Happy New Year

Nothing much new going on. We had a lovely Christmas with lots of presents and eating until we burst. I managed to roast a duck and a pork belly for Adam, and a lot of veges for me. Thankfully we had some foil cooking trays so I could fit everything in the oven. And Grandma's christmas pudding was a success. Trying to shop for xmas dinner stuff was actually quite difficult. i had always associated sago and gravy boats with England, but sago was eventually tracked down in an asian grocery store in Oxford, and gravy boats in an Australian shop. the kittens were also thouroughly spoilt, they got new toys from us, santa, thierry (soph's kitten), and in their cracker. but their favourite toys are the the freebie fluoro pink rattling mice that came with a bowl.

For Boxing day we went to town - London that is - for the football. We drove, because in England there is no public transport on xmas and boxing day, and got stuck in the worst traffic jam ever bar none (don't forget that the sales start as well...). and then we had a lovely second xmas dinner with Kath's family, with yorkshire pudding, brussel sprouts and homemade pies for dessert.

New Years' was quiet. We went up to spend it with some dutch friends in oxford. we thought we would start drinking at theirs, watch the fireworks at midnight and then head out to one of the pub strips. But the fireworks were almost non existent, the streets deserted and the pubs already having lock-ins. i know the students were away, but really, we thought oxford would be more lively.

And otherwise life rolls on. our pumpkins make good soup and pie, and presents, and there are still many left. the trains are getting worse. the only time i have had decent luck with them was during the gale force winds when the train drivers had to clear trees from the line by hand. the crocuses (crocii?) and snowdrops have just come out, just as the cold comes back. we had a month of wet and mild over xmas, with lots of flooding. and the hosepipe ban was only just lifted.