Dec 2006 b

Mon 18 Dec 2006
Shire meeting in the Shakespeare's Head Pub. Amongst the meeting's business there was a popular call for the New Years Day party to go ahead. We had considered not running the party, as we feared most people would be out of town, but we were pleased this would not be the case.

Thu 21 Dec 2006
This morning we awoke to a thick fog shrouding most of London. Kinda cool.


Fri 22 Dec 2006
Last day of work for the year for Jen. First real frost of the season - neg 3 degrees at 10am. After work we each attended respective after-work parties.

Sat 23 Dec 2006
Wait for the postal re-delivery of several boxes. Christmas came a little early! The pressies inside the boxes hadn't been wrapped by the suppliers as our gifters had expected. Nor did the boxes say they were Xmas gifts. Thanks guys for the gifts!

Sun 24 Dec 2006
Last minute food shopping for the next couple of days. Otherwise, we stay in and have a nice relaxing holiday. A few phone calls from Aus came through this evening as Xmas has already begun there.

Mon 25 Dec 2006
Christmas!!!


Above: Steve got the racing set from secret Santa at his workplace.
Below: We decided to take a walk around Stratford and experience Christmas Day here. We have never seen the place so empty.

Above: the local shopping mall was 100% empty except for us. When the loud speaker announced that the Centre wanted to wish their customers a Merry Christmas, Jen said "they mean us!"
Later on this evening we enjoyed more wonderful phone calls from family and friends.

Tue 26 Dec 2006
Another holiday relaxing together.

Wed 27 Dec 2006
Steve goes back to work but Jen remains on holiday.
Jen looks to buy a car, discovering a few station-wagons available in the right price range in Southend-on-Sea. Luckily, we know some SCA friends who live in that area. Call them up, and were instead heartily recommended to purchase from the fellow who sold them their car and services it: a father & son business. So Jen phones the guy up. He says - I've just cleared my stock, but what are you after and for how much? The end result was "gimme a week". So we will see if he has a good vehicle to sell us next year!

Thu 28 Dec 2006
Steve goes to work and Jen potters about at home, working on some sewing projects.
We went to the movies and saw Eragon. Disappointed in Malkovich's performance, and overall it was quite a standard but watchable movie.

Fri 29 Dec 2006
Steve goes to work.
Sales! Jen goes bargain hunting and comes away with shoes, 2 pair of boots, a silk shirt, a red coat, a green leather jacket, leather gloves, two hats, some jewellery and other assorted things - and well under her budget too!

Sat 30 Dec 2006
Met up with Dan and Elizabeth and walked through parts of the British Museum. Also checked out a few gaming shops for Steve. Walked to an excellent bead shop as well, then on to Leicester Square for lunch.

Sun 31 Dec 2006
Steve does food shopping for tomorrow's party and Jen tidies and cleans.
By the time we are meant to depart for a New Year's Eve party, Jen is so tired she pikes out and rings with our apologies. As it turned out, Steve was overjoyed to receive an unexpected call from his Mum at about 9pm.

Mon 1 Jan 2007
Get up and start cooking!!!
Today we held our traditional Recovery Party (New Years Day) with breakfast served from 10am to 4pm.

Our guests arrived after 11am, and here's what breakfast looked like (above)...Morde, are you drooling? After some food there was the playing of a game called "Munchkin" plus some Dragon Banner painting.

Above: Afie says "Rraaahh" whilst painting the dragon.

Above: Jen eating curry (very mild of course)
For dinner we had take-away. Steve is very much enjoying the fact we have three curry places within an easy walk of home.