Sitting in Patrice's Cozy Kitchen for Today's Blether

Good afternoon, Patrice. I'm looking forward to a hot cuppa and a good yarn today. Our weather today is so mild: our temperature has been around 11C all day - very mild for this time of year, and we even had the sun make an appearance in the afternoon. Mind you, we did have winds of around 50mph all day, so it wouldn't be the weather for sitting outside. That would be too much to ask altogether.

And so to your questions, Patrice:


1. Have you baked any Christmas cookies yet?

I don't tend to bake Christmas cookies, Patrice - not ones that are specifically Christmas-y anyway. And we don't make a Christmas cake because nobody here likes fruit cake. Nope. Nobody. At all.

Over the Christmas holidays, I expect to be doing a fair bit of cooking and baking, but much of what I'll be making will have a same-ness feel about it. I tend to only make what the Builder and the kids really enjoy, and that doesn't change at this time of year. So, very boring, all in all.


2. Have you finished your shopping yet? 

You're having a laugh! Unless it's around 5pm on the 24th of December, it's very unlikely that I will have finished my Christmas shopping. 

Yes, every year is going to be different. And yes, every year turns out the same.

One point to note in my defense: I do not like Christmas shopping in November. There's something just not ... well, it's just not Christmas-y enough to do my Christmas shopping.

Add that to my general disorganisation, which plagues my life from day to day, and you get my annual last-minute mad-but-fun shopping dashes.


3. If you had reindeer like the story of Santa, what would you name them? (Be creative. Remember, they were Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Coment, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.) If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go on to the next question.

Stroll on! I had no idea! No, really - I had no idea that Santa had all these reindeer. In my deprived childhood I only ever heard of Rudolph. He must have been the main man. The top dog. Or simply the reindeer of whom songs are sung. Yes, maybe that's it.

Okay, let me think. Our (and I use our in the loosest possible sense of the word. I'm aware they're Big Brother's) rams have so far been named John Wayne, Bruce (Willis), and Sylvester (Stallone - obviously). The next one, apparently, is going to be Arnie. So, do I make my reindeer Men's Men, and give them names following on from the rams' names? It's a possibility, but I'm not sure I can think of another five hunky-chunky-men's-men after whom to name them. I know you have what's-his-name in the Bourne movies, but he ain't quite your Bruce Willis, let's face it. And you've got the other fella in the Mission Impossible movies, but he sure doesn't cut the mustard if you're comparing him with Sylvester.

It seems like real chunky hunks are hard to find. Ohhhh .... unless I began closer to home. 

Ah-aaaah - have you seen the Builder, Big Brother and Baby Brother.

*swoon*

Ahem, I'm hastily clarifying that I am swooning only for the Builder, but I'm sure others would happily swoon at the others.

Phew! I'm glad they don't read my blog!

I know I only gave you three names, Patrice, but I'm not sure Santa would need any more, if he had these three fellas to help. Yep, that's Santa sorted.

It's also time I moved quickly on to the next question.


4. What was the most memorable Christmas gift you ever gave or received?

All these Christmas questions are doing this Presbyterian's head in, Patrice. Right, let me think.

Oh yes, I know for certain the best Christmas present we gave: two years ago, completely unbeknown to our kids, the Builder and I booked flights for us all to head across to Canada and America. On Christmas morning we gave each of the kids a pack of travel toiletries, for which they thanked us....

We then asked what their presents had in common and gave them each the envelope with their tickets across the Atlantic in them! We all flew out the following April for what was an amazing never-to-be-forgotten holiday. I wish we were going to be doing the same this Christmas!


5. Please tell me something new, interesting, or funny. Also, Wendell could use some encouraging words to feel better - just saying :)

Something new:

We have a beautiful girl whom we are sponsoring in India. Her name is Mansa, and she already has a very special place in my heart.

Something interesting:

We are having major problems right now with our internet connection. That is not, by any stretch of the imagination, interesting. It is, however, maddening.

Something funny:

Our girls. Not that they're going to make you laugh, but they make me laugh so much.  


And to Wendell, well ... what more encouraging words could I give him than to promise I'll be back again next week to see him. If I could, I'd bring Jackson along - I have a feeling they'd be great friends.

I know Wendell hasn't been toddy lately, Patrice. I hate seeing animals unwell, so I do hope - for your sake, and for his - that he gets well very soon.

Again, Patrice, thank you so much for hosting our weekly chat. When we get together next, we will be really close to Christmas.