happy christmas!!
what can i say about xmas in england? at every holiday meal here or at someone's home, we've had crackers at our dinner plate. i've never seen them before, but my sis says she's starting to see them seep into the US. okay, anyway, they're fun. two people pull at either end of the cracker and they pop open with prizes inside. usually a paper crown, jokes, factoids, a couple prizes, then we pop those little champagne bottle-shaped poppers that are filled with little confetti paper streamers. today's xmas lunch table was covered in cracker debris, streamers, all grown adults wearing colored paper crowns, playing with little toys, setting the christmas pudding afire with brandy, and drinking port while trying to beat each other at Connect 4. it was fun nonsense.
after our pudding (aka dessert) a few of us headed out for a walk along the waterfront. down the corner bumped into a handful of villagers, stood chatting on the sidewalk for a bit. strolled down along the beach huts toward the harbor, passing lots of people out for post-lunch walks, half of them in their wellies (rained a lot today), everyone wishing each other a "happy christmas" and stopping to watch the sun set over the Channel. it's straight out of a Dickens novel. they sure do love their evening walks here.
on the down side, our hostess is now consumed by the Queen's Wrath. she's holed up in the parlor tonight by the downstairs loo as not to disturb anyone else. this is the first time she's stricken with it, and we really hope this is a one-time thing and doesn't make another go-round through the house. the baby is taking longer to get over it (this is why aunties don't have to change diapers).
we were going to head to dover on saturday then to france on sunday. i wonder if i should just head to paris for a few days starting tomorrow or thursday to get out of the house and away from this virus, meet them in calais on sunday, then head to london for the rest of the trip. i have no idea. but we already lost 3 days here being sick from this (on a rotating basis) and i'm not about to spend my new year's in the loo again. gah. i hope it's a one-time thing. just when i'm at 100% again.
12/26/2007
headed out to portsmouth earlier today and the outlet center. cute little city, very industrial but has some neat WWII era forts overlooking the Channel. ferries, warships, military academies, soccer stadium, and a gorgeous boardwalk along the Channel. too bad france is too far away to see across the way. ;)
we DID have christmas pudding with brandy butter and cream! my sis won't touch the stuff w/ a 10 foot pole, but i gave it a try. it's a bit tart for my taste, but not bad. an acquired taste if you're not used to it. tonight we had trifle for dessert, but it's not my thing.
just returned from the pub. had to get out of the house. the pub across the street closed early for Boxing Day, but the one up the road was open. they really take their Boxing Day seriously here. tomorrow we're up early to head up to Stonehenge then Bath. oddly, my sis has been here a half dozen times but really hasn't left the village. it's me that's dragging her hubby about driving us, although i told her she could legally drive the rental. i'm sure between the two of us we could figure out how to drive on the left and read the road signs and negotiate a roundabout. i'm considering returning in the summer so i can visit Highclere Castle, and renting a car while i'm here.
at any rate, wrapping up for the night since we're getting an early start in the morning. oh, and i learned a new term for something "rare": as rare as hen's teeth.cracks me up every time.
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