Christmas Presence (T)

Only three of us this Christmas but God-willing we'll be four in the next week or so.

More Christmas photos, including Eddie touching a (real) python at the London Stock Exchange children's Christmas party and me looking surprised at Kathryn's lovely Christmas day meal.

One highlight the last week was watching Ferris Beuller one morning (a gift from Eddie); it still feels decadent to me, watching movies before lunch.

McDonalds (T)

When I have a whole day to kill, especially a weekday when on holidays, I often find myself thinking that it would all be a bit better and I a bit happier if I just went out and bought something. Normally I'm not particularly sure what I should buy, it's just a feeling, and despite the evidence of a lifetime's experience. Clearly this is the promise of materialism - when the anticapitalists march much of their angst is about materialism, rather than capitalism - the argument used to be who was best at materialism, but after seventy years the communists gave up, though clearly hung onto some of their old banners.

Although I didn't find anything I needed in the bookshop and newsagents, I did take Eddie to lunch at McDonalds. On Anita's advice I asked for something called a 'nappy meal', which as Kathryn said sounds horrendous at every level; however the staff expressed no knowledge of this product so we went for a happy meal with healthy options. I've drifted out of McDonalds over the last decade, and it is nice to return, it's as much fun as you can have in London for £5, like most large-scale retail successes every last cent shaved off costs, and most of the savings make their way to me. Ultra low cost means little room for pretension (which is good), though possibly a little tight on wages (which isn't so good). Thanks to the supersize-me movement they now go on a bit about nutrition and so on, and although you don't often find yourself popping into McDonalds for a salad, if you navigate the menu carefully then you can end up with apples and grapes as well as the burger and excellent little toy (see the video below).

Optimistically I think that's the point, McDonalds + supersize-me = America.

Happy Christmas! (T)

Children, Married with Children (T)

On Monday A & I achieved the holy grail of marriage with young children; we went to see a film together. We saw the gritty and largely excellent new James Bond.


The boy says 'oh dear' at any opportunity. It proved useful on the way to church when his hat fell off, I was able to go back and collect it. He also has started referring to us as 'mumis', 'dadis' and 'eddis'; it sounds like a Greek affectation but he may just be mastering the genitive.

London Zoo (T & A)

Eddie has discovered the joys of London Zoo: "More, more" to the Zebras as they disappear into their sheds. It's the one problem with zoos, the amount of time the animals seem to spend sleeping and lying around.








Regents Park, which separates us from the zoo.

Aaah Bye Bye (T)

Eddie enjoying the lights coming and going.

Rachel and Victor's Wedding (T)

Rachel and Victor got married on Saturday, 9th December. It was a lovely service and reception with a strong Christian feel which was appropriate given their plans to work as missionaries in Northern Thailand. The wedding service was conducted by the bishop, in full regalia, on request of Victor, nevertheless he did not manage to upstage Rachel who looked wonderful.