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

Even though I still wake up at my normal time when I'm on holiday (usually between 5 and 6) it's a great treat to make tea and then stay in bed reading or playing on my iPad. However, today I should probably do some of the things on my 'Christmas hols to-do list'.

We finished everything we needed to do in the first stage of the admissions round by close of business last Thursday, so I took Friday off, and was a bit lazy in the remaining days before Christmas, apart from buying nice food - probably a bit too much, as my fridge is still stuffed compared with how it normally looks! Oh, and went for a few walks by the river, which is alarmingly high at the moment - some of the college boathouses have got sandbags in front of the doors!

On Christmas Eve the owners of a local small (and rather posh) restaurant invited loads of their friends and customers for 'a drink and a bite to eat' between 12 and 4. This is an annual event, but as I'm often away at Christmas I hadn't been before, so went along expecting perhaps mulled wine and some nibbles. Instead there was a wide choice of drinks: Cava, mulled wine, other wines, beer from the bar, soft drinks etc, and a huge buffet lunch. You could help yourself to a plateful and then go and sit at the restaurant tables; lots of jolly chat going on at the bar while people waited for the next 'sitting', and the hosts and restaurant staff constantly refilling glasses. It was really very generous of them. Had to have a little lie-down after that!

Went to church on Christmas morning, then phoned my sister. Met up with a crowd of local friends for a few drinks, until about 4pm, then went home to cook - an unusual event for me! I had pork steak, marinaded in maple syrup and paprika, then roasted, served with mini jacket potatoes and sprouts stirfried with bacon bits. Excellent, if I say so myself, and something I'd definitely make again. No room for Christmas pud, although I have got a little one in. Watched Dr Who while eating dinner. Still don't like Matt Smith as the doctor, but loved some of the lines:
- Who are you?
- I'm a lizard woman from the dawn of time, and this is my wife.

Yesterday went with friends to see Life of Pi. Haven't read the book, but won't be rushing to do so. Some very beautiful photography, and of course the CGI tiger is impressive, but it is really too long, and got a bit tedious after a while.

Right - time to get up and do something with the day!