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I guess I could mention the week we spent visiting my folks in Saskatchewan in October, although it won't take me four days to talk about it. We didn't do much, surprisingly, considering how much there is to do in Big River. Every day we'd go for a walk and stop at the restaurant at Third and Main (that would be "Third and Main") and Blake would have an inappropriately large breakfast since it was only an hour until lunch, and I would have a muffin or a cinnamon bun or something.

One day we went down to Shellbrook and met an old friend from high school, who had had a baby in October. It was good to hang out with her, and we still get along as well as we ever did. Sometimes I ponder her life, how she still lives in the same little town and the same neighbourhood as she ever did, married, no career to speak of, basically living exactly the same life that her mother lives, and I wonder if she's happy about that or what. She seems happy. Her life is very simple. My life is very much like hers, for that matter, except mine is in a big city and her isn't. I don't know where I'm going with this. Sorry, folks.

It was nice to see my parents. They were pretty pleased with Delphine, although neither as effusive nor as affectionate as Blake's parents. I'm not sure why not. I guess they're just English. I don't know... my relationship with them is so phone-based now that when I actually encounter them in person it seems more like an abberation than anything.

Anyway, if you haven't seen them already, I have pictures from the trip here.

Christmas is going well this year, so far. I've bought presents for everyone, and sent them off, mostly. I sent a package to my cousins in England way back in November, and I just sent off a package to my parents and a package to my brother. My bro got a box of pfeffernusse, a chocolate-covered marzipan, and a note saying I bought ten fruit trees for a needy family in a developing country. My parents got similar notes (rabbits for my dad and poultry for my mother), also pfeffernusse, a Christmas pudding, a bucket of whiskey-steeped Stilton for my dad and a whole heap of dietetic candy for my ma, and an electric towel warmer. I hope that makes them happy. I'm actually a little nervous that they won't be pleased about the charity stuff, but for god's sake. They're adults, they shouldn't expect a big heap of presents for Christmas. Especially since they only like what I get them about 50% of the time.

So presents are done, except stocking stuffers for Blake. Decorations are all up; I put up the tree (with matching blue and purple ornaments, all non-breakable), I put up the little white lights around the windows, I put up the bell wreath on the front door. Baking isn't done -- I made the Christmas pudding back in October, I made the pfeffernusse last weekend, but I'm still going to make mince tarts and maybe shortbread the weekend before Christmas.

We're not having many people over for Christmas dinner, only Morgan. (Erik will be here for breakfast on Christmas day but he's going to his dad's place for dinner.) So we'll have breakfast and open presents in the morning, and then have dinner: roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, brussels sprouts and radishes, and sweet potato crack. Christmas pudding and brandy butter and mince tarts and whipped cream for dessert. Good god, I love Christmas. I can't wait.