
13. Twin Peaks. Zavvi are currently selling the gold disc set of both series plus lots of extras of Twin Peaks for just over £20. Woo hoo!
So there concludes our festive list of fun. There’s bound to be things I’ve forgotten, but try not to wail and rend your garments until you’ve at least opened your presents. Farewell!
Madeleine Swann 