f4f3 | Wrapping up...

A leisurely Christmas Eve, so far. I went into town this mornings, with some misgivings, and it turned out to be far less busy than I feared. A normal Saturday, rather than The Hunger Games. I think all my shopping has done, and now all that remains is to wrap presents, decorate the tree, and have our Christmas dinner. Yes, I'll be having Christmas dinner in the German fashion, tonight. And then in the Scottish fashion, tomorrow, at my mum's. And then having an English boxing day next door at the neighbours (who aren't English in the slightest, but I've always associated Boxing Day visiting with Englishness. Then Swiss Canadian Raclette on the 27th, possibly seeing Kay and James and Family on the 28th (I've known Kay's sister since I was 18 or so, and she was the year above us at Uni. I'm fairly sure that she gave Kay a copy of "Our Bodies Our Selves", the book that changed my life). My pal Jim is due in town on the 29th, and on the 30th I think we'll skeedadle for the cottage, where there will be just the two of us.

I hope to get some writing done over the holidays. I had two very good ideas for revising chapters of Lifting Stones within 10 minutes of leaving work on Friday (no, the timing hasn't escaped me) and I'd also like to start journalling again. Mostly, though, I want to sleep late and rest, and build up some equilibrium for the new year. It's going to be a big one, I can tell, but we'll leave that sort of thinking for the 31st.

Hope all's going well with all of your preparations, and goes even better in the execution - my love to all,

Michael