I will upload pictures and talk about it later. We had a really nice time.

Jen called us on the 28th with the news that on Christmas day the boiler in the kitchen decided it would be a good idea to spew water everywhere- all over the microwave, all over the stove and oven, all over the floor where it dripped down to the flat below us.

Luckily she was here and was able to get a plumber to come out and turn the water off. Bad news is that boiler is what controls our heating. Good news is the boiler that does the hot water for taking baths and showers still works.

We were supposed to arrive in London this morning at around 10:00 AM but it snowed last night in Budapest, and the flight was rather delayed. We sat on the plane for over four hours waiting for the runway to be okay so that we could leave.

When we walked into the flat I was ready to go back to Budapest because it was warmer there.

“I can see my breath!”

“Thomas, stop whinging.”

We discovered that S had left his window open so now that that is closed and we have some space heaters set up, it isn’t too bad in here.

We were going to have a few friends over tonight for some food and drink and Mathieu brought something nice back from Paris but he needs the stove to cook it. At first we thought we would go over to his place tonight but with S and I getting in late today and feeling a bit knackered, we are going to go over to his place tomorrow night. The plan for New Years was to go to our local and then go watch the fireworks over by The London Eye, but the tube workers are striking tomorrow so I’m not sure if that is still on the itinerary. So instead of the local we will be going to Mathieu’s for red wine, champagne and some mystery French food that he has brought back for us.

Tonight we are going to have red wine and champagne and maybe have a game of drunken Monopoly.

Handyman plumber electrician person is coming by on Tuesday to look at the boiler. Hopefully we will get our central heating and our stove back then. . . With our evil estate agents, I’m not counting on it.

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We’re off today to Budapest where the current conditions are sleet and freezing rain and it is 30/-1.

Something I did not know before we planed this trip is that Budapest is actually two cities - Buda and Pest separated by the Danube river.

Have a wonderful weekend all and I will be back in a week if I don’t freeze to death.

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Are you stuck on getting a Christmas Gift for that one special person that has everything?

Look no further!

On eBay, if you hurry, hurry, hurry because a item this special just CAN’T last you can get for that very special person their very own FULL SIZE STUFFED ANTIQUE AUTHENTIC HORSE TAXIDERMY.

With an opening bid of $800.00 this is a steal!

FULL SIZE STUFFED ANTIQUE AUTHENTIC HORSE TAXIDERMY

This is a full-sized, authentic stuffed horse. Real animal hair, hooves, mane, tail. Stuffed in a very unusual position. Measures approximately 60″ x 36″ x 75″ Free standing, doesn’t need pedestal. Old style taxidermy, not done anymore. Highly unusual prop for stage or theatre, wonderful gift for horse-lover, conversation piece for living room, unique and rare. Chestnut color, black mane and tail. Front right leg is missing, approximately 3″. Some tears in skin - approximately 5-10, no longer than 1″. Two tears in back, approx. 8″. More pictures on request. Contact seller for shipping fees.

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I’ve been feeling rather unChristmasy.

I think it is because I am out of my usual pattern for this time of year.

Work in the Search biz winds down a couple of weeks before Christmas because there is very little work to do and lots of bad things to eat floating around the office.

This is also why I haven’t gotten a job yet because no one can be bothered to really think about hiring someone until after the New Year. I’m not too worried. I have a few things in the works and I even pulled myself out of the ring for something that I knew that I would hate. Something will hit soon.

Not going home feels odd. Will be calling, but my Mom could have used me there this year since my younger siblings are useless twats.

Another reason I feel unChristmasy is I am too broke to buy presents. I LOVE buying Christmas gifts but this year everyone has a rain check since I am down at the bottom of the financial barrel. Exchange rate made very short order of my cashed out 401K. Not that I am destitute. I just feel unChristmasy due to my lack of gift buying.

Is silly I know.

After all I have a dried out firetrap of death in the living room. What doesn’t say Christmas more than that?

Hoping that I get more of the Christmas spirit when S and I get away this weekend. We’re both looking forward to escaping to the snow in Budapest. Will sort of be our honeymoon since we didn’t get away together right after the wedding. I’ve been reading the books we have, but we haven’t planned anything. Will be fun to just show up and do whatever we feel like with no itinerary.

It will be good. After all, nothing says Christmas like goulash!

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Certain items that used to be banned on airplanes — including small tools, scissors and pocketknives — will now be permitted on board.

I suppose they realized that while it would be possible for a hijacking terrorist to eventually nail clip someone to death, that it would be rather impractical.

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“Is our tree dead?” S was looking at our Christmas tree with concern.

“Yeah.”

“When did that happen?”

“A few days ago.”

“Oh.”

The guy that we bought it from had told us that we didn’t even need to put the tree in water claiming that “This tree will last till February”. Having a basic knowledge of science and osmosis, I didn’t believe him, so we bought a tree stand and added water.

He also told us if at any point that we weren’t happy with our tree that we could bring it back. I wish I could be bothered to do that just to hear what he would say.

I think the trees untimely demise is due to it being in the front window right next to the heater and the heat in our flat is constantly being cranked on high. It didn’t stand a chance.

“Should we get rid of it?” S didn’t seem to believe that the tree had turned crispy when he wasn’t looking.

“Nah.”

“Fake tree next year?”

“We should go really fake and get a jet black or a fuchsia or a purple one.”

“Come here.”

“Why?

“You need to be slapped.”

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Back in June, I bought a one sheet of the first Italian Job for S and we dropped it off at a local place to get framed a few weeks ago. We picked it up yesterday and started negotiating the traffic on Balham High Street to take it home. As we passed the Hildreth Street Market, one of the vegetable men saw it and started to sing the Quincy Jones theme song, Get A Bloomin’ Move On (The Self-Preservation Society). Not many people would have made that joke in the US.

Later we were in Leicester Square getting tickets for King Kong (which is really great minus one scene that pushes the bounds of suspension of disbelief) and there were hundreds of people wearing Santa costumes. Right now there are a number of carnival rides set up in the square so just imagine everyone on the ride wearing full Santa gear. It was deliciously surreal. I was cursing not bringing my camera with me.

It’s been really cold and I am not quite sure how I am going to survive February without earmuffs.

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Apperently Phil Spector is extending the concept of “wall of sound” into hair care products.

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Oh how I wish those rumors swirling about who Kerry was going to pick as his running mate had come to fruition. There is no way McCain could have done it though. Republicans may hate each other (as McCain hates Bush) but they stick together like a sick abusive family.

I love that he is sticking it to Bush and because he is playing by the rules Bush can’t do much more than suck his thumb and whimper, “Daddy, I thought this would be more fun. . .”

There is the torture bill that he sponsored that Bush finally had to stop fighting and then yesterday McCain sponsored a bill to tighten lobbying rules.

I love, love, LOVE it.

I would prefer that he would be honest and say out loud what he thinks about the President. I mean everyone knows but your average person in the US doesn’t. It is obvious that he is making a 2008 Prez bid. And I think the man is a nut. I don’t agree with him on so many issues however I do respect him and I am happy to take Bush getting a comeuppance anyway I can get it.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if he had a complete flashback meltdown and said in public exactly what he thinks?

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Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts

Why am I surprised?

And don’t you love that he had to be dragged kicking and screaming into backing McCain’s call for a law banning cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners in American custody?

And what about the article by Doug Thompson on Capitolhillblue.com that last month Bush in response to GOP leaders concern that the push for certain provisons in the Patriot Act would alienate some conservatives, said ““I don’t give a goddamn, I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.”

“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

Thompson writes “I’ve talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution “a goddamned piece of paper.”

I wish I had a time machine and I could bring Mark Twain to 2005. I think he would cry.

From Twain’s The Chronicle of Young Satan written in 1901 (The character speaking is Satan)

“There has never been a just one, never an honorable one — on the part of the instigator of the war. I can see a million years ahead, and this rule will never change in so many as half a dozen instances. The loud little handful — as usual — will shout for the war. The pulpit will — warily and cautiously — object — at first; the great, big, dull bulk of the nation will rub its sleepy eyes and try to make out why there should be a war, and will say, earnestly and indignantly, “It is unjust and dishonorable, and there is no necessity for it.” Then the handful will shout louder. A few fair men on the other side will argue and reason against the war with speech and pen, and at first will have a hearing and be applauded; but it will not last long; those others will outshout them, and presently the anti-war audiences will thin out and lose popularity. Before long you will see this curious thing: the speakers stoned from the platform, and free speech strangled by hordes of furious men who in their secret hearts are still at one with those stoned speakers — as earlier — but do not dare to say so. And now the whole nation — pulpit and all — will take up the war-cry, and shout itself hoarse, and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.

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