Life must be filled up

The cover of this book just invites you to follow the couple down the road and join Miss Read in Fairacre for Christmas. It’s a good example of publishers’ recycling, as there’s only one story which hasn’t appeared in a previous anthology. The stories are not all snow and jollity. There’s a baby born on Christmas Day with only two maiden ladies to help until Nurse arrives (this was my favourite). Another story involves a very disturbed child. Three very short Joyce Grenfell-style monologues are early pieces which appeared in Punch. As usual, what I like best to read about is the school, the children and that great character, Mrs Pringle. A nice, light Christmas read.