December always seems to bring out the urge to blog. Perhaps because in this space everything can be pretty and orderly and under control. Real life is so disappointing in those areas sometimes, don't you find?
Today is the day of Johnny's Nativity Play. He is an angel. A very disgusted angel - not sure if it is because of the white tights or the dancing. I hasten to add, he has not been singled out for humiliation - his entire class are angels. I plan to take a LOT of pictures, so I can blackmail him when he is a stroppy teenager.
The child who already shows signs of being a stroppy teenager gave me an honest, heartfelt hug today. On his classroom steps. Now that was unexpected. But very lovely too. I think it's because I decided to help him find his lost rugby boots instead of yelling at him for being irresponsible. I did the yelling yesterday - about another episode of flakiness on his part. Perhaps he took it on board. Christmas is the season of miracles, after all. And I found the boots. Happiness all round.
The kitchen has been a hubub of activity this morning. I've made Tupperware chorizo (Gill said it's really good - I like a personal recommendation) a batch of cinnamon biscuits and one of chocolate and ginger thins. I gave only eaten three, which shows steel-like self control on my part, don't you think? Mind you - half of them are still in the oven, so the body-count may well rise.
My neighbour has hired men to cut holes in the tarmac driveway so he can plant a hedge. This seems a plan doomed to failure to me. There is much thudding going on and plumes of filth. My cats are traumatized.
Yesterday, I wrote a Christmas card to my Aunt in New Zealand. Her card to us always arives in November. She is very organized. I went to post it, saw the queue in the Post Office and put it back in my bag. I am sorry Aunty Betty - it's going to be late again.
My phone number transfer has worked! So now my shiny new iPhone is fully functional. It has been many years since I felt so much excitement over a birthday present - took the sting out of turning 40 completely. I have Siri. Thimbleanna is using hers for sensible things. I am dictating lots of texts to the people who used to text me ALL THE TIME even though I was so hopeless at texting that it would take me 15 mins to prod out Yes, see you at 9.30 in reply.
The children also keep hi-jacking Siri to ask it things like "What are you wearing?" and "Would you like a cup of tea?". They are quite frustrated, having never before come across an adult they couldn't wind up. I think Siri might have the last laugh.

I have knit my phone a little sock to keep it warm. And a baby vest. And a silk necklace and a washcloth (not for the phone). I will get round to showing them at some point I'm sure.
Right - mind-dump concluded - hope your day is going well.