a perfectly normal run-up to Christmas

It seems like a life time ago when we had a few very wintery days with frost and bright blue skies and beautiful scenery. Now we are back to normal Glaswegian winter weather - a bit dull, cold but not freezing and always rain in the forecast. I do love a bright winters day. It is good for the mood and I always imagine the sun is such strong enough to help me make some vitamin D. The frosty clear days are so much more photogenic than the dull grey days!

I have finished work (although it never quite stops) and for the past two days I've been busy catching up with long overdue chores and Christmas preparations. A sparkling bathroom is always very pleasing but I am even more pleased with the newly scrubbed porch windows in the newly tidy porch. Welcoming without all the grime and the smelly shoes tidied away.

Alistair celebrated this 14th birthday and I am glad he has forgotten that this is the age where he can get a gym membership and go train by himself. The drone with camera that he wanted for his birthday has not materialised either, for which we can all be grateful. Richard did take him go-karting with two friends. The teenagers thought it was amazing. The adult on the other hand disagreed, declaring it almost as awful as the grimy laser tag place Alistair wanted to go to last year. I fear it might be my turn to suffer next year, should a similar experience be wished for. I wonder if i could suggest a ballet performance instead?

Jack is on cage rest most of the day. After a poorly enforced house rest for the past 5 weeks, he now had some further investigations, confirming that he has a ruptured cruciate ligament. Chasing squirrels in a garden with lots of walls comes with risks. My heart breaks every time he looks at me with his wounded brown eyes. Don't you love me anymore they seem to say. Alas, conservative treatment is probably less traumatic than orthopaedic surgery followed by complete cage rest for six weeks. I am glad he is a small dog because for larger breeds, surgery appears to be the better option. We got a second opinion from a wonderful student of mine who also happens to be a small animal vet and there is agreement with the treatment plan. No long winter walks this year.

I bought a Christmas tree on Sunday. The transaction took about 3 minutes, which is an all time record. Everybody wants a tree but it is my job to get one. The reason I am given is that I am picky with trees, because on one occasion in the distant past I inspected maybe five trees for suitability. The lack of a lovingly decorated tree would naturally be a matter of complaint. Only James could muster the motivation to help. Such is the enthusiasm for Christmas in the house. I wish we had a local rent a Christmas tree option. Maybe a business opportunity for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit? 

The annual Christmas meal argument has concluded. What would you like to eat mum, I get asked with great reliability. Then we have the one thing that I definitely don't want, a big roast of beef with all the trimmings. Why are you so fussy, I am asked, we always have to accommodate your picky eating habits. Only we don't. We've had variations of roast beef since memory began, my picky eating habits are dissected and then ignored, with the main effect of me feeling guilty about not liking big roasts. This year Richard is making me a stuffed portobello mushroom dish that I chose and can eat instead of the beast. 

I had my nails done today, a dark red, matching the red on a stripy jumper I bought recently in the sale. The jumper has a very fine sparkle weaved through and is a bit scratchy but the many colours make me happy. I was also scheduled to get my travel vaccinations today but the pharmacist called in sick. Instead I finished a pair of knitted socks and I ate two big fat slices of Stollen that Richard made. It was still warm. 

Now I am waiting for the washing machine to finish its next load. 

I might be back before Christmas but maybe not. Have a wonderful Christmas if you are celebrating and an equally lovely time if you don't 🎄🎄