h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh, those could be dangerous!

I really hate that the STBX doesn't like to watch It's A Wonderful Life, and hates Christmas music. I like to listen to carols while wrapping presents, but he doesn't. I think he plain hates Christmas.

Well into Christmas Day here 06:10 local.
Best regards to all. MR I know we've had our differences
but I never hold grudges. We need not communicate directly
but I the coming year brings fruition to your work.

MR....Actually that combination sounds really good....I'm sure it'll be great.

Got a chance to go to the Midnight mass at the Episcopal church that Gw7en and I normally go to, beautiful service.

Merry X-mas to all (12:35am here), and happy present opening.

Oetzi, I hope the coming year is good to you, too. And differences can be overcome. Just don't turn into a jerk again, okay?

Well I've decided to go Lil's route with respects to xmas. I'll hang around the house, relax, and read a book or two.

Merry Christmas to all, happy holidays, etc and so forth

Courtesy

Ok MR

Happy Christmas everyone

I have two colours added to my hair, lowlights using ezimeche, honey blonde to tone in the grey that is gradually appearing and caramel to bring out the touch of red tones I inherited from the Celt side. I have been red at times, but now find that these colours suit me better as my skin tone has changed a bit.

Now to plan my timetable, No2 son is coming for lunch, the g/f is going to her family, No2 son is going over there around 2.30ish, then they are both coming back here. They will be worn out by the end of the day!

Congratulations on saving your hair, MR.

Deep sympathy and compassion for your brother, Z. What an awful thing to happen, and what an awful time of year for it to happen.

MR's post about wrapping presents to the sound of carols has clicked something in my brain. It isn't Christmas I can't stand, it is the godless, soulless, commercial thing we have in its place. I would love to wrap presents to the sound of carols.

As I typed that, someone in the building has fired up some santa-pop.... And I had been enjoying the silence of the streets up until now. Hey ho ho ho.

I thought about a modern Christmas Carol, ghost of Christmas future and Christmas present would be bloated commercialism, with Christmas past being something alltogether simpler, more meaningful and real.

Ben

Just back from church where I was coereced into ushering.

It was a good service, and I was happy to be part of it. Christmas Eve and Easter are the only hollidays that really hold any personal meaning for me these days. I do not like the Christmas season for a variety of reasons, but the service tonight is what keeps me feeling like it is important. I saw an old friend tonight, one I have not seen in nearly a decade. I also ran into the parents of my ex. I am torn asunder at seeing them as I have avioded them since their daughter left me. They were always close to me, but I cannot bear to be near them anymore. The reminder is too much. I very nearly had something of a breakdown tonight, to which I owe much to Ben (GDZ) for keeping me above water.

I have decided that Christmas is best described as the time that friends gather in celebration. The manner of that celebration can take the form of a family Christmas dinner, a church service or a couple of friends having a beer in the garage. I wish peace in this season and in all of your days to all of my friends here. I hope that health, wealth and happiness fills your days.

God bless us all, and give us peace.

damn, Marv, but you're eloquent.

Presents for the small person are wrapped, stocking stuffed and hung on her doorknob (sometimes that gives me a few extra minutes of sleep), and breakfast tomorrow ready to go.

I managed to make the STBX listen to Christmas carols while we wrapped. He wanted to watch South Park, but I begged. It frustrates me to no end that he had to be reminded to get something for his daughter and his wife, that he had to be coerced into listening to Christmas carols, that tomorrow morning he'll wake up hung over and crabby...

Ah, well, yet another reason he's the STBX.

Oh Z, what a sad thing to happen .

s and s to all who need or want them.

*sits in front of the fire with a *

Cooking a roast dinner for one is nearly as much work as cooking for ten except there are fewer sprouts to peel, for which I am grateful . The joint is in the oven, the pear chutney is ready and smells delicious and I've made the parsley butter for the vegetables. I made the soup yesterday so that just needs heating up. The red wine jelly is sitting pretty in the fridge.

I've just been listening to the Christmas edition of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue on the wireless . It was hysterical. I think the best of the offerings on the tv this afternoon is the muppet movie followed by the Queen's speech. Then I'll go out for a walk.

I'd better phone home before I have too much .

Merry Christmas everyone.

I agree with Marv and Ben about Christmas. Since so many people are so turned off by the crass commercialism, you would think that there would be a movement to do something about it. But it just keeps getting worse and worse. It's very sad.

The Christmases I had as a child were magical. I'm fortunate to have had a secure childhood in a loving, nurturing family and to have lived in a rural community where you knew your neighbors and everyone looked out for everyone else. Christmas traditions involved family and church and school pagents. It was about giving, not receiving. We worked for weeks making gifts and Christmas decorations. If anyone had a Norman Rockwell Christmas, then it was my family.

Then I married F. His childhood was a nightmare and holiday celebrations were always for someone else. His father was abusive and selfish to the point of out Scrooging Scrooge. F never had a Christmas present or a birthday present or an Easter basket or anything else when he was a child. When someone else gave him or his siblings gifts, his father took them and threw them away. So he toughed it out and convinced himself that holidays are unimportant and foolish and he doesn't need them. Well, he's an old man now, and the psychological scars are still there and it has affected every holiday I've had since I met him. He tries to get into the spirit, but the sadness is still there. I don't know if he actually hates Christmas like MR's STBX, but I'm sure he'd rather it not come around every year.

You hair sounds awesome, MR.

Merry Christmas, everybody! I'm just waiting for the fan heater to warm up the bathrooom before I go in and have a nice ritual bath. I went outside last night before I turned in, and all the luminarios were burning steadily in complete still silence. It was beautiful.

Oetzi, how are you spending the day? We've heard everyone else's plans, or lack of plans in the case of Courtesy and me.

My Christmases have been mixed, ranging from the institutional through exile to completely traditional in the tinselly American way.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Big teenagers that they are, Sunshine and Moonlight still wanted presents at the end of their beds, mostly because on the alternate years they spend with their dad he won't let them (he says they are too old for it). So I had lots of interesting shaped things wrapped up, although their main present was a recent outing to London to spend money at Camden and then to the Science Museum Lord of the Rings exhibition.

They rarely rise before noon in the holidays but this morning Sunshine woke her sister in much the same way she used to when they were small. Bouncing on the bed and poking her with much giggling from both. Only it was 9.30 rather than 5.30 which was nice. They've helped me to prepare the meal and the table and tidied up afterward too. My only rule was that today pyjamas were not acceptable daywear so they had to be dressed.

Last year I was alone and will be next year too, which makes me appreciate this one.

It was an odd start to the day, opening without No2 son, he arrived in time for lunch and we had a lovely meal. He has now gone over to the g/f's parents and both of them will be back later for and , No2 son will no doubt be wanting another helping of sherry trifle! I make it especially for him as he doesn't like .

I must have largely fooled this year as I had some lovely presents, including the parts for a 'f*** off hardcore PC', No1 son's words.

I have caught up with posts prior to my earlier posting and Z, I am so sorry your brother's friends have had such a sad time, but your brother sounds as if he has the same caring personality as you.

I've just been out for a lovely walk from here to what the Americans amongst us would probably call the next neighborhood and back again. It was spotting with rain but very warm for the time of year. I had to take my gloves off and open my coat because I was overheating. It was very windy too so my antennae now need to be untangled.

I saw six magpies in a tree. According to the rhyme I know that means 'six for gold', which sounds promising .

Now for a and some jelly with cream.

Sorry if I miss anything, I have had my little niece showing be how a battery operated toaster works

Zomnker, Z , Caer, I hope the nest doesn?t feel too empty

We had a nice quiet morning; Munchkin got me some books, which I am looking forward to getting my nose into, as soon as there is some peace and quiet. My six and three year old nieces are in the house now

Still they were well behaved, and the three year old was as excited by an apple in the stocking as anything else

In my Parents' house there tend to be 3 big family meals - Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day. Trouble was, just as last nights roast was half way cooked the Glass door of the oven shattered! Luckly the inner door is still intact. It is interesting cooking when three people are needed to open the door/ move the roast!

The other news is that Dad and Munchkin managed to bodge the heating in a permanently on position for the Beetle. What made me laugh was that the Halleluiah chorus came on the radio just as it started working

There are no coincidences.

I am awaiting a call from my mangler on if we will be working today or not. I hope beyond hope that I can take today off, crawl back in to my bed and sleep in warmth. I really would rather not go up the canyon and sit in a loud pumphouse all day. I still do not go in for Christmasy things, but it would be nice to go to my parents house for a while and just relax.

The excitement and build-up are over, and my living room looks like a tornado went through it, but my daughter is content and happy and currently trying to make the kittens stop playing with *her* toys and play with their new catnip mice. I don't think that will take much persuasion!!

The best gift is the silliest. My sister and I used to hate filling up the tub for a long soak, only to have half the water go down the drain before we got out. She found a little stick-on item that covers the overflow drainholes, so you get a deeper tub. I can't wait to take a long hot bath, as she sent along some lovely bath salts, as well. Did I mention that I love my sister?