MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!! (or 'Happy Christmas' as seems to be the norm here)

As I am about to rush off to the countryside this blog will be super fast.

Some highlights of my travels since I left Saigon:

• Arriving in London to be met off the train by my lovely godmother after 3 flights, 1 terrible gluten free plane meal and about 20 something hours of travelling
• Being introduced to highly competitive, sometimes dangerously agressive but always very entertaining games of 8 player Racing Demon
• Meeting Liv off her bus, awesome to see her as usual, not to mention relief at being able to find the bus station (lets be glad I am so used to leaving 2 hours too early to allow for my tradition of getting lost)
• Discovering that Father Christmas (aka Santa) did manage to find me all the way across the world!
• Testing out various sleeping bag slipperyness by going down the rather steep staircase here at rapid speed
• Reliving my childhood by watching Richie Rich - as Spike would say "An Absolute Classic"
• Not just watching, but participating in an English pantomine - Cinderella. Absolutely hilarious! Took a while to understand that people in the audience are actually meant to call out greetings, answers to questions, boos, cheers and even some rather creative soundeffects.
• The Harris Christmas party - come in disguise. Somehow Liv and my kiwi masks didn't have quite the elegant result as those of some of the guests. Great food, awesome company, a few glasses of yummy mulled wine and carols made for a fantastic night.
• Christmas carols in Albert Hall - AMAZING!!!!!! I would have been happy to just sit in the hall and take in the grandness of the building! The orchestra were all dressed in outifts like Mozart (Mozartian outfits?) complete with the funny tights, high socks and pretty impressive wigs. Seated right behind the choir and orchestra was unbeatable. I love carols on the green in Paihia but this really has raised the bar for future years!
• Outings into London to wander the streets. Liv and I had multple chuckles at the fact that it seems like there is about one hour of daylight here... maybe so we can appreciate the Christmas lights?
• Playing 'Guess the Price Tag' in Harrods.... "I reckon about 300 pounds!" "Nope, 1400!!!!!!! Ahhhh!" Luckily the 'Luxury Washrooms" were free....

But none of these highlights, however hilarious, could beat getting a phone call from a rather extended kiwi whanau. Lots of love to you all! and again, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!