Xmas plans

Hi,

We've had a great couple of pre-xmas weeks going to Xmas parties and xmas shopping with Erika and Christian even though I'm not buying or receiving any this year... well ok, a couple maybe ;) We have been to two xmas parties at work, (as usual only Christian wins airline tickets!) and we have also had time for a few of our own, the last one arranged at the Harcourt Arms, a Swedo-Anglo pub opposite the Swedish Church in Marylebone. The Swedish Church choir were doing a Lucia so we had some glögg and enjoyed the singing.

I took yesterday and today off work so that I could fly to Stockholm for the holidays ahead of the big 'rush hour' at Heathrow airport but the weather had other plans. We've had thick fog covering England since Tuesday so of course we get tons of flight cancellations and delays, which meant that my slim chances of travelling stand-by are kinda less than slim now.

So yesterday Christian (who is also stuck in London for xmas due to no passport) and I went to IKEA to stock up on some essentials and of course for lunch consisting of meat balls, potato, gravy and lingonberry jam. Christian and Victoria already have a xmas eve celebration planned for Sunday night so we'll see if I get to spend another xmas eve in the comfort of my own home or if I will be stuck at the airport and missing the xmas lunch on Sunday in Stockholm...

When we got back it seemed a shame that we haven't yet got around to buying a xmas tree so off we go to the market. They only had ugly ones left so no luck but maybe today they have better ones! So to celebrate having a day off work we went in search of a pub with a pool table and we found a great one with good music and I managed to beat Christian a few times even though he plays every week and I play once a year ;) But boy do I need practise... am not playing anywhere near my best!

After a cider or two we decided that the fire place at the Atlas was the place to be and as luck was having it, there was a free table right next to the fireplace! We had great pasta, another drink and then home to watch a great Swedish film Erika got for her birthday, called "Slim Susie." It's a bit scary to imagine that Swedish small-town people actually are like the people in the film... says Miss big city girl ;)

Until next time, have fun preparing the last bits for Xmas!