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

For months I've been looking forward to a calm and peaceful time off work at the end of the year. Just me and the Lair Cats. Reading good books, watching the occasional DVD, cuddling cats and walking in my jammies until late.

The prospects were good. All hatchlings but one abroad due to their works, the Queen Mum not arriving until after New Year and the reamining hatchling claimed he was going down South to spend excessmas with his Dad.

Not so.

The hatchling called and said he had cancelled the trip South and expected to be fed and entertained during excessmas. An uncle was taken seriously ill a few weeks ago, and was transferred to the nearby Uni Hospital for further treatment. His wife, a very nice and friendly elderly lady, is now staying with me for an unknown period of time.

So, there had to be a xmas lunch today. No excesses but still it took time during several days to prepare. I managed to avoid gifts and such, thankfully. The cats had canned food for breakfast in stead of the usual dry one, but that's about it.

At the moment it's calm though. The aunt is at the Uni hospital visiting the uncle, the hatchling sleeps in my sofa and the cats are also sleeping. I'm about to make some and continue to read my book about legislation in merovingian France.

Happy Belated Solstice and (insert favorite holiday here)!

I've never had such a Christmas as you were dreaming of.
When I mentioned the word 'help' to the boys today, they refused.
Which once again leaves me with all the perparations.

One day, I *will* have an 'un' Christmas.

Sigh. I feel for both of you.

This is the first time I have prepared anything for excessmas. I'll admit, I went a bit overboard, but we haven't been as social with the friends who are coming as we'd been in the past and I didn't want to throw together a haphazard mix of leftovers, if you know what I mean. And at least K helps me out. He's done the kitchen floor this morning already.

Anyway, I hope you have a lovely holiday, dragonqueen (and you, too, Bel!). Wishing you all the best and much love for the new year.

Hmmm, now I've run home to my mum's for Christmas, but I *was* doing a lot of the decorating, baking, and worst of all, grandmother-entertaining. (She's slightly senile and very deaf...)

Happy holiday anyway, DQ, whichever one it is!

Dragonqueen, I hope you will be able to have time for yourself.

It is the first time I have been organised for excessmas.

Dragonqueen, Bel, Psychocandy and Malabarista Wishing you all peace, love, and joy this Holiday Season and best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.

Well, it's over now and everybody was pretty relaxed. Now I can go packing.

Oh, and happy holidays to you all.

Thanks for your support.

The excessmas has gone smoothly so far. I'm having brunch consisting of leftovers since yesterdays xmas lunch and soon I'm off to the Sports' Center for some team bicycling.

Later this afternoon a Skype talk is planned with some fellow researchers, something I'm looking forward to.

i got out of the families claws fairly unscathed, thank you

daughter and son #1 helped fetching and and a few other items at the last minute and i assisted son #2 in cooking everything but a pot of red cabbage (we left that to my ex) - and we did great if i may say so myself

i am so pleased to know that i have passed the torch to the next generation of family

my talkative and pugnacious mother was there - me, i am no longer, took the train home today before noon

in a few years from now the kids will have their own xmasses to celebrate and i will be free to do what i like - for a while, at least

More relatives for dinner today, but it was a nice dinner. Good food (bragging ), good conversations and much laughter.

Tomorrow morning the Aunt will get a ride back west and I'll be the one that brings the newspapers to the Uncle. He's scheduled to go back to the hospital in their hometown before New Year.

Assumingly the Aunt will return in due time, since it's probable that the Uncle will need more specialised treatment at the Uni Hospital.

here's hoping your uncle feels okay with staying in the hospital

The uncle seemed content at dinner today, he was allowed an "afternoon off" and stayed almost 3½ hours before asking to be taken back to his hospital bed

A great surprise was that (oldest hatchling) called from Antarctica earlier this evening . His ship is on its way to McMurdo base.

Antarctica!

Sounds like today was a nice day. I hope Uncle is OK.

they have midsummer in antarctica now, right? so the temperature only falls to 50 below zero or something like that?

glad uncle feels okay

Good news to hear that your uncle is feeling better, I hope that his progress will steadily improve.