Christmas afterglow

I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I had a really lovely Christmas. It was quiet, just myself, Mr Grumpy and a friend of his, who I shall refer to as Mr Double-Grumpy (D-G for short). Mr G gave me a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas. Remembering how hurt he was (and still is) that I still haven't started using the HTC smartphone that he game me LAST Christmas, due to an attack of extreme technophobia which culminated in my being so cackhanded at working the touch screen that I managed to delete not only most of the icons but also some of the inbuilt instructions that made the thing work, I knew I had to make an extra effort to master the Kindle.

And I did! I managed to RTFM (Read The F---ing Manual) and download some books. I still haven't connected myself to Facebook, Twitter and email on it, but, having read five chapters of Eileen Thornton's highly entertaining ebook, Divorcees.biz, I declare myself up and running and a fully-fledged member of the Kindle generation.

I gave him a Trail Camera, aka a Stealth Camera, one which you stick in the garden to photograph passing wildlife, as it's movement-activated. With any luck, it will capture the evil faces of would-be burglars, too. And the padded gilet I also gave him, in a khaki shade to blend him in with the foliage, will allow him to watch the camera watching the wildlife, and with any luck he will lurk among the bushes for so long that I will be able to watch all my favourite TV progs in real time, for a change!

Seriously though, the turkey he not only prepared and covered in herbs and spices down at his friend the butcher's, but cooked, too, was absolutely delicious, as were the roast spuds and parsnips. And my sprouts and carrots were okay as well. As Mr G doesn't drink, and D-G was driving, I drank all the wine by myself, then stuffed my fat face with chocs, as I was given a Thorntons hamper by my lovely employers at Writing Ltd. Yesterday was a non-day. Bilious was an understatement. But today I feel fine and am even looking forward to my New Year job of toning down the sex scenes in my book. (Any bids for the unexpurgated version, anyone?!)

Happy New Year to you all!

 (photo by Joan Byrne)