21/11/2025
🎄 The Ghost of Christmas Present at Waddesdon Manor 🎄
A creation by Tony Cashen
The Sequel to “The Ghost of Christmas Past at Waddesdon Manor”
Snow had returned to Waddesdon Manor, falling in thick, gentle curtains as if the sky was shaking out a giant feather pillow. It was Christmas Eve again, and the manor glowed with festive splendour — fairy lights wrapped around the turrets, lanterns lining the drive, and the gardens sparkling under a blanket of silvery frost.
Arthur, now something of a local legend after last year’s ghostly encounter, walked through the East Wing humming carols under his breath. He glanced at the walls, half expecting a shimmer of golden light… but all was still.
“Maybe this year will be normal,” he whispered.
He should’ve known better.
🎁 A Presence in the Dining Room
The moment the clock struck ten, the dining room chandelier began to flicker — not with its usual warm glow, but with bright colours like a kaleidoscope spinning too fast. The air thickened with a scent of cinnamon, oranges, and roast goose, as if Christmas dinner had exploded.
And then, standing beside the grand table laden with untouched mince pies, appeared…
A gigantic, jolly, fur-trimmed spectre.
Robed in deep green velvet, crowned with holly, and glowing with a warmth that melted snowflakes mid-air, the Ghost of Christmas Present beamed.
“ARTHUR!” he boomed. “Merry Christmas, my good fellow!”
Arthur took a step back. “Oh… oh dear. It’s you this time, is it?”
“Indeed!” the spirit laughed. “Your visitor from the past sends his regards. But tonight, we focus on the now — the joys, the celebrations, and the people who need reminding how lucky they are.”
With a sweep of his hand, the dining room burst into light.
🍊 A Journey Through Christmas Present
The ghost beckoned. “Come, Arthur! There’s so much to show you!”
Before Arthur could protest, the world whooshed into a swirl of green and gold.
When the whirl stopped, they hovered above Waddesdon’s glowing Christmas market. Visitors bustled between the wooden chalets, sipping mulled wine, nibbling churros, buying ornaments shaped like the manor. Children squealed as they watched a giant illuminated peacock fan its shimmering tail across the North Fountain.
“These people,” the ghost said kindly, “are wrapped in the warmth of the moment. But some… are not.”
The scenery shifted.
Now Arthur saw a family huddled beneath the archway near the entrance, sheltering from the cold. Their coats were thin. Their hands tucked into sleeves. Yet they smiled as they shared a single gingerbread man.
Arthur’s heart twisted. “They should come inside… warm up.”
“Exactly,” said the spirit. “Christmas is about inclusion. Waddesdon can be a wonderland for all — not just those who can afford it.”
🎄 The Revelry at the Rothschild Rooms
Another sweep of the hand —
They were inside the Blue Drawing Room, where Waddesdon staff were setting out the final touches for the evening’s charity gala. Sparkling glasses caught the firelight. A towering Christmas tree stood proud, decorated with gold leaves, miniature wine bottles, and tiny glittering stars.
Yet Arthur noticed one man in uniform — a young groundskeeper — sitting quietly on a bench, looking longingly at the grandeur he helped maintain but could never enjoy as a guest.
The ghost sighed gently.
“Christmas Present is meant to be shared,” he murmured. “Joy multiplies when given freely.”
✨ The Lesson of the Present
They returned to the dining room. The ghost’s glow softened.
“You, Arthur, have opened the doors to the East Wing every Christmas since our first meeting. You’ve helped people step inside, find warmth, and feel welcome.”
Arthur nodded modestly.
“But tonight,” the spirit continued, “remember that now matters even more than then. The present is fleeting — a snowflake caught in warm hands. Use it well. Share what you have. Invite others in.”
Arthur swallowed. “I’ll do my best.”
The ghost grinned, his form beginning to waver like candle smoke.
“I know you will, my friend. For you understand what many forget — that kindness given today becomes the memories of tomorrow.”
The room filled with one final burst of green light.
🌟 The Day Waddesdon Warmed
When the light faded, the ghost was gone. But something had changed.
Arthur hurried to the entrance. He opened the doors wide — wider than ever before.
“Come in!” he called into the cold night. “Everyone’s welcome!”
And they came. The family from the archway. The groundskeeper. Visitors who’d stayed late. Even a group of carollers who’d become hopelessly lost near Aylesbury and wandered up the drive by accident.
Hot chocolate was poured. Mince pies were passed around. Children sat beneath the grand tree. Laughter bounced off the marble and gold.
For the first time in centuries, Waddesdon Manor wasn’t just a magnificent spectacle — it was a home, shared freely with all who stepped inside.
And as Arthur looked up toward the East Wing, he swore he saw a faint green shimmer dancing along the rafters…
like a spirit smiling in approval.
