It was a perfect Christmas weekend. Quite rainy, but that made it feel even cosier to stay in and just, well, be cosy. Nog and I set up the “gaming table” on Christmas Eve … with chess, backgammon and scrabble. And we played all three whenever the mood struck. And of course I watched my two favourite Christmas films, along with some other stuff on TV & DVD, and did some reading. Lots of amazing food was consumed, along with plenty of cava and wine. And we also got out for a few walks in between rain storms. All in all, a very happy Christmas indeed. Oh, and there were prezzies too.
You can see them below the links …
Well, okay. Nog and I had decided at the beginning of December that our Christmas present to each other would be to go to Málaga for the long weekend because Manolo had offered us the use of his apartment again, and that we would take turns treating each other to nice meals out … so we did that. But you know, it’s still nice to have something to open on Christmas morning. And so, Nog got me a gift package of my one & only perfume, Clinique Elixir. Which was so wonderful as I’d been eking out the last few drops I had left for the past six months or so. And then Nog got to open … my laptop! And see a photo of the gift I’m going to give him in January (once they let me use my phone points again). Heh. He didn’t mind. And on Saturday we actually went to the shop so I could show it to him in person and he could see it for himself. It’s really a very cool mobile phone and even has that “beam me up Scotty” flip top, which will also protect the screen. He likes it.
Other “gifts” included really nice Skype chats with my friend Darlene and her family in Toronto, blog buddies Sledpress & Raincoaster, and also my dear friend Craig (aka zoomer) … and a curious twist in which a friend of mine said that his present to me would be to send a present to another friend on my behalf – that one is still making me smile!
Oh, and Flor dropped by with wine and cheese and fresh figs … and a vegetable peeler. An interesting selection of gifts. I’m going to be taking her laptop in to get repaired while she is away in Italy and will try to find a wee giftie to slip into the carrying case before she gets back.
And of course I got the super-fab 12 Days of Christmas pop-up book from Teuchter. And another book from my friend Juan. Plus a couple of donations for meals & cava. As well as many lovely cards and messages from friends.
But you know, all I really want for Christmas is a clean PET scan next month. And to be here with you all again next Christmas. This one has been a bit hard, fighting back the fears (have been having some very worrying pains here and there) and so every moment felt especially poignant. Anyhow, I hope I didn’t leave anyone out … just want to say I love you all and that it really has been my very best Christmas ever.
Thanks everyone!
casa azahar 
Az – so glad you were able to relax and enjoy a long weekend. I got tied up in blog tweaking (again) in between holiday spats aka dinners at separate family gatherings. I know it can be tough to not obsess about the unknown and the aches and pains that lead up to it – but don’t, ok? It’s for naught anyway, so don’t waste the energy. Meanwhile, I’ll draw you up a clean PET. 😉
Love the poinsettias!
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I’ve got to catch up on all your blog tweaking! Love the look of Life Out Loud, even if it does have white text. And yeah I know, it’s stupid to worry, what will be will be … but we’re talking some weird-ass pain here. Though I guess it could be scar and hernia related. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Aren’t the pointsettas great? I took that photo one morning on my trip to Málaga.
Glad to hear you at least got lots of dinners … too bad about the spats. Oh, and I will email you soon about the About thing. Been doing some writing lately and think I could put it to use somewhere or other. And maybe both! 🙂
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I am so glad you got to have the Christmas you wanted. How often does that kind of thing work the way it’s supposed to? Huzza!
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:smooch:
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I’m very glad Christmas was great for you. I have no doubt that you will be here next year, and that all the mysterious pains are related to scar tissue, hernia, over-eating, worrying, and that most ubiquitous of causes: getting older.
We had a wonderful Christmas here, and the best present I got was the family gathered for breakfast and there was not a single melt down! Also, in the middle of breakfast Jesse was able to call us from Kirkuk, Iraq, and talk to everybody. That made me so filled with joy I proceeded to burst into tears of joy, which is not something I have experienced a lot of times in my life. I guess I was just overwhelmed.
Anyway, glad your day was so wonderful. I am enjoying the week between Christmas and New years as a holiday from work, which is real balancing act for me since it means that no money is coming in but I am getting a needed rest. Considering how truncated our funds have been lately, that is a real balancing act between enjoyment and worry. But I just cling to my affirmation: “There is always enough money. There is always more than enough money.”
Add that to “Azahar is cancer free and will remain cancer free” and I have plenty to think about.
By the way, your card finally arrived and it is splendid. Thank you so much, it is so exciting to get foreign mail! Love the glitter tree! I am in the process of making a card for you and it will be in the mail shortly.
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Glad you had such a good day -sounds very warm and friendly.
We played games too – Settlers of Catan and Cranium – and on telly we watched Doctor Who and a new episode of Poirot…nice, cosy, fireside things to do. 🙂
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It was great to chat with you. It’s been what, a year? I told you this would be a two-year process, and I’m glad to see that you’re using the time in the most positive way, to grow. Which sounds totally sappy, but whatever. Fuckit. You’re awesome and you should be proud of what you’ve withstood this year. You’re a warrior.
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Yep, just about exactly a year since we last chatted. Isn’t Skype the greatest?
The two year anniversary (re: the process) is coming up in May. And yeah, even though it may sound sappy, I know that I’ve grown a lot since I got sick. The best part being that I think I actually like myself better now. Not cos I might be dying, but because I’ve been able to let go of things that never really felt like they belonged to me – you know what I mean? – yet they somehow seemed to define me. I know I still have more baggage to chuck, but I do feel good about the progress I’ve made so far.
Now if I could get my work mojo working…
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