everything you need for christmas... tree, lights, thin lady with tooth picks, orange with cloves pressed into it spelling out the word 'noel' (i have no idea what this is for. it smells too strong to have around when you're eating. it is called a pomander apparently and is a natural air-freshner... hmmm)

a pretty boring day really.
in fact, because i have 'done' christmas already and this is my fourth day off work (effectively the day after boxing day for me), i'm suffering that dull, coming-down period that everyone gets after christmas where you spend the whole time feeling uncomfortably full from eating too much. i don't however have any decent tv to slump in front of...

the only highlights today were getting out for a ride (58km of mist and damp) and my first use of our new slow-cooker. chicken in wine and stock with a stack of veg, mushrooms, etc. the meal was ok but the smell through the house all day has been great. both gosia and i decided that it reminded us of 'home', whatever and wherever that might be...