Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!

Angie and I were both busy all day. I at long last got out the big tractor & Amazone mower to collect the huge amount of leaves and above all masses of birch twigs on the drive. The birch twigs are a real pain as they wind themselves around all the machines - lwanmower, brush and snow blower. Only the the Amazone can shred them.

Mr & Mrs B popped by in the afternoon and there followed an exchange of pressies. Mrs B is on duty at the hospital over Christmas, luckily early shift this morning and late tomorrow. so she can at least enjoy Christmas Eve which in Germany is the "main" event. Lots of differences in howwhat celebrates it but very often the present bit is around 6:00pm followed by a simple meal.

Angie had cooked a "normal" meal and the followed the present opening, the highlight the two boxes which had been sent by daughter Kate and family in Ireland and son J and his partner Sarah. We both thoroughly enjoyed ripping open the contents and had a good laugh. 99% essential food items - salt & vinegar crisps, Carrs, Heinz, Tiptree, Branston, Twinings, Colmans, Cadburys, Sussex organic beer and Crabbies rasberry something, and even Harry Ramsdens Mushy Peas! (I need to convince Angie she will love them and I'm prepared to let her have my half). Self drawn cards from the grandchildren, Kate's lovely self painted wooden tree decorations.

Should really have tried to include all the cards they sent by letter post. The grandchildren had done a really special one and another family member, Bliper PurbeckDavid49, had sent, as always a wonderful photograph with a fascinating story.

Thank you all for making our evening. Santa enjoyed his cup of alcohol free tea, left the sausage rolls due to weight allowance restrictions. Apparently two young people in Co Cavan have been very well behaved and he has loads to deliver there.

To Worthing, Co. Cavan, Corfe, Kent, Scotland, Somerset, Cornwall, Norfolk, Lincs, Denmark, NY State, Reno and everywhere else Father Christmas visits, I hope you all have a peaceful Christmas.