christmas eve

tis the night before christmas
she thought with a pause

'im in new york,
for the season with Clause!'

specials on tv
kids bouncing off walls

food stuffed in till up-chuck
and homeward bound calls...

nb: apparently 'the night before Christmas' is the most parodied poem ever written, i stumbled across a couple that made me laugh a little more than i should probably admit...

'An Ernest Hemingway Christmas' - It was the night before Christmas. The house was very quiet. No creatures were stirring in the house. There weren't even any mice stirring...

'An Intellectuals Christmas' - 'Twas the nocturnal segment of the diurnal period preceding the annual Yuletide celebration, and throughout our place of residence,
kinetic activity was not in evidence among the possessors of this potential, including that species of domestic rodent known as Mus musculus...

Anyway, back to the point.

It just occurred to me yesterday, while walking round the city checking out shop displays and Christmas decorations, that I'm spending Christmas in New York this year. How cool is that?!

The city was fantastic full of last minute shoppers, kids in insane queues for the Rockefeller ice rink, the Macy's 'miracle on 34th st' window displays and a light show at grand central station that we happened upon by chance. every romantic seasonal stereotype was there so for once i decided to join a friend in being a tourist, walking for miles to soak in the sights.

It was awesome!

Today is Christmas eve and Jace was round for the afternoon. He's eight, and bouncing off the walls with excitement for tomorrow. Roger prepared dinner for tomorrow and the rest of us (since we weren't allowed to help) played board games and did last minute things of our own to get ready for tomorrow. And then there was the eating. mince pies and British chocolate (taken over by Roger's sister for the holiday) oh i might explode but it was good.

It's only 6weeks till i leave here, i can't believe it, and Christmas is weird being away from family, but it made me realise how soon that is. it feels like i just got here a few weeks ago.

it's a real white new york Christmas. ace!