bonus

Hurrah for double-glazing. Although it makes Nicky's parents' house unbearably hot in the winter when they have the heating on full-blast and during the spring and autumn when they still have the heating on full-blast and during the summer except when even they grow too hot and open the windows a little it means that by sitting out in the garden and shutting all the windows and doors now that the evening has grown cool enough to cope with it I can no longer hear the deafening-volume weird McEthnic unlistenable music Nicky's dad started playing after getting back in from the post-prandial cycle he really shouldn't have gone for considering his potential blood alcohol level and all the other little things he has to do following the replastering of the extension.

The only problem with being outside is of course the bastard midges. At the moment I can only see them but it's only a matter of time...

Safely upstairs now, disturbed only by the strange sound of Nicky attempting to teach her mother some basic French phrases. A few minutes back they were looking at eBay for lanterns. Maybe at some point the connection will be made clear.

***

Part of the reason for this weekend's visit (apart from obviously wanting to visit out relatives and watch the wedding DVD and pick up various things we left here in May (including my beard trimmer without which I have been getting slightly unsightly over the past month)) was for Nicky to get to poke at all her wedding gifts. I realise that they're technically my wedding gifts too but seeing as crockery and glassware forms the vast majority of it I cannot help but feel a slight detachment from it (although I lobbied vigorously for a style which would minimise the detachment when we went round inspecting the various types available) especially as we don't have anywhere to keep it all. It was all tested this evening with some nice garlicky food but has now been temporarily stuffed into a cupboard in Nicky's old room until we have a living-place large enough to cope with it.