Somehow we’ve made it through Christmas in one piece.
We all congregated in the lounge by mid-morning. There had been strict instructions to cap the budget at a sensible amount per person this year - because we all work now (well… all except our youngest daughter, who is heavily pregnant) - so none of us really need anything. The kids have slowly realised the idiocy of buying people “things” they don’t particularly want or need - so there were lots of aftershave, bubblebath, socks, chocolate, and whatever else.
Of course the unborn baby received more presents than the rest of us put together. Let’s just say it’s not going to need anything of consequence bought for the first several months of it’s life. Lunch was something of a success. After spending much of the morning feeding the cooker with trays of potatoes, sprouts, carrots, and whatever else, we all sat down and ate enough for a small army. Somehow I don’t think we’ll be eating anything later today.
After spending much of the day together eating, drinking, and playing various board games, we have now disbanded. You find me holed up in the study - listening to music, catching up on email, and writing this blog post. Other half and middle daughter are watching Indiana Jones, youngest and her boyfriend have passed out upstairs. Eldest is sitting on top of her pile of presents like Smaug the dragon in her room.
Seeing as I didn’t actually need anything for Christmas, I asked my daughters for chocolate for Christmas - and oh boy did they deliver. I have enough to cause a major heart problem by Boxing Day (don’t worry - I won’t be touching any of it, any time soon).
You know that thing where you stockpile all the rich food for Christmas, and then within hours of unleashing it, you’re sick of it? That. The remains of Christmas dinner will no doubt end up in a frying pan tomorrow morning for “Bubble and Squeak”. I gather Bubble and Squeak might be a very British thing, so I should probably explain. Throw all the leftover veggies in a frying pan the next day, crack an egg over it, and fry it into a big fat pancake of sorts. Add ketchup, and it’s the BEST.
My other half bought me a Commodore 64 t-shirt. I think this is reason enough for me to go and order a shiny new Commodore 64 from the newly resurrected Commodore, isn’t it? I know… I don’t actually need a new computer, but hell - a NEW Commodore 64 would be a thing of beauty, wouldn’t it?
For anybody wondering what on earth I’m blathering on about, the Commodore 64 was a popular home computer in the early to mid 1980s. I didn’t have one. To be honest, I would sell my left arm for a Commodore Amiga, but they are as rare as hens teeth theses days (at least for a sensible price) - not least because technology of that era actively tries to kill itself. Capacitors leak onto the motherboards, and destroy them beyond repair.
A new C64 though. That would be quite wonderful.
Somebody talk me out of it before I end up putting the order in tomorrow morning. This is the reason I have the YouTube channel, isn’t it - so I can re-live my youth through retro hardware that I don’t have time to play with…
In other news, we snuck out for a drink with good friends yesterday evening before dinner. I got talking to one of them about her taking part in park run, and agreed that it would be a damn good idea if we went running together - for no other reason than to keep each other honest. Neither of us are competitive - but without at least SOME reason to get up and head out the door, you just know that one day you won’t bother, and that will lead to another day, and we know where that ends - 2 years since you last ran any distance at all.
I miss running. And yes, I know I’ve mentioned getting back at it several times.
It’s about putting myself first at least 1% of the time, isn’t it.
Anyway.
Merry Christmas all. Let’s hope for peace, quiet, and as few family arguments as possible over the next little while.