dear santa...

One week left in November 2006 - is it trite to say something like 'where does the time go'?

Our friend has returned to Leeds with the winter - she'd laugh if she heard that since a big part of leaving Leeds was escaping the winter! At any rate, it's great to be welcoming someone home rather than sending them off.

I still haven't figured out what I'd like for Christmas. I cringe at the price of books - especially when I'm a member of one of the best research libraries in the UK - I don't like technology; I have a mobile. I suppose I could use new trainers for the gym as I've been using my squash shoes...but then, I've been using my squash shoes and they've worked so far! Stuff for my garden? I don't think I can carry seeds into Britain from Canada. Kitchen gadgets? The only kind of technology I like! but then, anything quality is heavy (a very dear friend once carried a pasta machine to ours from Canada - very very dear!). Besides, our kitchen is the size of a closet and pretty much full. Clothes? How dull. Jewellry? I don't really wear much and I'm not much of an accessories person. Shoes? YES but kind of a strange thing to ask for - I'm not sure why, but people don't tend to buy shoes as gifts...

Am I one of those people? One of those impossible-to-buy-for people? I don't think so. It's just that I usually feel like my family knows me better than I know myself - that and they are all those people: you know, the can-find-perfect-gift-for-anyone-anytime people.

For me, I prefer thinking of all the lovely things to do at home:

* watch telly with Grandma and Papa - they've always had the most comfortable floors - great soft carpetting.
* practice Gran's recipes (with her expert supervision) - she doesn't write anything down so every year I try and learn how to make those things I've taken for granted.
* have breakfast with mum and dad in the kitchen - with CBC on the radio and The Globe and Mail on the table
* chat with mum in the kitchen - I don't know why, but we always have the best chats in the kitchen while making food.
* dinner-discussions with dad! And game-night...we'll have to think of a new one for this year (last year was Cranium year...)
* go to Vietnamese place with aunt and uncle - my dad's sister is probably the greatest aunt ever and they know the owners of the best Vietnamese place...
* go out with sibs et al. - my sibs don't get nearly enough coverage on this blog
* meet Nina - this is really part of the last item...

'See everyone from home' is just too big...but I really hope we get to see some friends that we missed last year, and our newly-wed friends in T.O.

But to do all of that, I need to:

* finish chapter
* finish teaching
* pack
* pick up Christmas puds from Harvey Nicks
* get train tickets to London

Huh. What's the day again?

Oh yeah...just to tease...I've got the special-est gift ever for the bro this year...!