Merry Christmas to you all!

Plus best wishes for 2009 and lets hope it is better than 2008. Not that 2008 has been a particularly bad year, but I thought 2009 would need some encouragement.

.

The Christmas presents have been opened, the turkey (half), potatoes, parsnips, sausage meat stuffing, paxo stuffing, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower have been eaten. After watching the Vicar of Dibley on BBC Canada we had a little Christmas pudding just to top it all off.

.

Outside is cold after the freezing rain last night. The drive is like an ice-rink and the wind means the temperature has a significant windchill so we will not be venturing out today. After the double G&T and half bottle of wine I am not sure how far I could wander .

.

Below is a photo of our Christmas Tree before the presents were unwrapped. This is for Gemma who is currently in the UK staying with her Boyfriend and his family until Jan 8th 2009.

This is the one from the back garden which I despatched with the Chainsaw (in 20 seconds). I had some great presents this year, infact one of my best years for David type presents.

Engineers compass, telescopic hiking walking staff, express compact battery charger, lock knife with firestriker, severa; shirts, couple of pair of chinos, DVD(Poirot) and a complete suprise combined Christmas Birthday present from Kathryn of a Garmin GPS . I am looking forward to trying out all my presents over the next few months and on into summer.

.

Oyster Event this Christmas Break.

1. Kathryn brought home a dozen oysters, oyster knife and a cooked lobster. That became our Christmas eve supper. I managed to push the Oyster knife right though my left hand it didn't break the skin on the back of my hand, but it did push up the skin between the knuckles..... it made Kathryn turn postively pale. I was a little shocked and just pulled it out, then as a man toughed it out with washing and putting on a plaster. See photo of entry wound below

No casualty dept for me. However I did wake up about 5am this morning and my hand was throbbing. I started to wonder how much of the Oyster's bodily fluids made it into my hand, and was Oyster bodily fluids poisonous? Oh well it's nearly 24 hours and it still looks the right colour if a little stiff between the knuckles.