Wassailing

After the longest night, Lorraine and I lay in bed sorting out things for Christmas (thank God for online shopping) and had breakfast, making lists about food and so on as the sun slipped into Capricorn for the winter solstice. Spoke to Mum whose conjunctivitis seems improved, and her eyes no longer photosensitive. Vampire mode off. Then Lorraine and got to work in the spare room, and I did the loft clambering.

I made some lunch and we were just digesting this when Lorraine had to go and help Pat and Maureen. I tried some yoga style stretches and so on from an app I bought in bed this morning, and slept for an hour. Lorraine when she came home with fish and chips. I am festively plump at the moment, with all the socialising. Already part of me is looking forward to getting back on the Zoe waggon after Christmas.

In the evening we made off in our Christmas jumpers to the Welly for beer and carols with Yvonne and Brian, Beth and James were supposed to be there too, but Beth was shattered through overwork and having a cold. Delores was there however. Chairs very much in demand so we got there early, and bagged one, which was a tricky. Then a good deal of singing of carols, from old favourites like Silent Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem, through to Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody and White Christmas. I enjoyed bellowing the songs with everyone. Having read that Anglo Saxon book recently it reminded me that this sort of thing, crowding into a room to sing and drink, has deep roots in the culture.

Home to watch Manchester City be beaten again on Match of the Day, which was rather fun, and then we crept up to blissful bed.

Below Brian and Yvonne in the Welly. Delores in the background with a white headscarf. And the Kennys, who were sitting opposite with our backs to a big screen with a fire on it. Strangely it gave off lots of heat.