And so this is Christmas

As we head of for Canada on Sunday this will be my last post of the year and while I thought of several topics I could cover (snow!, Christmas telly, chiropodists, cameras) I am instead leaving this year with some random reminiscences from Christmas past...

Delight at finding the biggest parcel under the tree was for me - and even more delight on finding it to contain a set of dropped handlebars for my bike!

Sharing a room with my brother every Christmas Eve for years due to a grandmother stopping over.

Waking up to find the future MrsB making a cooked breakfast on our first Christmas together.

The family stories of Christmas events that come out every year - Uncle David with a big red circle on his forehead after being hit by a sucker arrow, baby me crawling round the tree removing the labels from all the presents leading to much guesswork, how the Danish side of the family wouldn't put their tree up until Christmas Eve - and have real candles on it and so on and so forth.

Being slightly creeped out by my Dad dancing to Sade with my cousin.

Uncle Mick slouching so low in his chair that only his head was vertical, party hat askew and glass of wine dangling perilously.

The first time MrsB and I hosted Christmas dinner - taking the empty plates back to the kitchen and coming back with the desert to find her family had put the telly on in the two minutes we were occupied.

Lengths of string bearing a zillion cards crashing down in the night.

Spending hours licking and sticking paper chains together.

Working late-night shopping when still at Argos.

The joy on the face of an Australian Christmas temp when she saw her first snow at the age of 23.


So, have a great Christmas and New Year. Thanks to everyone who has read my ramblings, look out for more in 2010!

I was right, hurt like Hades. And no actual treatment carried out either - just measurements of how deep my pockets are (in both senses cos its going to cost nearly 80 quid by the end of the treatment) - little needles poked in six times around each tooth. OK to start with but got a bit tedious by the 30th tooth, and ached all day! Never mind.

Joan came into Ipswich to spend money on me today, so we met for lunch, which was nice. After I'd given her a few ideas for other things I'd quite like I had a major greed-related guilt trip and tried to get her to take them back. I don't think it worked but I've calmed down again so am not feeling so put-out now. Why can't I just accept that people like me? Especially my own wife.

Oh, and on the Martians front, have now decided that I wouldn't want to have read the stories as part of the main text as (a) they are not all from the same "reality" and (b) they feature other characters who have no other place in the main narrative which was spread over enough people as it was. Still very enjoyable though and giving a new slant on some aspects of the story.

Time to go home now, so next entry will be on my birthday....(that's tomorrow!)...

Feeling a bit more human today (although nearly lost it all again waiting for Blogger to open up, some serious slowness this afternoon!). Last night went really well, and we all had a good laugh so that helped. Plus today I had the sense to bring some music to work, so was able to wander the town at lunchtime assisted by my portable mini-disc player and a compilation of various stuff featuring loud guitars. Of course, I shouldn't really have that as yet cos it really is my birthday present from Joan, but hey, we are just too nice to each other. And it is also Valentine's day so love is flowing everywhere and feeling gloomy wouldn't fit in.

Tonight is once more a DIY and ER-fest so that should keep the spirits high. I might even find time to slip in a bit more reading on the magazines. New book info soon.

I think that will do for today as I really ought to go home soon. Perhaps I'll think of something interesting to fill this with in the future rather than just a few odd comments. Suggestions welcome!