Boxing day

It's over again, temporarily! H. made the annual greedfest most agreeable over two days, with a short respite for kiddos' presents in between. Peter Ballocks was sedated by a sliver of hash, but still adept enough to turn out delicious scallops mornay. This year instead of a sit-down gorge-out there were soups, crudities inc. asparagus, hors d'oevres and amuses bouche for the taking, along with mulled wine and eggnog. As a grazer by habit, this seemed a practical model to adopt. Much more comfortsble to have handpicked mouthfuls rather than force fed pabulum.

It's a matter of pride that both the kiddos' big presents were small but well received. Big Wan is booked for a London midweek break with his Auntie Neez and babby Aaron, while wee wan is plugged into her new camera-equipped mobile phone. Both these gifts are really for me; to allow wee wan some growing independence at the end of a mobile tether, and to foster the close relationship between an auntie and her godson. I'm not sure you can fit that in a box.