There’s something special about sneaking into Waterstones after hours. Getting a bookshop all to yourself is pretty much a dream come true for quite a few of Ayr Writers’ Club members. The much-anticipated Christmas event tempted a good garland of writers, looking forward to sharing Christmas cheer and laughter, that lingers longer than the lights.
Kirsty, a highly knowledgeable staff member at Waterstones, kicked off the evening with a cavalcade of current Christmas chart‑climbers — biographies, birds, bedtime tales, baking books, and bright fiction finds. Books are whizzing off their shelves – pleasing to know that reading is still in fashion.
Getting down to the nitty-gritty of the evening, Kirsty H presented her fiendishly difficult Christmas quiz. Do you know Mr. Darcy’s first name or how are you at naming characters from Christmas films? The tension rose, culminating in a tie-break question with the winning team of Lizzie, Thomas, and Maggie M delighted with their success.
The theme of the annual ‘dribble’ competition was Silent Night. Writers had to produce a fully formed story using only 50 words. Greta came out tops this year for her re-imagining of the Christmas armistice in the trenches of WW1, while others wrote of the night before Christmas, a female pope delivering a message that the world was about to end, and memories of huddling under blankets with their dad, watching animals wandering into the garden from the woods. Well done to everyone who entered.
The raffle didn’t disappoint – so many prizes, but like all good raffles a certain group of people seemed to be luckier than others. 
Thankfully, Helena, Greta, Maggie, and Bob shared their winnings around amidst great hilarity. Kirsty H took the laden hamper home, well deserved payment for organising the quiz. £60 was raised for club funds.
A last look around the shop, gifts bought, and with calls of ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘See you in January,’ folks made their way home.
Many thanks to the AWC committee for organising this event and to Waterstones for letting us borrow their shop yet again.
Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Guid New Year – see you back at the club on 14 January 2026.
Fiona Johnson