Bowling With A Leopard On Your Head

My Dear Princess and Dear Fellow,

Caro was saying recently that it doesn't really FEEL like Xmas. 

I mean. Welcome to my world, Caro. It is NOT dark and NOT cold and NOT Xmas. 

It's okay. I'm used to living in a Christmasless world. There are upsides. It is supposed to be sunny on Xmas day. Hopefully we will have dinner in the garden. You know. It's not all bad.

But today was VERY Christmas. First of all, I worked on the Mariah Carey video thing (see yesterday). Which involved me listening to that effing song about seven hundred times. 

THEN I had to wrap up presents. Including the magic lanterns I bought which are theoretically from Santa. 

ALSO Caro and I went to Fazzy's new house where I had to dress up as Santa and run around their garden leaving presents. So I mean. Really. You can't get more Xmas than this unless you shove an elf up your bum*.

So I did the Santa thing. But apparently I did it TOO QUICKLY. I got complaints that no-one had time to take pictures. I blame Fazzy! My instructions were to run around the garden and then run off before they recognised me**.

RUN. That was my direction! I did what I was told!

Regardless, we had a LOVELY time at Fazzy's! She was so excited to show us her new house! It is beautiful by the way and as they do not have the furniture to fill it yet, they are still having fun figuring out how to set it all up. I just loved seeing them all so happy.

And they are such a lovely family. Just kind and fun and silly. Shahier made us an amazing meal of fried chicken wings with pureed pumpkin and some sort of basil and cream sauce thing. 

"I could drink this," I told Shahier (talking about the sauce). "I'll come around next time with a mug."

Fazzy was also very proud of herself because she had made a trifle. As you know Fazzy does not cook so I have to report that her trifle was LOVELY and I had TWO HELPINGS. 

But the children were all about the PLAY. 

PLAY UNCLE SYMON PLAYYYYYY

So we played Mario Kart and Wii bowling. Which brings us to today's title. For you see, Hani decided that Spottie Dottie the leopard would bring bowling good luck. She placed her on Caro's head and...

STEEEEEEE-RIKE!!

THE ROOM ERUPTED!!

Consequently, every subsequent bowler had to take their turn with Spottie Dottie on their head. I think Caro had great fun and the kids just loved her as she did her victory dance and rubbed her victory in their faces with childish glee.

"You'll sleep well tonight," observed Fazzy. And she was right. I was yawning by nine o'clock so they drove us home as a family and we played "spot the Xmas decorations". They were large and extravagant in Fazzy's neighbourhood.

"You wouldn't want to be an epileptic living round here," observed Caro.

And that was that. Xmas is served. Gor' bless us, every one!

S. 

* Never do this. The Elf Police are not gentle. 

** "I know it was you as Santa," whispered Zay as we left. I thought it was quite sweet that he didn't tell Hani though.