I hope everyone had a good Christmas and are managing to avoid the lurgy which seems to be doing the rounds, comprising of sore throat, swollen glands, hacking cough and general feeling of wanting to lie down and do nothing (perhaps the last symptom is one's usual outlook so ignore that one), and managed to survive the festivities.
Drove up to London on Christmas Day. Freezing fog most of the way so lights on and drive carefully and watch, with my usual bewilderment, as cars shot past me at the speed of light and being impatient and cutting me up. No need for this at all as the roads were practically empty and doing a ton past a little red Nissan Micra was a total waste of time. Ah well.
This was the first Christmas without my mother, the first Christmas without my daughter Kathryn but the first Christmas with Florence which made up for it and she was a joy, as always. She seemed to genuinely be interested in all her toys, but homed in on the smallest and cheapest one there - a pair of maracas which she waved about with gay abandon, nearly knocking my eye out at one stage. She also enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper...
Helen and James gave me a Kindle for Christmas which was exactly what I wanted for my trip to Australia and was thrilled to bits when I opened it up. Loads of articles in worthy newspapers about the ebook v the paper book and I cannot understand why this sort of journalism gets people het up. Surely one will not replace the other, there is no compulsion to buy an ereader if you don't want one and the two can live together quite happily side by side. The joy of opening the pages of a book will always be my main love but nothing wrong with the Kindle being employed where it is most convenient and useful.
On the way back from London I dropped into PC World and came out with a little notepad, another piece of technology which is coming with me to Australia as I intend to post and blog about my journey while I am out there. No, you are getting no relief from Random - didn't think you were going to get away from it did you?
I have just been watching the cricket highlights from Melbourne so can now go to bed a happy woman but just wanted to drop by to let you all know that I will be absent for most of the week as I have my lovely Auntie Kit's funeral to attend in Brighton. I will be back on New Year's Eve to wish you all a Happy 2011.
Au reservoir
