Tag: christmas

Eve

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I didn’t sleep well last night, and today has been a bit bleugh because of that. I’m hopeless with sleep deprivation. Today is hot, rather humid and doesn’t feel at all Christmassy. The family of four American kids who live nearby are being very American and I actually just want to get tonight over with and try again tomorrow.

I have bought Mrs 6000 a few little Christmas gifts, and it’s just struck me that – having hidden them from (her) prying eyes – I have no idea where they are. It’s a search which must take place shortly in order that she can have some nice things tomorrow morning, but one that I have limited enthusiasm for at the moment.

As I mentioned previously, I am feeling very disorganised this year, and I’m assuming that this is a symptom of things that happened this year. I will write a blog post on that, but I’m a bit short on impetus because each time I think about doing it, I realise that it’ll be a long one and no-one will read it.

Right. Let’s get this Christmas gift treasure hunt started. Because you clearly can’t give what you can’t find.

All done?

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It’s the lead up to Christmas. Religiously speaking, we don’t celebrate Christmas, although I believe that there are some who do. However, I fully admit that we have somewhat hijacked the holiday period in order to have… well… a holiday and to celebrate the end of another busy year. I’m not ashamed to behave this way: it’s a great excuse to see family and friends, and at least try to escape the slings and arrows of the frankly outrageous fortunes of the previous twelve months.

I don’t think we’re alone in this ‘borrowing’ of late December. Experience suggests that this is a practice shared with many other heathens.

I like to spread my festive period as widely as possible. Things are a little different this year, due to circumstances that I may go into sometime, but I like to have things done by yesterday – the 21st. And by ‘things’, I mean the shopping, a good spring clean of the house, the wrapping of gifts and the roasting of chestnuts*. Then I can fully relax.

So, did I manage to get all th… no. No, no I haven’t. I’m some distance from being ready, and we’re about to head off to an all-day braai in Fishhoek. And that leaves tomorrow, because the 24th is fully booked up and the reindeer traditionally bring the fat bloke in later that evening.

I want to be done. I’m not. There’s a strange sense of disorganisation  around me this year and I’m actually rather uncomfortable about the whole thing.

 

* it’s currently 33ºC outside. Any hot, festive foodstuffs can actually like to voetsek.  

Ex Mass

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I say this every year now, but it counts every year.

I’m not a religious person. From that point of view, Christmas means nothing to me. But as a time to wind down after a hard year at work, as a time to spend time with loved ones, as a time to reward my kids for their hard work and effort this year… well, suddenly it’s everything.

Whether you are celebrating for religious reasons, for personal reasons or even if you’re not celebrating at all, have a wonderful day today.

Blogging advice

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“Whatcha doin’?”

That was Scoop who wandered into the room and saw me at the computer.

When I explained that I was going to write a blog post, she asked what it was going to be about. I told her that I didn’t know (this is often the case when I start a blog post) (and sometimes when I finish one too) and asked for suggestions.

“Something about Christmas!” she replied, instantly.

Well, ok then. Her wish, my command and all that:

There’s Aalsmeer (just south of Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam) (literally translated “Eel Lake”) Brandweer (it’s Dutch for “Fire Station”, in case you hadn’t guessed) and their interpretation of the best Christmas song ever (don’t @ me).

Lovely. The best part being that they didn’t aurally torture us for more than 62 seconds.

Tomorrow: possibly more offspring-suggested blog topicary. Or possibly not.