Christian Solstice Days - Monday 27/12/10

It has now become a standing joke in this family that every Christmas when asked "What would you like?", my reply is invariably "Peace and quiet". It is now so predictable, and perhaps depressing, no-one asks any more.
Well this year I came pretty damn close to getting it. Granted, it came at the cost of a stinking cold, but a streaming nose and nasty cough definitely make it easy for people to leave you alone. I made the effort to be present for presents. Trouble is, we have three Christmas days. One with Emma's Mum and Dad, one with Emma's sister and husband (plus kids) who come up from Farnborough on Boxing Day, and yet another at my parents the day after.
One major difference of this Christian Solstice over all those previous, is there are actually things we want and need. At the minute its warm stuff, but anything functional is welcome. Preferably something that enables us to produce something for ourselves.
I might even go so far as to say I'd be happy to trade my peace and quiet for a good thermal base layer...

M Jones

Sleeping Starkas - Saturday 23/10/10

I am officially declaring last night as the last sleeping starkas night for this year. Why? Because its been bloody cold recently, and despite being a 'hot' sleeper i've managed to contract a phlegmy cough and a runny nose. From this day or rather night, forth i shall include donning a t-shirt in my bedtime routine. Another reason for mentioning this, is not only is it useful to note, but i would hate to think there were men out there, naked and shivering each night because no one had taken the time to tell them it is now too cold. There. Conscience cleansed.

Took a stroll upto Kits at 13:00 to find him in the dark, reading a book and suffering from a monster hangover. Left him to it. On my return, i observed that wonderful sight synonymous with country living and often pictured in school history textbooks. A human chain unloading 200 odd bales of straw. My feeble excuse of merely observing and recording failed to hold water and i was swiftly press ganged into the ranks.
But around here, if we work hard, we play hard. So at 16:00 the gathering to celebrate Melissa's 40th Birthday began to muster, and around 23:00 an exhausted and beer filled me, made and devoured an egg sandwich, and gladly clambered into his bed. Leaving on his shirt.

M Jones

All But The Hardiest - Sunday 25/07/10

After a lazy morning, went to Emma's mums for Sunday lunch. Stuffed myself and promptly curled up on the sofa for a snooze. Didn't last long...ended up watching Oliver Twist with Fran. Feeling pretty crap after catching one of those deadly strains of cold. The type that would fell all but the hardiest of individuals. Lucky I'm such a hero!
I maintain its Emma's fault. I'm a hot sleeper that wears the minimum in bed and normally starts the night with the bedding half on and half off. Now SHE insists I sleep to her right and because of the end of the bed she's chosen, for our heads this means i must sleep by the window.1)  This is most incredibly inconvenient. It means i have to clamber over her in the morning as i am normally the first up and 2) it means the cold air from the window is funnelled onto me through out the night. Due to my state of undress, this has resulted in a fatal cold.
Things are gunna change around here...!

M.Jones