cheers for that. I am eating goulash tonight, not sprouts, but I will take care not to overcook it. Have the merriest of Christmases...

already consumed here, Will hold off the booze till later or I'll end up on the floor like that pope fellow.

from Bargepole

Turkey approaching perfection, sprouts ready for steamer, Solstice bells ringing out. Peas and love to all.

Family Twang
xx

uncorked and breathing (2008 Negroamaro), turkey stuffed and about to enter the oven, The Dark Side of the Moon blasting out

all is well here, I hope it's as good with you

cheese, love and cauliflower power man
Blast

at the Bell at Skenfrith - feeling replete and ready for a doze on the sofa with my Christmas pressie ('The Grateful Dead - Stage And Studio Equipment')

Hope you've had a good day - The Light, The Lids and The Outlaws are out for a walk. I've done the clearing up and am having a quick blog while I can.

Anyway, in tribute to you VV - I've chosen something suitably vulpine. Connolly/Priest/Tucker/Scott - would smell as The Sweet by any other name

from the Pirrip household.

We are pacing ourselves here with a light lunch and an early afternoon stroll before hitting the turkey this evening. iTunes updating to match new hardware (pressie from me to me). Mrs Phil's mum has the crossword book out - cue communal solving - and there are mutterings about the sun being over the yard arm and sherry.

Sitting down to dip into Jonathon Green's Dictionary of Slang later.

Regards to all

Phil

The turkey was lovely. The trifle was heavy on the custard and cream (I love my FPO - she spoils me) and our little girl did the 'He's been! He's been' to charming perfection this morning.

All in all a marvellous day in our house.

Hope all of yours was just the same.

... and a gear New Year to all.

And all of you.

Just back from the family 'do' and about to collapse in front of the telly with something restorative at my side.

CDs from the family to play later - Joni from the GLW, Slits and Animal Collective from the boys. Books to read, DVDs to watch, spirits to be consumed.

After the worst possible 2009, the signs are that 2010 will be happier times chez Waring.

In stressful times, this place has been an oasis of joy that has helped keep my spirits up. Thanks to all of you for being here - for your thoughts and kind words when needed, but also for the joy of civilised debate, the meeting of common minds and - most of all - the streams of mindless bollox that entertain me more than anything the Murdoch Empire streams into the Towers.

And enough of the flouncing already!

Dear VV a seasonal thanks from someone with more reason than most to be grateful for your kindness's .

To all a peaceful and healthy 2010 .

but happy Christmas to you all. And best wishes for the new year.

To all of you.
We had a good day. The dinner went down well. I poured plenty of wine to help the menfolk forgive a slight dryness of the bird caused by a long phone call from little miss pogs (in India) at the height of the preps.
Cutthroat Trivial Pursuit on the Wii after dinner but the honours ended about even. Thankfully.
And Mr Pogs completed my Gene Clark collection. So hopefully some of those country tunes must have hit the spot.