erilyn | Well, that went as smoothly as could be expected

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has (or had) a good day. We rushed around doing things this morning (I knew Christmas eve was a bit peaceful! I even had time to go over and bother

iibnf for a couple of hours), then my brother and sister-in-law came over to exchange presents. With their two dogs, who also got presents, and gave us many licks in return.

Anyway, we then had to shove them out the door and pack up the two eskies and two baskets of stuff to take to my aunt and uncle's place. Had a lovely lunch (must get the recipe for the Italian-style stuffing she had in the turkey, so good), and got to watch the carnage my cousin's four young kids can inflict on a pile of presents. It's quite awe-inspiring. The eldest is a great reader - it's a bit like looking through a time machine at myself. She's also a bit of a drama queen. Hmmm. Anyway...she adores the Mr Galliano books by Enid Blyton that I found for her last year (which I'm very chuffed about, cause I loved them too, I don't know why they're out of print), and she was very happy with Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (and was already starting to read it in the middle of the party).

It was a gorgeous day - sunny, warm but not too hot (low thirties) with a lovely breeze. Went for a swim with three of the kids late in the afternoon. Swimming with a child attached to your back is a good workout, I should do it more often.

Am still dressed in half the cossie and a sarong, and am going to settle back with the good champagne we were having this morning and leftover nibbles, and start on the popslash secret santa stories. Ah, joy.