Santa Claus

This little Santa from Prague is rather more elongate than the usual jolly, rotund figure, and therefore is more adapted to squeezing down chimneys. Or maybe it is the strain of all the preparatory work for the big day and then working a 24 hour shift travelling the world fortified only by mince pies and sweet sherry. If it wasn't for the little Christmas Tree with star which he's holding in his hand, you might think it was Gandalf the White dressed in red robes.

Today Wifie, Black Bob and I have been at home, the first time in all the years we have been married that we've been in our own house on Christmas Day, cooking our own Christmas dinner. And much as we have previously loved our trips abroad and visits to family, it was such a relaxed and enjoyable day (despite the prevailing greyness outside). The chief cook did suffer a period of failed concentration and coordination following imbibation of an excessive amount of a very fine red wine. Fortunately, Wifie the kitchen elf was standing by to take over and ensure that everything appeared on the plate uncarbonised and at the same time.

Today's soundtrack for me has been Ryan Adams singing Friends. It isn't the standard Christmas musical fare, though it does have a reference to Christmas. This is a time to think about absent friends, and there is a certain poignancy about the lyrics for us at the moment.

Thank you very much for all the lovely comments on yesterday's long-awaited otter blip. I suspect there were quite a few people out there who were relieved as me that I have finally bagged the blip.

Merry Christmas everybody.