Surely it can't be Christmas already?

Well Jesus, Mary & Joseph - it's Christmas already!

Firstly a combined thank you and humble apologies. Thank you to those of you who sent us Christmas cards (& presents), you will be heartened to know that you made me cry...thus ruining my image as the cool & sophisticated urbanite that I am...and sincere apologies to those who will not be getting a Christmas card from us. There is a reason for this though, and the reason is that I am horribly disorganised. And you would be shocked at the extortionate prices they charge over here to post stuff at Christmas - it's about $6 for a card and postage to the UK - and I am skint 'cos I am too slack to work. Actually the not working thing is starting to seriously irritate me, but I shall not ruin your reading pleasure by whinging on about how terrible it is to be a kept woman. I'll save that for the New Year. So, executive decision: rather than spending loads on christmas cards etc etc, we will focus instead on birthdays. How's that sound? Wouldn't you much rather get something pointless and lightweight (under 2kg or it costs loads to post) on your special day?

Speaking of special days, and before I forget, Jo & I have some exciting news on the coming to Europe front. Yes, we've actually booked our flights. We will be arriving in Finland in time to attend Sini & Ali's nuptials (hmmm, jet-lag & vodka, should be interesting), and from there it's just a quick hop, step & a jump to London on 18th February 2006. Jo will probably only be able to stay in the UK for a week, seeing as she has a job and all, but I'll probably stay for a couple - so start booking me into your diaries now...and remember I can easily be bought by promises of food/alcohol/weeping & tales of how much you've missed me...Hopefully the south east London menagerie (consisting of Maija, Jan, Catherine & Vicky H) will be happy to share me like the cheap floozy I am, but I am hoping that I'll get to spend at least one or two drunken evenings with everyone. I'm trying to act all cool about it, otherwise I'll make a pillock of myself as soon as I see you guys. No doubt you will soon be receiving grovelling emails asking if we can stay at your place.

So, Christmas in NZ? It is sunny, and it doesn't feel like Christmas. At all. I suppose for me Christmas is all about it being cold & miserable, very dubious television programmes, Christmas lights & heinous music, Eastenders and scoffing way too much food off a giant plate waiting about 3 hours and eating way too much of the same food (only cold with branston pickle) and drinking alot. And mince pies. So far Christmas in NZ has been none of the above, but it would be very weird if it was considering we are in the middle of summer - but I am pretty sure I can maintain the traditional consumption of enough food & wine for a small family by myself, so all is not lost. And I think Jo's dad has some Branston pickle stashed somewhere. Hurrah!

As for news of me over the last couple of weeks, not a great deal to report. I've been trying to learn my road code so I can get a learner's licence and start terrorising the locals with my driving skills - might even try to get it tomorrow so I can cause the traditional Christmas row by having a driving lesson during the festive season. Amy was on the radio this morning reading a Christmas short story (v. weird hearing someone you know on the radio doing acting & stuff), the dog is growing quite rapidly and getting very bouncy indeed, and we're off to a gay campsite for New Year. I can't wait to get back and blog that! Some have suggested it may cause emotional distress, but I reckon I must have seen worse at Pride, surely? Expect tales of my steely death stare and Jo's repetition of the phrase "there's just no need for that".

Well, ho ho ho...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU, DEAR READERS...like the sarcasm?

Wish you were here - maybe next year, eh?

lots of love
S & J (& G)