Happy New Year

I have managed to find time to escape to the computer to write this. I am not doing anything clandestine; it is just that with my mother staying here for two weeks, as well as Kay on school holidays, I am distinctly out of routine and have for the most part been rushing around like a headless chicken preparing and serving meals, washing up or just simply talking to my mother, who does not get much company when at home, so naturally wants to talk when she is with me. I have had a bit of time to dip in and out of my favourite bloggers' posts and even comment on them at times, but this is the first opportunity I have had to think and write.

Christmas went well. I always enjoy all the build-up and even the day itself, even if I am very busy prodding turkeys or slicing vegetables or making cups of tea. Greg was sober the entire time, I am relieved to say. I was nervous, I'll be honest, that this big excuse for a drink would scoop him up and spit him out an alcoholic again. But thank goodness, he is still on the straight and narrow. On Christmas morning, as we opened our presents, he disappeared to the kitchen and smells of cinnamon and cloves wafted up the stairs. He suddenly appeared with four glasses of mulled wine, at which point my jaw must have visibly dropped, because he immediately stressed that it was made with the Sutters Alcohol-Free Wine I had mentioned before. I think the mulled ingredients actually improved the taste!!

We were all happy with our presents - even Snoopy who was delighted with his Pedigree stocking and immediately demanded a biscuit and the opportunity to play with the squeaky Santa ball. The lunch was a success - I managed to cook the turkey and six vegetables (no two people like the same vegetables, so I had to cook a selection of sprouts, peas, carrots, red cabbage, broccoli and parsnips) all in time for a 1.30 sitting. What with starter and pudding, we were finished well in time for our monarch's speech on the TV at 3pm. After that the choice of TV viewing was a bit dire, so we watched one of Kay's presents - a DVD of Mamma Mia which made excellent Christmas afternoon viewing. No sex or violence for my 85-year-old mum and a sing-along for the rest of us. The rest of the day was spent slouching around watching soaps, Doctor Who, Wallace and Gromit and Strictly Come Dancing, interspersed with five-minute naps to help digest the copious amounts of food, nuts and chocolates.

On Boxing Day we went to a few shops to look for a few sale bargains that we needed to replace decrepit electrical items at home - the shops were heaving with people all doing the same, so we came home empty-handed, as the queues for the tills or assistants were horrendous. The next day Kay and her friends went to the West End to see Hamlet for the sole reason of seeing the lovely David Tennant, alias Doctor Who, but unfortunately because of his recent back injury he was still unable to appear in it. However, the understudy has had brilliant reviews and the girls thought he was good, but he was still not David Tennant (sigh). Kay bought home a poster of David Tennant posing as Hamlet as a consolation prize!

After five days of 101 Things to do with a Turkey (don't tempt me...) we today moved on to BEEF meatballs with pasta and there was a collective sigh of relief in the Alcoholic Daze household. Unfortunately for me, I am now going down with man-flu (aka a cold)... the right sort of incubation period since I last mixed with the human race on Boxing Day. I am coughing and wheezing, but so far it has not developed into anything else. I imagine I shall spend New Year cuddled up to a hot-water bottle and sipping hot tea and downing paracetamol. Rats! Some New Year that'll be.

As for Greg he is talking for England. He has opinions on every subject under the sun and whatever subject is raised, he can go one better. If anyone tries to get a word in edgeways he shrieks out "LET ME FINISH!!" which is very irritating and driving us all mad, seeing as we cannot even get to start let alone finish! But I guess it is still better than having him drunk. It is still early days, so he is allowed his foibles - under sufferance, I hasten to add. On the other hand, by this time next week, I may have murdered him !

I am taking Mum back home at the end of the week and staying with her for a day or two to buy in food and do a few odd jobs for her. Then back to London to start a fresh new year and hopefully a new year afresh. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and again, many thanks for your support. Have a drink on me... I doubt I shall be able to snatch one on the quiet for myself.