What resolutions that have been secretly made have already been abandoned until Monday when the gloom of real life kicks in. No sign of Jack by 11.30 this new year's morning. On 'phoning my son to wish him a happy one, I disturbed his reverie, still dozing in his babygrow in the back of a car somewhere in the depths of Swanage. So, no change there then. Various incoming calls were received from those passing on their own seasonal greetings: one of whom I had not heard from for so long, I thought it must have at least been the ghost of Christmas past and was surprised to hear she hadn't, in fact, had her voice box removed. I dismantled the tree and removed all the cards, saving those from folk I hadn't sent one to assuming, from their silence during the last year, that they were all dead. Maybe I'll drop them a line.
Today was a glorious sunny start to the new year. Ever since the little dog joined our extended family, we have walked the Dorset countryside with him. We should be so fit except that it's all counteracted by an urgent need to see off the remaining Christmas cake, mince pies and Quality Street along with half empty bottles of liqueur. Houns Tout was our destination today. As the weather was so fine, it was a foregone conclusion that the world and his wife would be on the beach and no-one would've ventured up on the hills behind Corfe. Wrong. It was like the exodus into Egypt up there: hoardes of them enjoying the splendid views along the Jurassic coastline. It didn't detract from the pleasure though.
Home again for a long evening of TV. I don't generally watch the thing so have to make up for investing in a license by getting all my viewing done in one go. First, The Railway Children but, sadly, not the original in which the final tear-jerking scene cannot be surpassed. Next, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory which was the original but which I still managed to sleep through. Thirdly, The Italian Job...naturally the original. Why did anyone see fit to re-make any of these films along with Pride & Prejudice? There are some things that simply can't be improved. Colin Firth emerging from the lake for example. Lastly, Spinal Tap. Never seen it before but always wanted to. Loved it. I particularly enjoyed a rare evening in with the prodigal son even if he continued with his irritating habit of putting all his used sweet wrappers back in the tin before promptly falling asleep.
One strange occurrence: went to Tesco at 4pm. It was shut! Happy Days
These comments should really go with your 'Biting the Dust' of New Year's Eve.
ReplyDeleteConversation on the golf course.
"What are you doing for Christmas?
We’ve hired a barn and a cottage on a heath overlooking Poole Harbour — the whole family will be together — eleven of us and a dog.
How long are going for?
Three days.
Just long enough to fallout with everybody then!"
Usually we are quite pleased to get back home to the comforts of own bed, bathroom, kitchen and such.
But, the best of fun with children and a dog around us! the cooking was great: dining out on Christmas Eve was a stroke of genius: our accommodation was perfect for being together but not overcrowded: the countryside outside the front door was superb: the weather perfect: inviting Claire and Ben was a kindness that repaid itself in the pleasure of their company.
It was all wonderful for us and the golfer was wrong.
As you said, probably the best Christmas ever.