vyvyanx

Well, we are now back from the Christmas festivities. They began on Christmas Eve afternoon, when we went over to

robinbloke's for food, drink, films, games and merriment. Played Chez Geek, watched Split Second (which G had gone to great lengths to obtain on video), Gamers (hilarious, again), Titan AE and lots of Futurama. Great time, lovely company. Spent night at R's, then he drove us back home on Christmas morning, where G's dad came and picked us up a couple of hours later.
Spent next couple of days with G's family near Welwyn Garden City (parents, brothers and great-aunt), eating much (mm, chestnuts in port!), watching TV (b/w original of Gladiator, first part of 100 Greatest Musicals) and going to the pub.
Saturday morning, G's mum drove us over to my parents' place near Thame. They've just rethatched their house, which looks very nice. Early that afternoon, my distant South African relatives Con and Rose arrived, and soon after my strange vegan actress aunt Christine. There was much talk of genealogy, African wildlife, and politics. After they'd gone, we watched the rest of 100 Greatest Musicals, during which my father seemed disturbingly interested in Denise Van Outen. Then watched more TV - BBC2 seemed particularly good this year, with Grumpy Old Men, Room 101, Red Dwarf, The Fast Show, Top Gear special and some very macho thing about the SAS.
So, a traditional Christmas for us - too much food, booze, television and relatives! It was fun, but it's good to be back in our own flat tonight. We're now enjoying our various presents: I received three books on astronomy, a quantity of blue sweets (!), a LOTR t-shirt and the new Machine Head album (which has some great guitar solos). And of course, a wonderful pair of binoculars from G, to help with stargazing (unfortunately, the sky has been cloudy the last few nights, so I haven't managed to try it out properly yet). G has a new headset for gaming, and some rather nice whisky (well, nice if you like whisky, which I don't). We also have a bottle of Amaretto! Oh, and thank you to

dreamingchristi for an amazing luminous multicoloured pen!