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Yesterday we went to a Christmas party for children in the village hall. There were the usual assortment of games and the crowd-induced frenzy that comes when three or more children are together and there is the promise of cake later on. At one point there was a pinata. The oldest boy there (about nine) who is notorious for being a bit of a thug decapitated the pinata and yelled out with glee, "I am the murderer!" I wonder if he plays Herod in the Christmas Nativity at the church. Parents were handed out cups of tea and biscuits while the kids had pizza, christmas cake and brightly colored punch. Later on Father Christmas appeared! This blew the minds of many small children -especially when he handed out presents with their names on them. "OMG HE KNOWS US!"
Later on there was dinner with family and an evening spent with a grumpy toddler and teething babies. Because this is what you do with extended family now. Passing babies about, having snatches of conversation and eating chocolate.
Once babies/toddlers were put to bed I had a hilarious moment with my Father in law. I was looking at the Radio Times (tv schedule) and my Father in law leaned over and said, "Have you ever heard of Benny Hill?" I didn't snort. I really had to hold back to yearning to do so. I said, "um....well...yes." I admit to laughing. He began to wax poetical about how great Benny Hill was. I explained my impressions (gently) and the American impression of British humor based on exposure to Benny Hill.
Benny Hill is a sainted figure of comedy it seems.
We ended up watching for a little bit... yep. That is Benny Hill. Girls with a lot of cleavage, people running around fast to yakkity sax and so on.
Of course my Father in law grew up in a time when they only had two channels. Yet there was also Monty Python. (which he also likes) Culturally there is always two sides of the coin when it comes to what appeals to the masses. Burlesque and absurdist silliness for everyone.
Today I am not feeling so hot so I am staying home while Mr. Jenner and his Mother take Senor Onion swimming. I think it will please my Mother in law that I am trusting her to take Senor Onion off like that without my presence. It isn't that I don't trust her (because I do) it has more to do with me being an anxious individual and he is also two. I always feel it is a bit mean to hand over a semi-uncivilized human over to them.
Right now I am watching Andrew Marr. One of the panel members is William Hague who has an accent so posh that it probably has its own crest and bloodline. The woman next to him is wearing jeans. I don't have a problem with jeans (own some myself) but I do think that when you are on a television show you should make a slight effort to look like you aren't on your way to the grocery store. You don't have to wear a super fancy outfit but a pair of non-denim trousers is not that hard. She does get points for wearing cute shoes. *snorts* William Hague is now rocking out to an Irish band. Bless him.
The other night Mr. Jenner and I were watching a bit of television and there was an ad for the soap opera HollyOaks and of course everyone was miserable and I said to Mr. Jenner, "Has anyone ever been happy on Holly Oaks?" and he said, "Someone once was -and they died." Hee
So today is Sunday that means Sunday roast beef dinner with the family. A piece of beef bigger than Ted Kennedy's head, yorkshire puddings coming out of your ears, some exquisite gravy, potatoes roasted in meat drippings, vegetables as an after-thought and lemon meringue pie for dessert. Way too much wine, chocolates and cheeseboard later and people rolling themselves home. Tomorrow Nanny and Great-Granddad arrive. Nanny is a woman of absolute calm. You put a baby or cat in her lap and they immediately fall asleep. Everyone is a poppet or dear in her eyes and she will make some quietly wicked observations. And she does craft too!!! Great-Granddad is half deaf, loves custard and plays a mean game of scrabble and enjoys Countdown. He also has this whole elaborate ritual for making his sandwiches at lunch.
While we have grey skies and the usual west country weather -at home it seems it is 11 degrees out, there is a blizzard and Western Washington has essentially shut down. What fun!
Let the fun of Christmas week begin.
Later on there was dinner with family and an evening spent with a grumpy toddler and teething babies. Because this is what you do with extended family now. Passing babies about, having snatches of conversation and eating chocolate.
Once babies/toddlers were put to bed I had a hilarious moment with my Father in law. I was looking at the Radio Times (tv schedule) and my Father in law leaned over and said, "Have you ever heard of Benny Hill?" I didn't snort. I really had to hold back to yearning to do so. I said, "um....well...yes." I admit to laughing. He began to wax poetical about how great Benny Hill was. I explained my impressions (gently) and the American impression of British humor based on exposure to Benny Hill.
Benny Hill is a sainted figure of comedy it seems.
We ended up watching for a little bit... yep. That is Benny Hill. Girls with a lot of cleavage, people running around fast to yakkity sax and so on.
Of course my Father in law grew up in a time when they only had two channels. Yet there was also Monty Python. (which he also likes) Culturally there is always two sides of the coin when it comes to what appeals to the masses. Burlesque and absurdist silliness for everyone.
Today I am not feeling so hot so I am staying home while Mr. Jenner and his Mother take Senor Onion swimming. I think it will please my Mother in law that I am trusting her to take Senor Onion off like that without my presence. It isn't that I don't trust her (because I do) it has more to do with me being an anxious individual and he is also two. I always feel it is a bit mean to hand over a semi-uncivilized human over to them.
Right now I am watching Andrew Marr. One of the panel members is William Hague who has an accent so posh that it probably has its own crest and bloodline. The woman next to him is wearing jeans. I don't have a problem with jeans (own some myself) but I do think that when you are on a television show you should make a slight effort to look like you aren't on your way to the grocery store. You don't have to wear a super fancy outfit but a pair of non-denim trousers is not that hard. She does get points for wearing cute shoes. *snorts* William Hague is now rocking out to an Irish band. Bless him.
The other night Mr. Jenner and I were watching a bit of television and there was an ad for the soap opera HollyOaks and of course everyone was miserable and I said to Mr. Jenner, "Has anyone ever been happy on Holly Oaks?" and he said, "Someone once was -and they died." Hee
So today is Sunday that means Sunday roast beef dinner with the family. A piece of beef bigger than Ted Kennedy's head, yorkshire puddings coming out of your ears, some exquisite gravy, potatoes roasted in meat drippings, vegetables as an after-thought and lemon meringue pie for dessert. Way too much wine, chocolates and cheeseboard later and people rolling themselves home. Tomorrow Nanny and Great-Granddad arrive. Nanny is a woman of absolute calm. You put a baby or cat in her lap and they immediately fall asleep. Everyone is a poppet or dear in her eyes and she will make some quietly wicked observations. And she does craft too!!! Great-Granddad is half deaf, loves custard and plays a mean game of scrabble and enjoys Countdown. He also has this whole elaborate ritual for making his sandwiches at lunch.
While we have grey skies and the usual west country weather -at home it seems it is 11 degrees out, there is a blizzard and Western Washington has essentially shut down. What fun!
Let the fun of Christmas week begin.
