All Over Bar the Shouting!

Now we're on the count-down to the end of 2006. I wonder if 2007 will go as quickly as this year did! I think it will be even quicker, unfortunately! I want to be a kid again when the years seemingly went on forever!

My Christmas Day was quiet as I'd hoped it would be. A couple of friends popped in for a little while in the morning for a glass or two of good cheer and then they went on their merry ways. I spent most of the day reading quietly in my little corner of the world. Not a sound could be heard in my neck of the woods. I was the only one stirring as neighbours in the surrounding properties were away visiting family, loved ones and friends.

Wonderful, welcome rain commenced during Christmas night, lingering throughout Boxing Day. And it's still raining at present. Not that I needed much of an excuse, but with the rain falling gently upon my roof, I didn't venture outside yesterday, Boxing Day, opting to stay curled up in my cabin with my two best friends, Remy and Shama...they had no desire to get their paws wet. With a good book, the cricket, my two little mates and wishing not to partake in the outside world or mingle with those in it, I had a very cosy day hidden away. Later, in the afternoon I cooked some scallops and prawns in a white wine/cream/ garlic sauce, sharing some with my furry two. A friend telephoned me early last night. We talked and laughed for almost four hours! And 'they' say women can talk! I had to grab a moment when he took a breath to slip a word in...and that wasn't often!!! Other friends of mine who went south earlier in December rang me before that lengthy call saying they would be back home here on the mountain for New Year's Eve. I promptly invited them for lunch on New Year's Eve. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed them since they've been away. I had nothing planned for New Year, (but piles of food) so it'll be great to have them here for one of our decadent, raging lunches! We three always have a great time. We're kindred spirits who enjoy good food and wine, mixed together with interesting debates, lots of craziness and laughter. They're coming home sooner than they'd originally planned so I guess they've been missing their 'home on the range'. I'm looking forward to Sunday when they come to lunch. Of course, my luncheons are lengthy affairs so I'm prepared for a long afternoon going into the evening, commencing around 11 am!

I know you might all jump on me for saying this, but I'll be glad when things settle down to some form of normality again. I always find Christmas/New Year kind of 'forced' celebrations, ones in which we're all pressured to 'perform'. I guess that's why now I fly low under the radar at this time of the year, only to poke my head up again after it's all over to view the 'remains of the day'.

Well, I'm off to have a long, warm shower as the rain continues to fall. The Aussies are disgracing themselves in the cricket so far this morning, so I'll add them to my list of disgusts and disappointments for the moment! My biggest disappointment of all....naaa...I won't tell you....I'll keep that to myself! I'll let the soothing water of the shower wash away my 'blues'. May the plug hole welcome them with open drain pipes!