Couldn't have been a better Christmas Day than today. It started at just before 7am (as every year) with the kids and their stockings on the parental bed. (yes, the 17 and 18 year old still like theirs too) Then the binge begins with a hearty english style breakfast (in the pyjamas), followed by getting dressed up for theday and then the traditional opening of the presents around the tree (to the sounds of Benjamin Britten's ceremony of Carols)
Today there was some big stuff, and as before we secreted this or parts of it around the house and wrote little riddles to help the recipients find their presents, thus providing the only exercise or the day :-). Following this a retreat into respective corners to contemplate the new aquisitions (I love my new iPOD, thanks Carol)
Then onto the dinner preparations, in readiness for the arrival of our guests around 2pm, who arrive promptly allowing binge part 2 to take place: Paté & Champagne -> Turkey & Barolo -> Christmas Pudding & Coffee followed by a reassesment of stomach expansion capabilities
Combined with the company of old friends makes for the perfect dinner. Three hours after the start, we finally drag ourselves away from the table to continue our celebrations on more comfortable chairs ..... and so on to the end of the day.
Thanks go to Nils & Christine for sharing our Christmas day with us and making it all the more enjoyable for the sharing.
I hope your Christmas day was as joyful as ours.
Thursday, 26 December 2002
Tuesday, 24 December 2002
Sunday, 22 December 2002
Tree is Up
Last bit of christmas shopping, a couple of hours in the (home) Gym for the first time in nearly 2 weeks due to the cold and then finally up with the christmas tree makes for a satisfying day.
I love putting up the tree with the family right from the potting to the final placing of the star atop. I think it looks rather grand in its Red and Gold attire, dont you?
I love putting up the tree with the family right from the potting to the final placing of the star atop. I think it looks rather grand in its Red and Gold attire, dont you?
Saturday, 21 December 2002
I Hate Copy Protected CD's
I have just bought a copy of Gregorians "Masters of Chant III" only to find that it will not play on my PC. As I primarilly listen to music at my PC and on my MP3 player which requires the use of a digital transfer, this CD is next to useless for me.
The only warning on the package to indicate the problem was an almost unreadable copy protection message. I consider this an infringment of my rights to play this music in the way I feel appropriate. The CD is unfit for the purpose for which it was sold.
Since the advent of electronic music distribution on the Internet and the availability of PC playable music I have personally purchased more CDs than previously, and I know this is true for many of my friends and aquaintances.
When will the music industry realise that it is cutting its own throat with this stupidity.
Of course, this didn't actually stop me from copying the CD, and their is always the analogue record which with my nice quiet Audigy card and a bit of Wave editing I'm pretty close to the original digital. Anybody want to exchange their purchased CD's for rippable versions?
The only warning on the package to indicate the problem was an almost unreadable copy protection message. I consider this an infringment of my rights to play this music in the way I feel appropriate. The CD is unfit for the purpose for which it was sold.
Since the advent of electronic music distribution on the Internet and the availability of PC playable music I have personally purchased more CDs than previously, and I know this is true for many of my friends and aquaintances.
When will the music industry realise that it is cutting its own throat with this stupidity.
Of course, this didn't actually stop me from copying the CD, and their is always the analogue record which with my nice quiet Audigy card and a bit of Wave editing I'm pretty close to the original digital. Anybody want to exchange their purchased CD's for rippable versions?
Thursday, 19 December 2002
Hypocrisy or What?
Getting pangs of guilt for going on about preparing for Christmas, because actually I'm an atheist (or maybe agnostic, I just can't be sure) and I guess in many people's eyes that would make me a hypocrite or just somebody who rides the bandwagon of modern commercialism.
I look at it differently:
I believe that Christ was a man who did a whole lot of good during his life, and taught a lot of people some pretty good rules for good behaviour either while he was around or through his followers. Celebrating the life of a good man who died because he was a good man would probably be enough reason for celebration. More than this I think Christmas is a celebration of all that is good in us, and of all the things that should make us thankful for being humans, and most of all for celebrating and showing peace and goodwill to our fellow man.
Hey, its got to be good to do that once a year regardless of religious persuasion.
I look at it differently:
I believe that Christ was a man who did a whole lot of good during his life, and taught a lot of people some pretty good rules for good behaviour either while he was around or through his followers. Celebrating the life of a good man who died because he was a good man would probably be enough reason for celebration. More than this I think Christmas is a celebration of all that is good in us, and of all the things that should make us thankful for being humans, and most of all for celebrating and showing peace and goodwill to our fellow man.
Hey, its got to be good to do that once a year regardless of religious persuasion.
Prague at Christmastime
Just had the dubious pleasure of a day trip to Prague on business (the inside of a meeting room in Prague looks pretty much like the inside of a meeting room in Zurich or London or .....). I did however get the chance to walk around the city late last night and it does look rather splendid in its Christmas attire. The squares all have their grand Christmas trees and their numerous market stalls all selling their local wares and plenty of "Grog" to ward of the cold. I especially liked all the old style lamposts with their yuletide stars atop, and of course their is Wenceslas square, but no sign of the good king stepping out.
Glad to be home though with only two more whole working days to go before a nice break from the daily grind!Hopefully I can get my voice back in form (cold still there) before the annual trip to church for christmas Carols. I can smell the Turkey cooking already. I reckon I'm almost as exited as my 11 year old.
Sunday, 15 December 2002
Birthday and Christmas Smells
Today was my middle's 17th Birthday and as usual the celebration was mixed with the preparation for Christmas which we like to celebrate with fervour. The house is therefore full of delicious baking smells revealing the ethnic mix of our origins and our current home.
This unique mix of Zimtsternen, Vanillegipfeli, Mince pies and Samosas and the numbing effects of G&T and white russians set the relaxing tone for the evenings celebrations at the local Chinese restaurant. I just hope the lingering cold doesn't destroy me before the day is over.
All this jollility has forced me to at least make the home page a little more seasonal and jovial. Hence the new theme complete with new photo (from this year's holiday in Bali).
This unique mix of Zimtsternen, Vanillegipfeli, Mince pies and Samosas and the numbing effects of G&T and white russians set the relaxing tone for the evenings celebrations at the local Chinese restaurant. I just hope the lingering cold doesn't destroy me before the day is over.
All this jollility has forced me to at least make the home page a little more seasonal and jovial. Hence the new theme complete with new photo (from this year's holiday in Bali).
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