Melbourne

I've got a sore throat and am feeling a bit stressed out... I probably won't go to Christmas at my sisters. Maybe just send Merry Xmas texts. Lemmy gets to deal with me instead.

I finished a practice piece, challenging myself to just do the work and not get it perfect (ie get bogged down). It is done and I learned a lot on a couple of skills I set out to practice but I still hate it in another way. Also it was digital not traditional so I worry that I'm just taking shortcuts rather than training muscle memory and learning properly.

I've made a boo boo. I bought Chardonnay to have with limoncello but I've realised it's pinot noir which if not mistaken is red bubbles. I do have lemon, lime and bitters mineral water so I could just use that instead.

Instead of a White Christmas, it's looking to be a Wet Christmas instead.

It's rained 33mm so far and is 11C feels like 1C here in Ballarat. I think that's enough, surely. Alas, no. And I didn't bring any warm socks. Stoopid...

Christmas pudding icecream made, roast turkey done and carved and carefully stored, last of the presents wrapped, arguments between the other adults in the house mediated. Tablets taken for sudden migraine caused by the arguing. Minipeelers and I went to bed, a little subdued and somewhat downhearted about the arguing. Could they not even have one Christmas without it? Just for a change? Just once?

The Minipeelers really got involved in the food prep this year and I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with them. A treasured family member who lives at the end of our street came to visit in the afternoon, which I thought worthy of cracking open the Bailey's Tiramisu I received as a gift from a colleague. Bloody nice, so smooth.

There is a bird on a nest just outside my loungeroom window and there is a baby bird. It's only a blackbird, but they're not a problem in my yard and far from pestiferous. I find myself hoping they're ok in all this rain, and worrying about them a bit.

Potatoes are prepped for tomorrow, which is my contribution to Christmas dinner done.

I tried to interest Miss Meow in the festive season, however as a black cat who is still rather fond of her Halloween house she has decided to continue with her Halloween celebrations indefinitely instead.

Mr Woof has declared that if some fat guy and a herd of raindeers land on the roof he will be barking them on their way just like he does with the possums, so I don't think he can be said to be getting into the spirit of Christmas either.

I guess experiencing the joy and magic of Christmas through your children's eyes does not really work with fur kids.

oh noes , it's the giant Ted Cat. Just look at how huge he is compared to that normal size Christmas Tree. 🐈🌲😱😱😱

spoiler

First batch of shortbread is in the oven. Bread is rising. Xmas tree is up. :)

My back neighbours are having a Christmas Eve rager. They’re drunk singing “simply the best” at the moment.

Fallout 3 GOTY free on epic. Daily freebies for xmas.

Limoncello is some poignant stuff. So many possibilities.

I used to record short clips of me singing Christmas songs each day in December in the lead up to Christmas and send them to a bunch of my friends over Facebook Messenger for a laugh. I called this event my Bradvent Calendar.

This weather is reminding me of the first year I did it, 2017. This was the second Bradvent Calendar clip I ever made which I recorded while it was piiiiishing down rain. It flooded pretty bad that year.

http://sndup.net/r9s4

does anybody have any experience with massage guns? Could you recommend any good ones?

I need it specifically for knee pain (relieve ITB muscles) and also calf muscles for my Achilles Tendonitis 😩

Watched The Holdovers last night. Now that was a good film and an Xmas one no less. Aside from the setting and characters feeling very authentic, the film's writing and direction really had the solid and unpretentious feel of films from the 70s. It's a slow burn and there's no jawdropping twists or anything, but the characters felt so real. And there's no pat, easy endings either.

Batteries - purchased, along with stuff I sorta needed but didn't want to make a trip solely for. Tree - up with large lights after the original ones failed. Last batch of chocs - made. Loungeroom - to be tidied after I have a breather. Decorating - will be done tonight as is traditional chez ours. Hoping you're having a good one, DT.

Anyone else watching Carols By Candlelight? It used to be a family tradition but it’s getting steadily worse and worse every year.

Hooray wall of rain.

tm will be better.

We will miss this over the next decade.