You ask Joyce and Vicky

Doctory Stuff

2008-07-06T13:08:27Z

Well, I watched DW last night. At one in the morning, so I was slightly dead by the end, but hey...

Things I hated

1. Two David Tenannts. Barf.
2. And one was naked. I'm not even going to think about it.
3. The whole Rose happy ending thing. Unutterable cheese.
4. Donna going back to being dizzy
5. Davros's plan was, frankly, a bottle of shite.
5a. Who builds a "Destroy absolutely everything" code into their design for the master race? Bollocks
6. It shouldn't be easy to destroy Daleks.
7. It's still David Tennant.

Things I loved

1. The beamed message to earth just being "Exterminate".
2. The German speaking Daleks, largely because by the time I had mentally pictured Spanish and Italian Daleks I was giggling a lot
3. Donna!!!! who rocked. And whose end IMHO was the most moving performance of the show. Her ring was a bit sparkly at the end. I wonder if it's her equivalent of a pocket watch...
4. Davros looking just for a moment as if he was going to chat up Sarah Jane.
5. Davros, actually. He was cool.
6. The utterly joyful daftness of the multiple stand off with the Supreme Dalek
7. K9 saved the world!
8. Towing the world back home. RIdiculous. Love it.

Fitting end to RTD's tenure I think.

Now he can get on with writing another series of Mine All Mine......*goes down on bended knee*

Bleh

2008-07-06T00:54:39Z

Well, here I am languishing in the post-concert limbo that makes you unable to go to bed because you are so tired you can't face getting off the sofa, and yet so wired you can't contemplate just giving up and going to sleep where you are. I'm feeling a little Meh I must be honest - gigs have all gone well (in fact some of them have been the best work I have done in years), I've got a nice quiet week in which to put my house back together and re-establish a more organised routine for the kids, and I have some cash. What's not to like. But I still feel Meh.

I do get bored of post-show blues. It doesn't make any sense, it's tedious and pointless. However, I suppose all that energy has to dissipate somewhere, so I shall try not to be too snarky with everyone until normality has reasserted itself.

Meh. I'm going to curl up in a ball and read my lovely's book until I go to sleep. Then doubtless my poor husband will once again have the indignity of waking up to find his wife cuddling a large book with a very pretty picture on the front cover and an expression of utter fatuity on her face. Into each life a little rain must fall.

The good and the frankly complete bollocks

2008-07-01T23:34:30Z

Today I am yay pleased with my recent singy enterprises. Albert Herring went outrageously well (particularly considering that we had NO rehearsal time worthy of the name with a complete cast, argh argh) and I had a great time. And Sunday's Artaxerxes rehearsal was great, even allowing me to make a vaguely favourable impression on one of my favourite singers from my undergrad days who, bless me, is in the cast (and still sounding fabulous. I love really, really gutsy counter tenor voices).

So yay for me, at least until I get a cold.

However, on parenting I FAIL today. Decided to make the most of period of tranquillity when infants were playing downstairs with their lego and actually Getting On to tidy up the bedroom. WHen I came down again the Destroyer of Worlds had managed to get hold of Mr P's indelible marker and draw ALL OVER THE HOUSE. ANd then I went ballistic and he got all scared and I feel terrible. I'm so rubbish at not losing the plot when they behave, basically, like children. Bah. And everything was going so well....

Off to console myself by watching Mine All Mine AGAIN. Nothing else will do.....

justpolina @ 2008-06-21T23:27:00

2008-06-21T22:32:21Z

Off to cavort and squawk at the Handel House tomorrow. That should be a laugh!

Oh, and btw.....

http://www.civictrust.org.uk

Those who have visited my baby might recognise the biog on the press release.

And that is one corkingly lovely pic. Sigh.

Tra la, tra la

2008-06-16T22:50:13Z

The next three weeks are getting rather complicated, viz:-

This week - rehearsals all over the shop.

Sunday - concert at the Handel House museum where I get to be a diva bitch. Yay.

All next week - production of Albert Herring where I get to be a very nosey old lady with lots and lots of notes to sing of a nice mezzo/contraltoish nature, and some very good lines. Yay.

All the week after - being a bossy old bag of a mezzo-ish nature AND a glam young thing with a whip in Orpheus in the Underworld. For a musical director I used to have a crush on when I was 10 (before I discovered my gorgeous and adored one)

And all over the intervening time between now and the end of Orpheus, rehearsing and covering a bitch-high soprano role in Artaxerxes down at lovely NCO for one my favourite directors, if not THE favourite, which is a HUGE STRESS as it is stratospherically high, but I completely enjoyed rehearsing it tonight (and sang a spot on pianissimo top b flat, which makes my day)

So I'm not going to be around much, and when I am my website baby is going ot be demanding of my attention! And now I'm going to bed, because I'm absolutely buggered. Yawn. I'm going to put my lovely on the cd player to tell me a story and drift of to sleep. This is a fine plan and one I recommend for a contented night's sleep. It's a bugger for following the plot, though, as I drop off after about 15 minutes and then can never find the right place again...

Sleep well, all.

I still aten't dead. Really.

2008-06-04T23:00:38Z

Firstly. Apologies for not posting on here for several millenia. I've been trying to keep up with my flist and comment where I can, but I have been A PILE OF PANTS and I know it, so if anyone is going Huh, my entire universe changed and she didn't even notice, all I can do is apologise. I grovel.

Why have I been such utter crap on a stick? Well, largely because of.....

(a) My website baby, which is being such fun and which I am loving (to save time I will not go Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee for a week, but imagine it here), in fact loving so very much I keep forgetting to keep my other stuff up to date.....

(b) My kids, who have had every disease known to toddlerhood and GIVEN THEM TO ME.

(c) Mr Polina, who has been extremely and nastily poorly, and still has to go into hospital at the end of July to be wired up to the National Grid to stabilise his heartbeat again, and in the meantime is taking hatfuls of medication which make him go to sleep. This is (a) awful for him, (b) worrying for everyone and (c) means I don't have ANY time at the moment...

and finally
(d) WORK, this strange thing I haven't done much of since I went on maternity leave....Having not taken on anything much for a while until I got used to being a Parent of Two, Cav & Pag went so well I thought I should start doing things again and said Yes to some things. Unfortunately they are all at the same time! So Over the next coupl of months I have to get together a japey concert at the Handel House, a production of Albert Herring (as FRloence, somewhere down in the basement of my vocal range but a truly cool role in a truly joyous opera), cover a role in Artaxerxes (stratospherically high, thus giving my entire vocal range a good workout for the next month and a half.....) which is jolly difficult and requiring of PRACTICE, and then some concerts of Orpheus aux Enfers and some opera pops..... And then I can go lie down for a bit. I'll need it.

And tend my dvds and my photo library and chat up lots of people on the net to keep life toddling along.

So, I'm likely still to be quite crap for a while. And now I'm going to go and watch Mountain, which will doubtless leave me with a desire to do several things, the most productive of which will be to learn some dots and HA do a bit of practice for my latest project of learning to tap dance. Of which I have had one lesson and at which I SUCK but which is likely to be entertaining, for the spectators if nothing else.....

justpolina @ 2008-05-03T01:04:00

2008-05-03T00:09:34Z

Had a day of nameless crapness yesterday, so wrote a rather depressed and not very good poem but nevertheless it improved my mood slightly. And today I have Been a Model Wife and Mother for 17 straight hours so am now cutting myself a little slack by watching Who Do You Think You Are? (what do you mean which one? Wake up at the back) and eating chocolate.

I promised intelligent posts once I'd got the website up, didn't I? It's really not happening.

[b]Tempus Fugit[/b] (or Doesn't Time Fly when you're Having Fun)

I lay my head upon my crooked arm
and close my eyes and smile and think of you

Which is, my mind informs me with a smirk,
A singularly pointless thing to do
Have you not wasted time enough on dreams?
Have you forgotten what you need to do?
The things that must be said, that must be done,
That must be made by nobody but you?

I have done all I could (my life replies)
Now let me wander soft within my mind
Play my imagined drama to the close
Where love at last is comforting and kind

But common sense regretfully replies
It is not love, but adolescent lust
Born in the flaring sun of hope and youth
That now the years must turn to loss and dust
Your life is set in comfortable bonds
Your course is fixed; there is no space to let
The time to move to centre stage has passed
There will not be a final act to set
Look in the mirror if you doubt my word -
How many years since folly made you cry
And formed your world into a golden ball
To throw with all your strength towards the sky?

And yet the sweetness twines about my thoughts
Its consolation falls in drops of gold
As much as in my hot and angry day
Now that its blazing certainty is cold
And this contentment lulls its pain to sleep
The fevered dream turns resonant and true

And so, with or without my reason's leave
I close my eyes, and smile, and think of you

A bit late but....

2008-05-01T13:40:17Z

....Happy Birthday Viala! Have a good one.

(PS I'm officially not the older woman now, haha)

Time out

2008-04-18T16:48:39Z

Pol's on hols!

See you when I get back.....

Hello and thank you....

2008-04-14T19:22:36Z

....Just thought I would pop in to say THANKYOU to everyone who popped in on the site. I'm having great fun playing with it!!

My website baby is born....

2008-04-13T22:43:55Z

....eventually, and after much agitation, fangirly self-doubt and general Eeeeekness. So here it is....

www.griff-rhysjones.co.uk

Come and say hello!

Thanks eternal be to the wonderful job wryelle has made of the web design - top job.

Now I just have to sit back and hope my lovely actually likes it, and thinks I have done him right - I've emailed the link across.

I'm not nervous
*chews fingernails to impression-of-venus-de-Milo level*

justpolina @ 2008-03-22T14:41:00

2008-03-22T14:44:48Z

In the words of a fine woman, I Still Aten't Dead.

I will post intelligently again. One day. Honest.

The three word meme

2008-03-05T17:29:53Z

1. Where is your cell phone?
On my desk.

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend.
Downstairs drinking beer.

3. Your hair?
Wet but drying.

4. Where is your father?
At his house.

5. Cheesecake?
Yes, please; now.

6. Your favorite thing to do?
Not feel ill.

7. Your dream last night?
Far too pornographic.

8. Your favorite drink?
Right now, Lucozade.

9. Your dream car?
One that goes.

10. The room you're in?
My daughter's bedroom.

11. George Bush?
Daddy or Doughbrain?

12. Your fears?
All involve money.

13. Nipple rings?
Not a chance.

14. Who did you hang out with last night?
Noone. I'm sick.

15. What you're not good at?
Anything involving art.

16. Your best friends?
Have been excellent.

17. One of your wish list items?
Griff Rhys Jones.

18. Where did you grow up?
Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

19. The last thing you did?
Make a pie.

20. What are you wearing?
Old warm things.

21. Tattoo on the lower back?
Sod right off.

22. Ketchup?
Tomato or mushroom?

23. Your computer?
On bedroom table.

24. Your life?
Children, husband, bugs

25. Your mood?
Bored of illness.

26. Missing?
Havine some dosh.

27. What are you thinking about right now?
See answer 17.

28. Your car?
Is still there.

29. Your work?
Looking after kids.

30. Your summer?
Not too hot!

31. Your relationship status?
Happily married, thanks.

32. Your favorite color(s):
Orange and yellow.

33. Last time you laughed?
Watching my daughter.

34. Last time you cried?
Yesterday, in irritation

35. High school?
Pre-Oxford holiday.

36. This quiz?
Not too difficult!

justpolina @ 2008-02-23T16:14:00

2008-02-23T16:19:54Z

So as well as never being here because I am fighting with this website, I will now be missing for a week as Cav & Pag does its stuff and I have to actually turn up at the theatre and sing, something I've done far too little of recently.

Just so you don't all miss me have a pretty something until I get back...

I'll be back. To look at that occasionally, if nothing else...

Help the Halfwitted Numpty time

2008-02-10T13:25:53Z

Right, here's a question for all you lovely and gorgeous and 21st century internet savvy people. (apologies to Viala, who put up with me wibbling yesterday as I tried to work this one out)

I've got to write a letter to lots of tv companies to ask permission to use screencaps and photographs etc on my website baby. I've been all uncharacteristically intelligent and found out who I need to speak to at all the various places, and been chatting up as many minions as I can muster.... I've also got to write to the agents and ask for some stuff from them too. So when I had finished creating my little emails I sat there about to hit Send and then thought Is this a bit cheeky? Should I be sending an actual proper letter on that weird paper stuff that noone uses anymore?

On the pro-letter side:
It's a damn sight harder to lose a letter than an email. Believe me.
I will look polite and formal and not cheeky.
I know the paper address gets a response.

On the pro-email side...
I will look technically competent and (one hopes)intelligent
I might get an answer this side of the next millenium
I might not look like a numpty.

Tsk. I can't work it out. Wibble.

In other news, I have a stinking vile snotty miserable cold and a rehearsal for the Midsomer Murders of opera, Cav & Pag (otherwise known as Everybody's Dead, Dave). Fecking marvellous.

I Am Still Crap (and you are still gorgeous)

2008-01-28T12:00:22Z

Just a quick post to apologise for vanishing again - I'm not likely to have much computer time over the next few days and what I will have is likely to be spent going Argh Panic Wibble wibble wibble, so I am not ignoring everyone and I WILL be back...

In the meantime I do like this today...

Argh, pffff, I must get on with some work.

In a bit.

Three irrelevent pieces of information

2008-01-26T17:39:09Z

I've filed my tax return and paid up. Hurrah. Now I won't be arrested.

The intense televisual diet of Ivor the Engine (for the under fives and Mr Polina), Torchwood and Mine All Mine has led to EVERYONE in my family developing a Welsh accent. This is only amusing because of the expression on my mother's face when she came round.

Mr Polina has opined that the main reason I like Life on Mars is that Gene Hunt is the only character I have ever found who is more foul mouthed than I. Huh.

Fangirl self-doubt is a dreadful thing

2008-01-25T21:56:50Z

So here I am writing away at my notes for the website, and another discussion turns towards fangirlyness and what is the fine line between being all enthused and needing to Get a Life. Haha, I thought, I'm definitely the former; a nice sensible enthusiastic admirer, whose happy RL life (apart from the bits that involve barfing and A&E) does not debar her from being all enthusiastically appreciative, but apart from that very sensible.

And then I thought: I am sitting here writing notes, collecting pictures, generally Doing Stuff for a fansite. I drove all the way to Gloucestershire at some hideous hour to go and see the man. I am seriously considering going to Scotland ditto. I fear I have turned into one.

Could somebody please shoot me if I show signs of turning into Kathy Bates?

Rumours of my death...

2008-01-19T17:26:59Z

....have been exaggerated, even if at times it felt like only slightly. Thanks to my kids having every virus known to the festive season twice, and then giving them to me, I can't honestly say that 2007 ended in a blaze of glory and celebration; in fact 2008 started like so many other New Years past, with my head in a bucket, although at least this time I could claim it wasn't self inflicted. There are some benefits to being teetotal after all....

Anyway. I'm back on earth now, and thought I would catch up with a bit of a burbledrome. What have I been doing?

Ah yes. My tax return. Whoopidoo. Endless hours of poring over every detail of the year's finance only to discover I need to pay money to Gordon Brown when it could be much better served buying me nice things on ebay or financing my occasional escapes to wherever I ought to be.... Bah. Today has been further enlivened by the need to create a diplomatic reply to an opera director who recalled me to audition for his new production of Boheme - despite the fact there is absolutely nothing for me to do in Boheme (unless they are planning to cast me as Musetta and spend half the budget on a Large Pointy Stick to ensure I can get the end of the Quando M'en Vo, which I still won't be able to). So, one reply required stating the patently obvious but trying to phrase it in such a way that I don't sound as though I'm saying You Are Being Thick. Dear me.

On top of that, and just to confirm the general aggravation of today, I found out that my lovely was being a guest of honour at a historical bash in Colchester and I found out just to late to get there, which was annoying particularly as Mr Polina would have liked to go and I could have said "Well, if you insist..." and just gone Ooo when he found out who was there. I don't think he would have been convinced, but it would have been Worth A Try.

I've been whiling away the winter evenings watching Life on Mars, which I managed to miss the first time round. What a complete joy. Despite not being able to summon it up remotely for either Sam or Gene (I had been told that I was bound to fancy one of them, but I have consulted my hormones at length and Apparently Not) this is so much fun, and so well done. I'm even going to get the cd of the music, as I like it so much.... I was a bit disappointed with the last episode of the first series (I've only done series one so far, so noone tell me what happens at the end....) but only because after the sheer joy that was the arrest of Warren (the most audiovisually satisfying thing I have watched in yonks) it didn't quite hit the heights I was hoping for, but what a good piece of work. Looking forward to series two, starting tomorrow as I am supposed to be going out tonight.....

This is a very dull entry. I do apologise, but not many interesting things can happen when you are doing you tax return and it's raining.

Bloody hell

2008-01-01T21:25:49Z

I will, at some juncture, post intelligently about 3 Men in Another Boat, part the first. I may even be able to watch most of part the second without falling off the sofa, you never know...

But in the meantime, the distillation of my intellectual analysis of the entire things comes out largely as Oh Bloody Hell followed by a large Thud as I gently slide off the sofa and slowly melt into a puddle of treacle on the carpet.

Don't hold your breath for ian intelligent response. There may never be one at all. Ever again.

Oh bloody hell......

justpolina @ 2008-01-01T13:13:00

2008-01-01T13:31:36Z

apologies for repeating myself....

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Sent Zutek Destroyer of Worlds off to preschool, and met my heart's darling. Oh, and became an official fangirl...

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes, one - I lost three stone. The jury's still out on whether I was a better wife and mother, and I definitely failed at keeping the house cleaner...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Lots of NCT friends, who wisely had bigger gaps between their babies than I did...

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes - a lovely friend of many years, unexpectedly.

5. What countries did you visit?
Scotland!

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Cash!

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
14th October. Because it was just great.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Successfully transferring Zutek to nursery without disasters....

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting enough practice time, and falling horribly behind with my job.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Did I not. All sodding year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
That picture.....

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Everyone who inexplicably failed to hit me with things.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled?
Almost everyone on the political stage. And that twat of a Ben Nevis expert.

14. Where did most of your money go?
I didn't have much to go anywhere, but of that far too high a proportion went to SWT and Ebay...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Meeting my heart's darling - and getting permission for the website, which still scares the hell out of me.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Scissor Sisters: Land of a Thousand Words

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Much thinner!

iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Having fun.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being ill.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Quietly.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Only again.

22. How many one-night stands?
None! I'm a good girl now!

23. What was your favourite TV programme?
Mountain!

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

25. What was the best book you read?
Semidetached, by my lovely - at least partly becuase it was the only new book I've had time to read this year!

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Amy Winehouse
27. What did you want and get?
A picture I had set my heart on on ebay...

28. What was your favourite film of this year?
Films?

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I can't remember, and bugger off.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing I'm admitting to on here! Ooh, possibly better jobs.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Now I'm only wearing tents because I can't afford new clothes!

32. What kept you sane?
My lovely - through a tough year of family health problems.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
James May, and of course.....

34. Who did you miss?
Marvin, a bit like you miss not having toothache.

35. Who was the best new person you met?
In terms of mates, some of the guys from The Pievy. In terms of bliss - it's got to be him again, I'm afraid.

36. Did you enjoy this year?
It would have been great if I'd been less sick!

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Woke up one morning......feeling so sick I thought I was dead.....(woth apologies to The Goodies)

38. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My sister, as usual!

39. What did you want and not get?
More work - no failures, but lots of not being able to try because of illness!
A sudden access of wealth
~~opportunity to tie my darling to the bed and ravish him~~

40. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many to count.

41. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007
Sometimes it's worth taking the risk.

I'll shut up now! Anyone wanting me will find me somewhere near the tv at around 8pm....

That was the year that was

2008-01-01T12:20:43Z


	2007
	1) Where did you begin 2007? on my sofa watching Griff on dvd! 2) What was your status by Valentine's Day? Still married! 3) Were you in school (anytime this year)? No. 4) How did you earn your money? Money? What money? 5) Did you have to go to the hospital? To get a pea removed from Zutek's nose. Don't ask. 6) Did you have any encounters with the police? I was pulled over after a car identical to mine was involved in a hit and run - and let go as I wasn't a six foot tall chap with a beard. 7) Where did you go on holiday? Norfolk. Rock and roll! 8) What did you purchase that was over £500? Nothing! 9) Did you know anybody who got married? Yes - one of my husband's cousins. 10) Did you know anybody who passed away? Sadly yes - my close friend Trish, unexpectedly. 11) Have you run into anybody you left high school with? Yes - good fun after all these years! 12) Did you move anywhere? Haha. No, but we are going to build an extra bit on our house.... 13) What sporting events did you go to? My son's first sports day! 14) What concerts/shows did you go to? Several operas, Viala's G&S show and Cheltenham Literary Festival.... 15) Are you registered to vote? Yes 16) Who did you want to win Big Brother? I didn't know it was on! 17) Where do you live now? Still at my house 18) Describe your birthday? I've forgotten it! 19) What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2007? Met my darling.... 20) What has been your favorite moment? See above! 21.) What's something you learned about yourself? I too can gibber like an idiot under stress 22.) Any new additions to your family? No! No. No. Nonononononono. 23.) What was your best month? October. I was actually well for a couple of days! 24.) What music will you remember 2007 by? Mika, The Scissor Sisters and Amy Winehouse 25) Who has been your best drinking buddy? I don't drink any more, but for jolly pubby companionship it has to be my mate Ian 26) Made new friends? Yes - mostly internet friends that are now friends IRL too! 27) Best new friend? Impossible to say - probably Chris 28) Favorite Night out? See 9! 29) Any regrets? Not being able to say anything intelligent....

justpolina @ 2007-12-31T19:31:00

2007-12-31T19:37:44Z

As I have been a bit dismal at being festive (largely on account of the truly amazing number of illnesses we have been rushing to get in before the end of the year, Zutek still holding the record for the number of times one can throw up in one month....or possibly one lifetime.....) I come to bring festive greetings for the new year...

To ArtNouveauHo, may this be the year that your vocal brilliance get recognised as it should be, for lo you are currently singing like a goddess

To Viala, may you and yours flourish and may your fandoms stop driving you up the wall

To Na_lon and Wryelle, may small people both arrived and arriving be a continued blessing (and not throw up on you too much), and in particular to Na_lon, may it all go splendidly and without let, hindrance or need for an epidural

To Kixxa, may all your plans come to glorious fruition,

To Colacancol, may you have a splendid year, and - selfishly - keep making me laugh as much, as you have given me the best giggles of the year past

To Norfolkian, Starla-Zero and Sideshow Meg, have joyous and lucky years and may all the jobs you have to do not suck

To Lilprincessleia, behave yourself and don't do anything I wouldn't do, which gives you a satisfyingly wide range of
potential I would have thought

(to my darling, be as wonderful this year as you have been for the preceding multitude, and bless you)

and to you all and to anyone else who in my bleary and sleep deprived state I have forgotten, may you have a joyous and lucky 2008 and may noone piss you off!

That's me done. Back next year!

Happy Christmassy stuff

2007-12-26T19:38:02Z

Forgot to be festive! Happy Christmas to all, wherever and however you are....

justpolina @ 2007-12-23T21:37:00

2007-12-23T21:49:07Z

Well I am having a nice fangirly night tonight. An hour of my heart's delight, and hour of James, another hour of James in the form of Top Gear, and then HIGNFY (even if it is a repeat) later on. Yip.

The DIckens programme was gorgeous - I shall watch it again later (no, I'm not being insane; I got interrputed half way through by the sudden an urgent need of my one year old for a banana....) as I didn't catch a wallop of it in the middle, but what I did see looked (as you wold expect) intelligent and well made, and (naturally) rather lovely. Really, he could talk to me all day; I love listening to him. He's always so interesting.   Poor bastard - what's he done to deserve me gazing after him like a weightwatcher at a cream bun? Ah well.

So tonight I shall curl up with some chocolate and watch him again, this time concentrating. Bless you, my lovely - you lighten my world. And in case I don't have time to become maudlin and sentimental between now and then, have a wonderful Christmas, and be loved as thoroughly as you deserve and as I am sure you already are.

And the same to the rest of you guys who have put up with my meanderings all year. Festive stuff to all, and eat as much cake as you want.  May the world smile upon you all. And bring you chocolate.