What a strange period it is between Christmas and New Year! It's like everything is on hold! i was at work yesterday but it was really quiet and dull. i'm glad I took today off.

It was a great Christmas, despite having to work the three days preceeding Christmas eve which were incredibly quiet at work! Christmas eve was spent with J and her family - we had a great time playing silly games and didn't leave until midnight; by which time S was getting VERY anxious that Santa would go to our house and find us out and not leave any presents!!We checked his progress on NORAD and S was relieved to hear he'd only just passed over London.

The girls woke us up at 8 am Christmas morning which was pretty reasonable of them. We opened our Santa gifts then went downstairs to open the rest of our presents aided by a pot of coffee. The girls seemed thrilled with their presents - K was especially delighted by her furry boot slippers. I'm lucky to have such appreciative kids. I started cooking dinner and it was an hour late but as we had no guests it didn't matter! It was probably my best ever Christmas dinner as I wasn't stressing about it.

Afterwards I fell asleep watching "Monsters Inc". We basically relaxed the remainder of the day; watched some TV etc. I tried phoning K in Canada but had no reply. Did get through the our friends in CA and we all took it in turn to chat to one another - it was lovely.

Boxing Day was lovely too with P's parents visiting for the day. Wednesday we didn't do much although S and I visited J in the afternoon. Yesterday i was back at work and in the evening had a great visit with another site friend. We all played this PS Monkey game which was a lot of fun. K was undisputed champion of the night!!

Today is very wet and windy so I think I'm going to stay home. I might tidy out my drawers (I know how to have fun!!!)

Not sure yet what we are doing for new year. My local friend JW wants us all to get together; we just haven't decided which house it will be at yet.

In February I wrote

I suppose a friendship is in a way the most flattering of relationships as it's based primarily on liking and is not coloured by family ties or desire or need. It still fills me with incredulity if someone likes me - then there's the fear that if they REALLY know me they won't like me...

Ok, i've decided to take myself firmly in hand and stop feeling so bloody gloomy or I'll spoil Christmas for myself and probably the family too.

Last night I went to see "Casino Royale" with J and i REALLY enjoyed it - great film and James Bond was incredibly sexy. I certainly had good dreams last night. In the morning Jane and I went for another long country walk which was lovely - exercise and good conversation at the same time. I had lunch today with CL - it's been a while since we saw each other and it was really good to catch up on each others news.

I wish i wasn't at work the next three days. Tomorrow night is the Helsby Coven's night out. We're just going to a local pub for drinks and nibbles. can't drink much tho' as I'm working Friday.

Just about ready for Christmas I think - just some more food to buy!

I haven't felt like writing in my blog for a while - for several reasons. I've been working loads of extra hours recently and I also developed this cough virus which is still lingering. We have had some difficult issues to deal with on the Corner.

K from Canada is back in hospital awaiting an operation to help her breath. I'm very low about that. I have called her a couple of times and she sounds really weak.

Christmas is so close but i'm struggling to find any festive joy. I think I'll be glad to see the end of 2006. It's been a strange year. I've spent much of it with my mind and emotions in turmoil. I think I'd like a bit of peace in 2007.

I don't feel I like myself much at the moment. So I'm going to work on trying to be a better person for 2007 also.

On Monday I spent some time taking photos in Liverpool Cathedral with my friend J from the Corner. She is such a tonic to be around as well as being a great help with my picture-taking techniques.We had a good time.

I guess after the holidays are over we can start planning our trip to Chicago and CA in the summer.I really hope we can see Mafia Wife and sample one of those big donuts!

I can't sleep!
It's VERY stormy here tonight and in our attic room you can hear every gust as well as the rain hurling itself at the windows. I came downstairs to potter around on the Corner and shortly I'll go and sleep on the sofa downstairs!!
Can hardly believe it's December!! Where has this year gone? I have very mixed feelings about Christmas. It's going to be much quieter than last year - in a way it's nice that it will be just the four of us but in other respects I'll be thinking rather sadly about "absent friends" and what a busy, interesting festive season it was last year!!
P and I are going to brave the Christmas shopping on Monday. Liverpool has a Christmas market which should be fun so we'll check that out.
Today (Sunday) we are going to my in-laws for Sunday dinner (roast lamb...I can't wait!!)and then P & K are off to watch Everton.
I wish the rain would stop!! I wish the dawn would come!

I just talked to my friend in Canada. She is in the hospital again. I was shocked at how weak and tired she sounds. She is also worried about her mum, who is sick too and waiting for test results. I miss her so much. More than I could ever express. She is one of the bravest people I know. I wish I was there with her.

She knows me inside out, warts and all, and she still likes me. I'm so lucky to know her. I miss her. I miss her SO MUCH.