Wassup?

My god, I am woefully bad at doing this this trip aren't I? That may be 'cos not much has happened really. It's just Christmas at home with the folks.

In fact it was just me and the folks as all the other people we were expecting sort of cancelled at the last minute leading to a very weird Christmas lunch. I can't think of a time when it was just the three of us. Even when we have been in Australia there are always one or two waifs and strays at the table. Mum was a bit depressed about the whole thing, considering in the old days we used to have dozens of people to drinks in the morning and then for dinner. But I suppose that's what happens when we all get older, people die and other people have their own kids they want to spend the day with. Or they get sick which is really the reason for this years cancellations.

I had a nice load of pressies this year, mostly dvds and a few books. However some people seem intent on buying me food gifts and things made of wood. Neither of which are very easy to get through quarantine in Perth. I think they forget that I have to carry it all back to the other side of the world. That sounds really ungrateful I know but I'd sooner just have their best wishes than a gift I need to leave behind. Or eat before I leave, which I really don't need to do. I am so fat now. The gym membership kicks in on the 25th January.

I've not done quite so much mad travelling round so far this visit, which is good. I've caught up with a few friends and will be meeting some more in Manchester, which is equally inconvenient for all of us. I did go to High Wycombe for NYE with my friends. A bit weird as they were all in fancy dress even though it was just 6 of us in their house. I guess that's what happens when you have kids, the mind starts to go. I did get a visit from Tim and Alison who are over from Kalgoorlie which was nice. They'd just spent time at St Davids in West Wales. Britain's smallest city however significant that may be.

I think Ali was still excited by the snow and ice but for the rest of us it's getting a bit much now. It always seems to snow just before you are meant to do something really important. For example on the 23rd we got about 3 inches of snow in the evening, making travel really dodgy. The problem was we still needed to go and get the turkey. Luckily by the next day the roads were just about passable so the poor thing did not die in vain. It's snowing again now and we are forecast 5 inches by Thursday. Just when I am meant to be taking the folks to London to see a recording of the News Quiz on Radio 4. This, in case you don't know, is a bit of an institution and is usually hilarious, hosted by Sandi Toksvig and a few other varying comedians. This is the 70th series which makes all those long running american comedy shows seem a bit sad really, yes I mean you Friends and Frasier. The best bit is that the tickets are free, good old BBC. However even though you enter a lottery to get them they still don't guarantee seats, you have to get there early to make sure you can get in. Should be a laugh as long as I can get in. I seem to have come down with a stinking cold with a very loud coughing component. Not really what you want in a recording of a radio show. So download it from iTunes and see if you can hear me being ejected.

I went out for dinner the other nigh to the local pub in the middle of nowhere, the Road Maker Inn in Gorsely. That sounds pretty boring but this pub has a special feature as hinted at by the signed photo of Joanna Lumley over the bar. It's actually owned by four ex-Ghurka Rifles soldiers and serves amazingly good Nepalese and Indian food. I'd speculate that it is also the safest place to drink in the entire country as no one in their right mind is going to cause trouble when there are Ghurkas in charge.

I can't really think of anything else that's happened in my current Lemsip addled state. Oh and cough syrup. And decongestant. And sore throat lozenges. Problem is none of this stuff does any good, I still feel like death warmed up. Hopefully I'll be better soon and I'll do some stuff I can actually blog about.