MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Long time no blogging. Time flies when you are busy. Since I have posted we had a lot of snow, but now it has melted all over again. We didn't do much Christmas shopping as we are all on our own this year, but made sure that there were a few presents bought for those we love either by proxy or sent in the post. Our star present this year came from the kids - all four of them - and it was a TomTom. This is a car based GPS and it has the whole of Europe on, so it should come really handy in the summer.

The pastor had turned up with three more calendars and 1 each got posted to Stephen and Alex. Apparently we bought all the booze in Toronto, some glasses and a vase for Stephen and an item of clothing for Lucy. We kept the age old tradition of not buying each other anything. This is so funny. As the years go by this is becoming more of a joke than anything else. The kids never bothered themselves with it in the past, but Alex (especially since he married Meaghan) seems really puzzled. I have no idea how it started, but now it is a tradition for us and it means that you do not need special reasons to show love and appreciation by buying presents. We do buy each other things all year round, but often can't quite think of anything for Christmas. So what? Believe me we are secure enough in being loved not to bother with presents.

Today was great: I had salmon en croute, Roy had two large pieces of fillet steak all washed down with champagne, followed by walnut "beigli" (Hungarian Christmas Cake). He is now happily snoring in front of the TV showing "The Antiques Roadshow". Can you have a better Christmas? Well, perhaps if Callum was here that would beat this, but it is not always possible.

We had a chat with Alex, Meaghan and Callum on Skype, but unfortunately even Skype could not cope with 15 million users on line, so the video didn't work. Still, we heard his little gurgles and we were happy. Stephen hasn't phoned yet, but I am sure he will later.

SO, NOW I'M OFF - A VERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE AND AN EVEN HAPPIER NEW YEAR!