It has been busy here in Waffle towers. Lots of seasonal things: present buying; tree purchasing; card sending; Christmas partying.
We went to see “A Christmas Carol” in the Gate on Tuesday night. It was a pricey enough family outing. It might have been more successful had the children been a bit younger or, in the case of herself, more cheerful. She was tired, it was a school night, she had lots to do and we were forcing her to be there. All true but not information delivered in a manner calculated to please her mother who had envisaged a fun Christmas outing. “I’m not sitting beside Michael,” she said, “as we filed into our seats, “he makes noises when he consumes culture.” This set the tone somewhat. The second part was better than the first and, at the end, Michael hopped up and gave an enthusiastic standing ovation. He was standing alone for quite a while but, in the end, he brought the theatre with him and everyone stood up.
On the way out, I got chatting to an elderly gentleman (typical enough of the patrons of the Gate) who was making slow progress out due to a bad knee. “You would never think,” said he conversationally, “that I was once the Irish under 17 sprint champion but I was. I met Jesse Owens, I knew Jesse Owens. Did you know that the person who first got him interested in running was an Irish-American in his school called Charlie Reilly?” I did not but I’m willing to bet he was in a religious order. The children upbraided me for talking to random strangers and we went home.
I got my annual haircut. My hairdresser firmly resisted my requests to chop it all off but it is, at least, a good deal shorter.
We have carols in the church on Friday night – Daniel is doing a reading; we’re having some people around for drinks on Sunday afternoon and then my last day of work before the holidays is Monday; I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it is unlikely to be anyone’s most productive day at work.
How are your own preparations progressing?
That not-exactly chop-it-all-off is very becoming.
Preparations here are slow.
Gifts are mostly sorced though still unwrapped. The turkey and ham, free-range and local of course, are ordered. There is a naked tree in the corner as the ‘child of the house’ who leads on these matters is still at his low-end Rialto accommodations. My baby and hers are heading north to partner’s parents for the day itself. So, no much arranging there. At a chapter’s end and withan interesting year in prospect. So, all in all, trending positivly…. as they say.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas, and the 2020 of all hopes and expectations.
Congratulations on finding a haircut that lasts all year. I assume there’s a messy bit in the middle where the fringe grows out. I finally gave up getting my haircut at all about 10 years ago and so far it’s working fine although it’s one step further along the road towards ‘mad cat lady’
With longer hair you look like your daughter. I assume that offends both of you. HappyChristmas.
Conor, hope Christmas proved as peaceful as promised.
TM, I am embracing my inner mad cat lady, I defy anyone to tell me it’s a problem.
Charles, only her, I’m delighted.