journal of a writing man

We had our Buck’s Fizz (champagne and fresh-squeezed orange juice) and then we opened our presents.

 My hoard consisted of a couple of jigsaw puzzles, a boxed set of Pam Ayres audio books on CD, a sweater and a shirt, a USB2 500gbyte external hard-drive and, deliciously, a pair of ‘heritage’ Kef Corelli speakers from the 1970s to go with my study hifi system.

The latter now consists of a Quad 33/405 preamp/power amp, a Quad Fm3 tuner, a modern Toshiba CD/DVD player, and the aforementioned Corelli’s.  I’ve yet to hear the whole system working together but I expect to be lulled into thinking of long-ago nights of Bach and whacky-baccy.  Graham knows me so well on all of this, but there’s no way he’d tolerate the whacky-baccy.

Graham’s presents from me included a rather smart and up-market coffee tamper, the full set of Muppet movies, and a pair of AKG K701 headphones.

Now it’s heads down for cooking our lunch, aimed for hitting the table at 14:30, in time for The Queen (Gawdbless’er) at 15:00.

And then, a well-earned nap.

We’re really, truly enjoying our Christmas, in our own way, and I hope yours is as successful in whatever way suits you.

I may be back later to report on the Doctor Who Christmas Special;  if not, and the brandy I’m slurping just now may work against me by then, do please enjoy the rest of your day.

Tuesday December 25, 2007

All’s quiet here in the little brick house. Dolly’s curled up on my kitchen chair, Graham’s gently snoring through the last of the night and, outside, there’s a soft, soothing rain to wash all the haste away.

I’ll probably report back in, later today, when we’ve entered into the jollity.  For now, from the peace and quiet, Merry Christmas to us all.