Lots of words coming.
Friday started with a run into work that was nice apart from the initial hill climb. Probably 8-9km. Friday at work ended later than it should have, I guess, because I finally found something interesting to do in the afternoon. So I worked until 5, chuffed off home, bimbled around for a bit and then headed over to Putney to babysit my god-daughter Madeline whose folks, Sal's brother Adam and wife Michelle, were out at a Christmas dinner. Putney. Carshalton. Liverpool. Richmond. Kings Cross. Charing Cross. So many places with English names. Anyway, Putney for the evening and Sal and I watched the entertaining-yet-really-crap Transporter 2, a movie that highlights the limited range of Jason Stratham (sp?) Maybe he should have quit after Lock Stock. Along with Guy Ritchie. We slobbed on the sofas and looked after Maddie, who was running a bit of a temperature but after one minor whinge went off to sleep. When I have a kid I want one like her; she is fantastic, the most good natured kid I've known. Around midnight the parents came back, Adam with a small knife wound to his hand, inflicted by...well, partly himself because he grabbed the knife Michelle's boss's wife had been waving around at him. We had a chat and headed up the coast to Sal's folk's place and crashed out. I am fairly sure that was it for Friday.
Saturday started hot and humid and stayed that way. I helped Mike cut the lawns, braving the spiderfest that was the back and front garden. The washing line out back and power line at front where the hubs of two humungous spider networks. But the spiders were, I think, the benign kind (won't kill you instantly) and therefore still managed to scare the shit out of this arachnaphobe. I then decided to head out for my long run. Big mistake. I got to the nd of Manns Road after around 30mins and felt awful. I was cooking, my legs felt hot, I'd sweat far more than I should and decided to walk home. I wandered towards the racecourse, let myself cool a bit, wandered back to Manns Road and started jogging back the way I came. In the end I ran for 30/15/5 minutes with breaks in between. It tried to rain and failed and the cooler change forecast for the afternoon did not arrive. I had a stretch, sweated some more, had a shower, sweated some more and then compounded stupid idea 1 (the run) with Stupid idea 2 a beer. In quick succesion Adam, Michelle and Maddie arived, then Jo, nigel, Jax and Jesse. Or the other way around. Mara joined us later and Christmas sort of started with chatting and playing with the kids and a few drinks. Nige, not used to red wine, ended the night shabbiest and went to bed litterally blind in one eye, slipping down walls drunk. He did not look too bad ot me as Saturday ended, probably because I had a bit of wine on board. With the house near full I was sleeping on the balcony of Mike and Mauren's bedroom on an inflatable mattress. As was Sal. Until I disturbed her as I stumbled to bed. So when I ot up next morning I found myself alone outside and Sally curled up with Mar on a mattress in Mike and Mareen's walk-in wardrobe. Oops.
I realised Nige must have had a shocker when everyone said he had and when he arose at around 10am on Sunday, some 5 hours later than he usually does. And he didn't go to check the surf. But he seemed to pull up OK.
Sunday itself was a day of peparation for Christmas Day. Presents were wrapped, and in my case bought. Sal and I went to Erina to finish off our shopping and get c-o-f-f-e-e. An essential. We tagged along with Adam and Michelle. While we were there it rained. A lot. Booming thunder heavens opening soak you instantly rain. Roads running like rivers rain. Really impresive rain. Sal, excited at the prospect of gardening in her garden (where else?) chose her presents and got cutting and digging and hosing and gloving and reading things. The romance of home ownership. With little energy in the house the menfolk had some beers, wine and friut based drinks were had by the non-pregnant ladies and kids were entertained. There was a suggestion that we head out to se the new Bond movie but...y'know...effort. It didn't happen. People drifted off to bed and once they had Sal and I crashed out in our new bed, the sofa in the lounge. Tomorrow would be a early start and I had to be sharp(er) as I had the honour, being most recent grownup addition to the clan, of being Santa and distributing the presents on Christmas morning. Thankfully no dressing up was required.
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