Haven't really made a post about Christmas yet, so here it is.

I took quite a long time off over Christmas this year - from when the kids finished on the 21st through to the New Year. This was mainly to make sure there was someone to look after the kids, as Deb continues to have problems getting the time off she wants from her employer. (She's supposed to only work during term time, but they keep making it difficult for her, but that's another story.)

Went to visit one of my sisters on the Saturday - she had rented a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales. It made a lovely trip out, especially as I hadn't seen her for ages. It was great for the children to see her again - and means that for the first time in living memory I've actually seen my whole family at some point during the year. (My parents visited in December, and we met my other sister in London in October.)

On Christmas Eve we made our now traditional visit to the cinema. Went to see Happy Feet, about dancing penguins. Alex lasted half an hour before running out and spent the rest of the movie running around the foyer, with me in attendance. Needless to say, this may not last to next year as a Harrison family tradition.

Christmas Day was a visit to Deb's parents in the morning and then home. We made the mistake of having a light lunch when we got back. Deb then cooked the full monty dinner for tea, but by that stage none of us really fancied it. I was a bit grumpy - not helped by the fact that I was coming down with a cold. Jessica was very happy with all her presents (Lego Star Wars from us - both physical lego, and games for her Gamecube and DS). Alex unfortunately was disappointed. We'd made the mistake of taking him to Hattons a few weeks earlier - and he'd set his heart on a Flying Scotsman engine and a few other things - none of which, of course, we'd planned for Father Christmas to provide. He spent most of the day asking why Father Christmas hadn't read the note he'd left out. Real tearjerker stuff - although he did cheer up eventually. So the day itself was a bit of a damp squib really.

By Boxing Day I was into a full-on head cold, really nasty one. So I don't think I left the house for the next 3 days. Deb gradually came down with it too, and we were flat out until the New Year.

Nice New Year though. I made a Japanese miso noodle soup and a rice and noodle hotpot (from the Wagamama) cookbook, plus some sushi rolls (with smoked salmon). It was fun to be doing strange experimental cooking again. They watched telly with the kids all afternoon. Can't remember what we watched - probably just BBC1 all the way through.

And that was it. Back to work on the 2nd. My new team starts on the 8th. I'm not as downbeat about it as I was, but it's still going to be a struggle. Keep you posted.