And all through the house, himself and yours truly were darting about. The presents were snuggled all under the tree, and visions of sugar mice danced through Flipper’s head…* Well, something like that, anyway! 😀
It was a bit of a slow-ish start this morning, but just about everything (apart from the wrapping) had already been done. There was mail to pick up from the Post Office, and a few “last minute” items to get (aren’t there always?!) and I managed to get in a bit of Rifting, until lunch time..
We wrapped all the prezzies this afternoon, but instead of putting them under the tree (because there wasn’t enough room!), we put them on my half-moon adjustable desk, in front of the window (where they’ll have a good view of the city) – the Motta Panettone went under the Christmas Tree instead. The kids arrived about 7.30pm and we had a bit of chatter and discussion before Lee and Kate started making the Eggnog – the recipe says “serves 12”, but it all went, even though I didn’t have any (no, not even the teaspoon that I said I might try, just for tradition’s sake!) Julian had two glasses, Neale, Terry and Kate had a glass each, I think, and Lee…. drank the rest? (well, she wasn’t driving! 🙂 ) Anyway, it was all consumed – not even enough left to leave a glass out for Father Christmas to drink with his shortbread bikkie! Oh well, I’m sure he won’t mind, just this once 😉 Then we had our annual reading of The Night Before Christmas; it was Julian’s turn to read it this year (so I suppose it’ll be my turn again next year *grumble* *grumble*) we all take it in turns to read the story aloud, going from eldest (me) to youngest (Kate), then Julian, then me again. After that, and more chatter and discussion – would you believe that the discussion included Federal and State politics, judicial judgements (Julian’s sister, who is a Federal Court Judge, has just delivered a judgement on a case involving a really strange woman who thinks we can cure Ebola with homeopathy), some possible similarities between homeopathy and the placebo effect, and universities and university studies? Then it was time to “hang” the stockings. Well, we don’t actually “hang” them, as we have nowhere suitable to put hooks, but we stand them up/lean the up against (the front of) the back of the couch. I’ve left it up to himself as to where we put Flipper’s bedding for the night, as it normally lives on the couch cushions… Poor Flipper will be most put out! 
She’ll probably elect to sleep in the Den tonight…
It’s now 10.45pm – when I finish this, we still have the fill all the stockings, check our Minions, and collect our Patron’s gifts before we can retire for the night. My present is finally under the tree – it appears to be a long square box, and I have no idea what it is! I don’t know if it’s a couple of smaller things, disguised in a long square box, or if it’s a telescope! I wish it was tomorrow morning…
Weigh-in this morning was a pleasant surprise – I was down to 111.4kg! 5 points (a whole 1/2 a kilo!) down from yesterday! I’m really chuffed! 🙂 It’d be nice to be down a bit more again tomorrow, but I doubt that I will… I’ll probably spend another day at 111.4kg (though I did do a lot of running around today – bent over double because of my back – but still, running around – surely that has to count as “exercise”? 😉 ) Anyway, we shall see what we shall see in the morning… Christmas Dinner will consist of the same items as those I had for The Great Double Birthday Bash – my Optifast bar, and a glass (or two) of mineral water – and that’s cool, it’s only for one Christmas, not the rest of my life! 🙂
Now all that remains is for me to wish you all a very wonderful, happy, and above all, safe Christmas, and may your version of Father Christmas bring you everything that you desire! 🙂 Stay tuned tomorrow night for a blow by blow description of our Christmas Day, what we all got, and how much everyone ate (on second thoughts, maybe I won’t go into that! 😉 ), and what my scales and my sometimes recalcitrant body decided between them to give me for Christmas! 😉
Merry Christmas, everyone! 🙂
*With apologies to Clement C. Moore…
My Word! 