Dongle Merrily On High!!!

Well, it isn't ideal but since Sky Broadband are unable to reconnect us until December 30 (we tried to transfer our phone to them last month and have had no internet since then. Join my Facebook group 'Sky Broadband Stinks' for more info*) I am currently fighting with the rest of the crew to use Carb Addict's laptop and dongle. I couldn't list anything on eBay and I've done my Christmas shopping old-style....in the shops, in other words. A pain in the crotch but not the end of the world. So the first thing to go was the internet; then just before the final of Strictly last Saturday the TV gave a terrifying crackle and died. Luckily (but to my shame) we have four other tellies in the house so were not too inconvenienced. Phew! And now the third thing (and they always, ALWAYS come in threes) the fan in the fan oven stopped working this evening. The cooker still works, thank goodness, so we won't have to cook the turkey on the barbie or in the dishwasher but still.....what a drag :(

In other news, Mexico was great - relaxing and hot. We slept a lot. Drank a lot of cocktails. Read stacks of books. Swam a bit. Sightsaw (is that a word? Sightseed? Saw some sights). Big Man snorkeled with massive great turtles. The beaches were beautiful. The people are friendly and very hard workers. I ate a pulled pork sandwich at the Hard Rock Cafe in Cancun that made me so ill I truly thought I was going to die thousands of miles from home and was laid up for 48 hours. We went to some ruins. I'm not gonna bore you with photos but we enjoyed ourselves enormously. 'Nuff said.
Work has been just crazy, really manic but it's just about done. I've organised parties; mince pie-making sessions; tree decorating; present wrapping; Secret Santa....tomorrow I have to buy and wrap seventeen old people's Christmas gifts then I'm done. Oh, and Big Man is playing Santa to them on Christmas morning, suited, booted and ho-ho-ho-ing for all he's worth with me as his gambolling helper. Fun fun fun!! I have my three babes at home for the holidays; presents just about all bought and everything wrapped; turkey crown and gammon  - if you want a gammon recipe that is to DIE for, try this one) - coming out of the freezer tomorrow; house all decorated (and our tree looks fab, even if I do say so myself); parcels posted off around the country AND received in one piece; I just have a lil' bit of food to buy, make my chocolate log (really a chocolate refrigerator cake with loadsa buttercream icing and my ma-in-law's vintage decorations on top) and yummy trifle a la Delia; and I'm ready. No stress. No worries.


I hope everyone's Christmas is everything you want it to be and that Santa brings you whatever your hearts desire. Rest up, take it easy, enjoy your families! As long as you're healthy and you're all together everything else is gravy. Merry Christmas!!!!! XXXXX