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

Despite organising and planning, I didn't get much done today. I did make a few phone calls, though. First of all I organised our Christmas family dinner in a couple of short phone calls to my son's parents-in-law. Son No 1 and wife are going to Australia on Boxing Day, so we decided to fix a date for presents and general family gathering on the 23rd. We discovered that both D-i-L's mother and me were working on that day, so we would both prefer to go to a restaurant for a meal together. That way some extended family could come along, too - my sister-in-law and her partner, for example, and No 2's girlfriend.

And then I phoned a few friends I see far too little of. We are a hotchpotch of expats, sort of thrown together by circumstance but we all get on really well - two of us are English, one Scots and one Irish. We really ought to meet up more often. It is quite shocking how long it's been before I've even managed to get hold of any of them on the phone.

I got an e-mail from another expat today - inviting us to the traditional Brit Christmas do. That's an evening with a turkey and a quiz and silly hats. A few Germans come along and try not to be baffled by the whole thing. Probably most of our little clique will not be able to get to that but I think I'll go anyway. I feel really safe with that crowd. They're a group of Scots and English chaps of various hues, the majority of whom are Rugby players and all of whom are translators, as that's what you do in this town.

Sometimes everyday life gets in the way of keeping in contact with friends who really aren't that far away. Next year I shall make an effort to organise more breakfasts and evening get-togethers, to make sure we don't lose touch altogether!

Those get-togethers sound like a good plan. It's so easy to lose touch with old friends, despite the best of intentions on both sides.

Translators ought to be an excellent bunch.

Sounds like a fun December.

Read and enjoyed - I've not much to add.