But for Darlington Point author Caroline Touhey, this Christmas nostalgia has been put into the pages of a children's book, dedicated to two people integral to her Yuletide experience.

Ms Touhey's fourth book The Christmas Garden has a very personal bent, dedicated to her mother Marjorie Webb and her "kindred spirit" Sue Denson, who happened to have the best Christmas garden around.

"They have been life-long friends, and growing up we would go to Sue's place, and there would be pine trees and decorations, it was just such a magical place," she remembered fondly.

The trio gathered at Griffith City Library for a special reading of the Christmas book, and remembered together the experiences.

Seeing her name on the dedications page brought Ms Denson "real pleasure" seeing just how much her Christmas garden efforts mean.

"You just don't think people are taking it all in like this," Ms Denson reflected.

"You do it because you enjoy it, and to see how much impact it has had on Caroline, it's just beautiful."

For Ms Webb, the book is a representation of the beautiful friendship with Ms Denson, cultivated over many years from their time back in Carathool.

"It is unbelievably great. We are Kindred spirits and we are both so delighted and privileged to have this book dedicated to us," she said.

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The Christmas Garden is Mrs Tuohey's fourth children's book to be published and she has another two in the works, with manuscripts now at publisher's houses ready for 2020.

Originally written as a poem, she has been blown away by the life it has taken of its own, especially seeing it come to life with the illustrator's interpretation of her vision.

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