Hah, yeah she's quality. I may start on Mrs Merton when I'm back in the smoke Friday, I never watched them when they aired.

I was invited to spend the day with my friends and their kids (boys, one newly four, the other nearly seven).

Had a lie in, opened the presents under the tree (one for the dog from my mum, one for me from my brother and his family) showered, dressed, and walked up to my friends.

My mate had texted in the morning saying there were things for me to help build. Right enough, I was barely in the door and the box for a slot-racing set was thrust into my hands. So I put that together, while drinking a couple of glasses of the mulled wine I’d brought up.

My mate’s missus has quite traditional hobbies; crochet, baking, sewing. Today she was wearing a skirt which she made herself for the day. As you might imagine, she’s a star in the kitchen, so her turkey with all the trimmings was delicious.

While they did the washing up, the two boys and I had a lengthy Nerf gun fight. I won.

We stopped, but they were still washing up, so the peace process failed and we descended rapidly into Nerf War II (which I also won, and retired undefeated).

We exchanged out presents. Unfortunately their intended present for me has not arrived but a) they gave me a Cineworld gift card as a backup, and b) my mate’s mum - who is in Canada visiting her other son and his family - knew I’d be there for Christmas, so she’d bought me a couple of gifts to open. They’re a sweet family.

Given the abundance of exciting toys on the go, I was worried the books I’d got them wouldn’t get much attention, but the eldest was immediately lost in his Lego Star Wars annual (I also got him a book all about space, his current favourite thing) and it turns out that the youngest has been watching the 2018 Grinch film on repeat all December, so the Dr. Seuss book and Grinch cuddly toy I got him went down waaay better than I could have hoped.

Wondered home, and I’m drip-feeding the dog the treats from my mum.

I’ll chalk up Christmas 2019 as a success.

Aherne also did a small series with Craig Cash with Cash playing her son. Very offbeat and a bit weird but watchable.

Wifey played a blinder re todays' dinner. Both turkey and ham were God like. Honeyed parsnips and carrots + sprouts chopped and fried with bacon bits. Roast spuds in goose fat were the best yet. There was buttery mash and the pigs in blankets of course.

Wifey insists on a retro 70s melon/cherry starter drenched with Cointreau. We can't agree on any other starter due to tastes. I'd be for smoked salmon but I'd also be the only one eating it.

My pudding was splendid btw.  No room for the cheese so that will be for another day.

Turkey and ham pie for lunch

I'm not sure I can cope

Unclear atm, it's at the in-laws

I'll be expecting regular updates. Will they be serving it with mash, maybe a little jus? Public needs to know.

26th is always out 'light' dinner of the festive. I'll be grilling some seabass to go with a nice crisp salad.

After that, it's as you were and back to gorging on leftovers, crisps and chocolate.

Ah well, back to work today. Bloody Christmas football! St Mirren today which is mercifully close to home, then the Dundee derby tomorrow.

After an absolute shit show of a year, personally and in the world, what an absolute delight Xmas 2019 was. Only thing I would change was that I would have liked my wife there, but we are both stubborn asshats and have never yet had an Xmas together as we want to be with our respective families, so I've made my peace there. Next year may be different but w/e.

Met at 1, a few drinks and opened presents. At this point there's no pretences - I want games, my sister wants vinyl, dad wants food and mum wants Amazon vouchers. So that was all dealt with.

Meal was, as mentioned elsewhere, fantastic. No wastage and great quality produce from valvona and local butchers. Following that, some quizzes and then two rounds of Sherlock Holmes consulting detective. 11pm taxi home (yo £27 from duddingston to Silverknowes.....) And a good night sleep.

Grand.

Stuffing is basically bread here, with herbs, onions and bits and bobs (cranberries this year, nice addition). Stuffing a turkey with sausage would be overkill.

I don't actually stuff the turkey with stuffing, it cooks much better without it. I bake the stuffing in a tray on its own.

I have ascended beyond fowl for Christmas lunch. Couldn't do it at present. Don't want a massive bird with stuffing at present. Give me a nice bespoke meal.

I just had a roast chicken leg and toast for breakfast. Magical.

Sausage stuffing, turkey, stilton and bacon panini for lunch here, with home made plum chutney. It's like I'm trying to give myself gout.

I hate stuffing, evil stuff.
Bloody stinks too.

I had slow cooked beef with mash, Yorkshires, veg, pigs in blankets, gravy.
Yule log afterwards that only the fiance had some of.

Was meant to go visit family but was rough from the night before and kept getting visitors so fiancee went on her own.

Late night again and an early morning, got up hoovers round my guests who slept over (1 in spare room 1 on couch) then washed all the xmas dinner dishes etc.
Can relax now and wait till fiancee eventually rises from her grave and watch footy all day.

Merry Christmas everyone.

One thing I'm not keen on at all is cranberry sauce. I can eat it, it's fine, but never actively seek it out and will avoid if optional. It sucks because I love xmas sandwiches in shops but every one of the fucker has cranberry sauce in it, I'd kill for just a turkey and stuffing sandwich.