My brother bought a killer tennis table top

Christmas Day went relatively well. Had mum and Dad round for Christmas lunner (like brunch but later .. lunch /dinner) and the siblings turned up for dessert and exchanging of presents. Some good ones this year deserve mention. We got Dejenari her favourite Bollywood idol so she could cozy up to him in bed and got Dad a nestbox with colour camera so next time the bluetits decide to nest, he can peek in on them without disturbing them. Zoo now has more toys than ever, so much so that I have put a ban on him receiving anymore. Clothes, shoes or money will be gratefully received instead!

I think Dad may have wished for the same as he spent the evening telling us that he was going to return all our expensive gifts. Goliath bought him a huge table tennis tabletop that took up most of the front room and that wouldn't fit in his car. He asked whether we could hold it temporarily so we pushed it to one side and continued with our festivities until Dad shouted out and we turned to watch Zoo trying to climb up the blasted thing only to pull it over onto himself. I had visions of us spending the rest of Christmas Day in A&E. He was saved by both parents rushing to his rescue and a well placed highchair. Nonetheless we checked him over for any broken bones or bruises ... He was a bit spooked but otherwise not a single scratch!

Once the panic was over, everyone laughed at the fact that we were getting left with the killer table tennis table. Suffice to say I insisted that it was placed outside in the garden shed just in case it decided, vampire motorcycle style, to kill us in our sleep!

The day after tommorrow

Well it has taken me two days to clean up completely ... Xmas day went well ... there are still some brussel sprouts left in the fridge, but most of the other food has been scoffed down ... no complaints of food poisoning yet.

Presents were exchanged ... everyone seemed genuinely pleased with what they got ... a few were upset when they realised that the chocolate dessert meant they could no longer play with their new toys and would have to wait until they got home to play with them further ... Goliath couldn't wait to unwrap his Captain Pugwash tape ... took me a while to track down but it was worth it just to see the smile on his face and Visa was handing out cigars after the arrival of his beloved gaming steering wheel.

Despite my requests for no Ferraro Rochers ... we managed to receive three boxes in total!! Although we have finished off two of the boxes I fear if I go anywhere near the third, I'll end up looking like one!

Played tension tower ... watched Goliath take a record ten minutes to remove one block, followed by Dad removing his block in 10 seconds flat. Little Mujnu was completely calm about his first family Christmas and entertained us all with his amazing musical bouncer for a while.

It was great to have everyone round and we have a lot to be thankful for. Especially after hearing on the news that up to 23,000 people have lost their lives after Tsunamis hit S E Asia. In scenes eerily reminiscient of the movie, huge tidal waves hit beaches with people clinging onto anything floating. In comparison, the fact that I forgot to get bread rolls for the soup pales into insignificance.

Unwanted Christmas presents??

I have almost finished the Christmas shopping ... only one left is Mums ... have absolutely no idea what to get her ... I normally try to get everyone something relevant and useful ... Vertigo, in true Christmas spirit, on our last shopping trip reminded me and other shoppers that "If they don't like it ... they don't have to use it".

Thankfully, in this day and age ... it is likely that rather than leaving unwanted gifts at the back of the cupboard and hoping they will be able to palm them off on someone else ... (yes ... don't try to deny it ... we all have thought it at some point) ... loved ones will be putting them up for sale on ebay or a similar website.

Hey this could prove a profitable Christmas for us all!!

Raider of the Last Miniclip

Just in case you have been wondering where I've been ... I have found a great site full of time-wasting free online games ... so instead of worrying about all the Xmas presents I haven't bought yet or what I am cooking for Xmas dinner, I am playing Crypt Raider .. stuck on level 65 of 100!