Page 13 of The Winter We Met
‘The business, Junior Magic, is in trouble… my family is a toy manufacturer and sales have continually dipped over recent years. I’m taking a couple of months out to see what competitors are doing across Europe, especially around Christmas, so that we can really raise our game next year. I’ve also got a fledgling idea that might work as a side project, but I need to consolidate it. I visited Belgium and Switzerland before going to Germany last week. I’ll try to fit in France – apparently there’s a fantastic toy shop called Si Tu Veux in Paris. I might swing over to Ireland for a couple of days, as well, but now I’m in London I intend to visit Hamleys of course, and Covent Garden – then there are plenty of festive markets around the capital, in November.’
‘Don’t forget Harrods,’ chipped in Pan.
‘Good point. We need a fresh approach. I’ll be looking for materials that we haven’t tried yet.’ He shrugged. ‘I prefer what’s considered a more old-fashioned approach to toy-making… puzzles, quality soft plushies, family board games. But we might need to compromise our ethos to stay afloat. Toys using artificial intelligence is an ever-increasing growing market… My right-hand man, Lachlan, is flying over this way in a week or so and doing the southern Europe leg, starting off with the South of France and then Portugal and Spain. Italy after that. Neither of us have had time for a holiday these last few years but have been saving up for the travel we both love – it kind of kills two birds with one stone.’
‘Never known the likes of it – a job where you can just take a month or so off,’ said Alf. He’d removed his rimless glasses to clean them and put them back, as if to take a better look at Nik.
‘You must have a very creative mind,’ said Gran.
‘Sure, although I don’t do much of the nuts and bolts design – I haven’t got the computer or mechanical expertise. But I research the competition and consumers. My ideas may or may not be taken up. I’ll write a report on my European trip. Share my thoughts. It might mean making some changes to our design team. Hopefully a few new prototypes will come out of it – perhaps a whole new line. And I’m excited to experience a Christmas with weather how it should be – cold and twinkly, even snow if I’m lucky. Perhaps that will get the creative juices flowing.’
‘There’s no point me getting creative.’ Gran sighed. ‘I’m really going to miss making all the decorations this year.’
Pan’s face fell. ‘Yes, getting ready for our party used to remind me of Christmas when I was little, with me and Mum making paper chains out of strips of newspaper. Dad would loop them across the lounge ceiling.’
‘I decorate my place with sprigs of holly, wedged behind picture frames,’ said Nik. ‘And I’ve never bought any baubles. As a boy I’d make my own out of foil and glitter. Now my nephews and nieces do. The tree is covered. And the business runs a competition on our website – we sell our products directly too – for children to make their own and post in. The top three get our bestselling toy of the year and I put their entries on the tree in our reception area.’
‘What a wonderful idea,’ I said.
‘There’s something about you that sniffs of a bygone age,’ said Gran. ‘I like it.’
‘Show them your phone.’ I giggled.
Nik took it out of his bag.
‘Even mine’s more modern than that,’ said Alf, crumbs of pork pie pastry tumbling from his lips. He looked from Nik to the small mobile. Back to Nik. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen anyone your age with anything but a smartphone.’
Nik smiled. ‘So tell me, why won’t anyone be making Christmas decorations this year?’
‘Because of this place closing,’ said Gran and she slid her half-eaten plate away. ‘Tomorrow was going to be a busy day after the morning’s bus trip into town, for those who want to go to the Remembrance Service at St Martin’s. In the afternoon we were due to have the brainstorming meeting where we choose the party theme. I always look forward to that. We play Christmas music and eat warm mince pies…’
‘Perhaps it’s just as well,’ said Glenda tersely. ‘From what I’ve heard people had been struggling to come up with a new theme. The rumours about his place have distracted them – plus we’ve done so many now and anyway… we should all be focusing on where we’ll be living at the end of this year.’
I’d never really understood why Glenda lived at Willow Court, often keeping herself apart from communal activities. She must have had a beautiful home, what with her fancy job. She could have hired live-in help to assist with her needs due to her osteoporosis, and stayed there.
Nik shrugged. ‘I’m lost. Tell me again exactly why aren’t you holding the party?’
‘Because this place will be closed on Christmas Eve. No one will be living here,’ I said.
‘Then have it a couple of weeks early.’
‘We couldn’t do that,’ said Gran.
‘Why not?’ He leant back into his chair. ‘Let me tell you about Christmas in July, back in Australia.’
‘I’ve heard of that,’ I said.
‘Me too,’ said Pan. ‘Don’t you have two Christmases – a proper one in December, which happens to be your summer and then an extra one in July, when the weather’s better suited? It’s also the name of a wonderful American comedy, filmed in the forties.’
‘Great casting,’ said Nik. ‘And Preston Sturges was a brilliant director.’
‘How haveyouseen that?’ asked Alf.
‘I love old movies. And you’re absolutely right, Pan, in Australia we have an early Christmas celebration. In July, our winter, we can really enjoy all the festive things that make up a fantasy, white Christmas, like an open fire, eggnog and mulled wine…You just don’t fancy those things so much in the summer. We save the present swapping for the proper time of year but Christmas in July – it’s a fun, midwinter event that in lots of ways feels more traditional.’
‘It sounds very commercial to me – even more so than the actual event,’ said Glenda and straightened her spine as much as she could before peering over the top of her cat-eye glasses.
‘It can be. Retailers love it during what is, traditionally, a quiet month for sales. But it’s also a great opportunity to spend time with family. It’s something to look forward to during the darker, cold months.’
