Underground Wanderer

A few points...

1. Christmas--
This was the first year I didn't spend Christmas with members of my family and it was a little strange. Luckily, I was able to get in contact with my friend, Caryn, (who is the sister of Hope and Beth), and she invited me to come spend Christmas with her and her husband's family. So, Caryn, Mark and their daughter, Lia, came to pick me up on Christmas morning and then we drove down to South London to Mark's brother's house. Mark's mother, Peggy, was there as well and it was lovely seeing her again. (Peggy is one of the kindest women I've ever met and I can't think of one bad thing to say about her). Peter, Mark's brother, and Martin, Peter's partner, have a lovely house, (I'm so envious of their garden and kitchen), and they gave an amazing dinner. I had a traditional English Christmas dinner for the first time, including goose, red cabbage, apple and prune stuffing and roast potatoes. I also had Christmas pudding and a mince pie for the first time as well, (though I don't think I'll become a big fan of mince pies, the one I had wasn't too bad). We also watched the Queen's speech at 3 and pulled Christmas crackers, (and I bought some crackers on Boxing Day to bring back home for next Christmas. I had to explain to Peter and Martin how Americans don't have anything like it for Christmas and why I was so fascinated as a result. For them, it's pretty common).

I brought a bouquet of flowers, bottle of wine and a present for Lia. But I wasn't expecting any kind of present and so was pleasantly surprised when I received three. I got a beautiful illustrated book about London from Caryn and Mark, a box of Belgian chocolates from Peggy and a Tiffany's bracelet from Peter and Martin. (And I don't care if it was the cheapest one from Tiffany's or if Peter got it in Shanghai, it came in a Tiffany and Co. blue box and that's what is important.) :)

All in all, I had a lovely day and though I did still miss my family, I got to call them later on that night and talk to everybody, so that was nice.

(As per usual on Christmas Day, we also watched TV and as a result, I kept seeing the commercials for the new Doctor Who Christmas special and I desperately wanted to watch it. But we ended up leaving right at 7, when the special started, and thus I missed it. I did go home though and finally watched the first couple of episodes of the Dr. Who series from this past summer. I don't know why I hadn't watched it before, but I have to say I'm now hooked and I bought the whole series yesterday, via one of the Boxing Day sales. 20 pounds off!! I can't wait to watch the rest of the series and I'm hoping to be able and download the newest special soon).

2. Movies--
As a Christmas present for myself, I bought a portable DVD player recently. I can now watch Region 2 movies and I couldn't be happier. I also got a Blockbuster card, (which, according to my mother, is a dangerous thing for me to have), and I've rented a lot of movies. A Lot, in the past two weeks. I've also discovered the movies at the local library, (only a pound!), and it's been bliss. (I'm such a movie whore, it's not even funny).

For my birthday/Christmas presents from my family, I got clothes, but the main thing I received were DVDs. I got Mr. and Mrs. Smith, March of the Penguins, and the first seasons of Lost and Stargate: Atlantis. So, I have many ways to fill my hours until I start classes again on January 16th.

I've also bought a few movies, (to go along with my new portable DVD player), including: the whole series of the UK Queer as Folk, the recent Dr. Who series, (like I mentioned above), a documentary about Keane, North and South, (a lovely English mini-series), the Rutles movie, Gregory's Girl, and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Along with renting and buying movies, I also went to see King Kong in the theatre.

( my thoughts about King Kong )

Even though I've seen both HP and Narnia films a few times already, I think I might see them both, one more time, before they leave the theatres.

(I think I might be over-indulging with the movies, but I can't help it. It's my personal addiction).

3. Other bits--

*Living in London has been an interesting experience. There are aspects of it, I'm finally used to, and then others I'm still struggling with. But I'm determined, because of my master's course, obviously, but also because of all the good things I love about this city. Even if I'm only a Londoner for a year, I'm going to make the best of that time, because I refuse to have regrets at the end of it all.

*Crossing my fingers, praying really hard, that there is no Tube strike on New Year's Eve. I have to work on that day and I want to be able to go to my friend's flat after work to celebrate the New Year. A strike would make things very difficult. *sigh*

*I hate Oxford Street. Don't care about all the great shops. Don't care about the Christmas decorations. It's congested and dirty and makes me so very claustrophobic. Ugh.

*I plan on finishing up my fics this week, since I don't have to be at work until Thursday. The delays have been due to school, work, lack of internet access, but I am truly sorry for not being on time with my stories this year. I hate being late like this.

*I love the area my school is in. Islington is a fun area to explore, (though way, way too expensive to live in).

*Going to post a few more reviews of movies and books I've read recently. Probably later on this week.

***

Hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season and that you all will have a wonderful time on New Year's Eve. Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? Hanukkah?