After a quiet Christmas with just Karen and Nigel, basically it’s been day trips during Mirinda’s extended leave over the break. We had goose rather than turkey which turned out not to be such a good idea as I think I poisoned us with it’s richness. Mirinda and I had very bad stomach pains Christmas night and I threw up!
I bought Mirinda a guitar for Christmas and have been entertained each night with her practice. It’s lovely hearing her sing and strum rather than fretting about work.
On December 27 we celebrated Dawn’s 40th by going into town and seeing one of the most appalling West End shows ever! It was Rent (Updated). Truly awful. We only stayed because we were with Dawn and Nick but, on our own, we would have left after ten minutes. A complete waste of £100.
We had a lovely early dinner before-hand at Wagamama’s. Nick told me that Dawn wants to split – she wants her freedom, he said. This led to a long discussion about his short comings on the train home with Mirinda.
We visited Marwell Zoo on December 29, which was excellent. Saw an okapi! Having stood outside the Lucy exhibition in Houston waiting for Dawn and reading about them, it was great to see a real one. Truly bizarre animals.
Alas, the capybaras were on their winter vacation.
Today we drove over to Wisley Garden. Amazing place though very crowded. The weather this Christmas has been mostly mild and cloudy but it hasn’t stopped the masses attending this sort of spot. Masses of cars. Fortunately it’s so big, the masses only obvious in the glasshouse.
There were lots of amazing orchids. I took some great close-ups. One of them had a tiny hair on a petal. I’m sorry to say that I removed the hair digitally. Only because it was right in the middle and the first thing you’d see.
During dinner prep I listened to Lenny Henry on Radio 4 presenting the Best of 2007. Some very funny programmes I missed.
Watched The Devil Wore Prada. Meryl Streep a brilliant bitch. Film very stylish and mostly funny.
After dinner, I did some family tree stuff. Traced back a few generations of Claire’s Isle of Man ancestors.
The Christmas TV fare has been a tad mixed this year. My Family was a bit forced and the end peculiar – it was like they didn’t know how to end it. To the Manor Born was simply awful. Why Penelope Keith did it is anyone’s guess. Maybe she signed the contract before reading the script. Ballet Shoes was excellent with Emilia Fox outstanding as usual with an interesting performance from Victoria Wood. Dr Who, with Kylie was, of course, superb.
