PW, yes it was Churchill Square  , but I took a gamble that Friday morning would be a lull in the madness, and it paid off. Tomorrow will be completely unbearable!

Tommo,

Probably not an advisable one, Ruth.

I'm impressed, martle. I'll probably need to beat you, though, cos I haven't bought any presents yet and I'm off to Manchester tomorrow lunchtime, plus working today till - well, at least till I've made some gesture towards clearing my desk. I'm actually within reach of doing most of the things this year that I ought to have done this year, which unfortunately means I've no excuse for giving up just yet!

That's office work, of course. I still have a 2000-word liner note to write before the end of next week! Maybe that coffee and speed isn't such a bad idea after all ...

Beef? What beef, Mort? 

<in denial emoticon>

It takes less than an hour and a half to buy all presents, cards etc. online  . I haven't been near a shop.

I'm happy that I'm not going anywhere by public transport this Christmas/New Year. Apparently I could get from London to Liverpool by train at the end of December  - with 5 changes!!! Instead, I am off to Norfolk tomorrow in son's new car. OK, motorways/roads aren't much fun either .

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Evening all! (Bit empty in here, but anyways ...)

Just booked flights to and from Barcelona in January - I think! For various reasons the only really convenient day for me to come back is the 7th, when there are supposed to be airport strikes. So I've booked for Luton, which I don't think should be affected, not being a BAA airport. But I hope there's no knock-on effect ...

Also, I'm flying with Easyjet, which I've not done for a long time. I don't see what difference it makes since there's only one airport in Barcelona, plus they even let me pay a little bit extra to offset my carbon, which is very exciting, but straight after processing my card details they suddenly demanded my passport number, which I don't have, since it's in London and I'm in Oldham now. It looked like I can go back and enter it later, so I hope that's all alright.

Assuming it is, I'm happy! I've only been to Barcelona once, quite briefly, when I was 17, and don't remember much about it. I've never been to Spain at all apart from that, despite having several Spanish friends in London and also speaking a bit of Spanish through my Mexican affiliations. And I'm going to celebrate a friend's birthday, which he's invited me to for the last 3 years and this is the first time I've made it. (The first time I'd just got back from Mexico.)

I'd really better get to bed now. Last of the Christmas shopping tomorrow - still have no idea what to buy my sister.

I am glad tin is going to Spain. I heard Barcelona has beautiful modern architecture.
The only unpleasant thing people talk about is pick pocketing. All (not most) of my friends that went to different Spanish cities were robbed Many were robbed at the airport or on their way to the hotel. Needless to say how it affected people's mood.
May be they can get to inside pockets too, but why make it easy and put money and credit cards in trouser's pocket. I have no idea where women should keep their credit cards and money, but definetely not in a hand bag.
In case there is a stirke in airports at that time this will be a good excuse to stay in Barcelona longer. 

I always have difficult time deciding on any presents I buy for Christmas, birthday etc. I recently bought a ball for friends for Christmas. They loved it, it is useful thing, was not too expensive (10 euro). May be you can buy some thing for the house and your sister will be pleased.

tin, I meant you can buy your sister a bowl, but you know my spelling. At least it is a good lough and your sister can enjoy playing with the ball (rugby, football or cricket). Best wishes for Christmas.

Hi A,
It is nice to have a big family and to get together for Christmas. We usually have quiet Christmas. I am finally beginning to feel better. I don't have students next week. I am looking forward to two weeks of vocation.
A student gave me good DVD for Christmas. I think it was made in Oxford. I am going to post it on piano thread, but it is for all instrumental playing.

Yesterday was a nice day with sun shining. We went for a walk. Today it is not too dark still, but cloudy. I heard we are going to have rain and then it will go to you tomorrow, but so far it is dry. I wish you and your second half Marry Christmas. I hope you will find time to drop here from time to time for a chat. It is going to be very quiet here.