warning: cynicism

The railways have just introduced a new timetable over here, which means less trains, and probably a fare hike in the new year. And of course 'new timetable' is a euphemism for chaos, so all the trains are running late. So far it has been surprisingly convenient, as when I have been running late, there has been a selection of three late running trains to choose from. I don't expect it to last.

Adam has finished our new fence. it is a masterpiece, straight as an arrow, forced in around the crappy layers of asphalt and concrete, and random bits of buried metal spikes, that make up the history of the driveway. it took considerable time to get it that way. of course now Adam has decided the next project is to rip up said driveway. bye bye lazy summer days.

The Christmas lights were turned on in Didcot at the end of November at the Christmas fair. Adam and I braved the hordes and the cool (really couldn't be described as cold, but getting a bit nippy) to witness the Victorian themed parade with the green santa and lots of ghoulish children - a Florence Nightingale inspired theme apparently, but one that makes use of the Halloween costumes. There were rides full of screeching teenage girls. There were wall to wall people on the street, and then people with strollers trying to push through them. There were games where everyone wins a 2p prize, and it only costs £2 to play. There were raffles for every charity, school, and political party in the area. There was fairy floss, fudge, lollies (hmmm, lolly isn’t in the UK word dictionary), roasted nuts, roasted pork with applesauce rolls for adam, and pecan pie for me.

And slowly the town have been turning on their Christmas lights. I thought some were going to be tasteful, just a light smattering of twinkling white lights. But it must have been the weather holding them back, because this week the light smattering has become just the base coat, almost obscured by the blow up Christmas Simpsons, and a range of lights depicting the reindeer, santa arriving, climbing a ladder, etc. Maybe they should do a google Christmas night time map, so you can see where the worst light pollution is. I’m a bit cynical today aren’t I? I will get some Christmas decorations, sometime. But the kittens are already very excited, so they will have to be kitten proof.

And of course with the lights is the silly season. We seem to have had at least two Christmas events per week for the last three weeks, with many more to come. And of course you can’t get near the shops. Big yay for online shopping, even though we had our first non-authorised purchase: £30 on a dating website for single parents. As a result of which we found out they don’t cancel your bank card when they replace the old one.