hantsbear: (God Jul!)
2005-12-24 03:25 am

'Twas The Night Before Christmas And Nothing Was Stirring, Not Even A Koala...

Hmmm... doesn't really rhyme, does it?  Anyways, dear beloved aged parent picks me up about 8am to head over to Sussex and drop me off at Karen and Keith's.  The presents are packed; the pudding is ready.  All that remains is to wish you and yours



Happy Holidays!


Now be off with you and do the eating and drinking and being merry thing...!

hantsbear: (God Jul!)
2004-12-26 11:07 am
Entry tags:

Only 364 Days To Christmas...

(...don't even ask me how many shopping days!!!)

And so, X-mess is over for another year.  The chritsmas pudding was a huge hit, being adored by all who ate it, and orders being taken for next year etc.  Much laughter and frivolity - I can honestly say this year I enjoyed Christmas. 

The one thing that would have made it complete was up in Worcester.   Oh well, mebbe next year...
hantsbear: (God Jul!)
2004-12-16 08:33 pm
Entry tags:
hantsbear: (Svenskan bjorn)
2004-12-04 08:33 pm

What's With This Stockholm Place, Already...??!!

Yes, I know, this is my third posting today.  Maybe it’s all the hot chocolate I’ve been drinking, or perhaps there’s something in the Vanilla Sauce.  I must confess, I have been overdosing on Vanilla Sauce today. Apple Cake this morning; Raspberry Pie this evening.  With plenty of Vanilla Sauce (and no, it’s not like custard…)

 

Anyway, I’ve just been out wandering around the streets of the Old Town (Gamla Stan).  It starts to get dark here around 3pm.  Not that that’s a problem.  You see, the Old Town is best viewed at night; wandering down medieval alleyways, and constantly finding something new.  I’ve been doing a lot of that today.  I’ll try and take some pictures and post them.  I mean, the place is pretty kewl during the day, with a low rumble of people as they bustle by; a mixture of Swedish and English in the air.  And street markets, and glögg and pepparkakor being sold on every corner.  This morning – a vague whiff of cinnamon in the air.  The sound of church bells.  It’s that kind of place – infectious.  And I love it.

I just wish someone was here to share it with me.

hantsbear: (Svenskan bjorn)
2004-11-29 07:55 pm

Jag Vara Till Sverige...!!

SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES SK 532
DEPART: LONDON HEATHROW FRI 03DEC04 1350
ARRIVE: STOCKHOLM ARLANDA FRI 03DEC04 1715

SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES SK 527
DEPART: STOCKHOLM ARLANDA MON 06DEC04 1515
ARRIVE: LONDON HEATHROW MON 06DEC04 1655

And so December sees the koala heaving on a jet plane once again to the land of the vikings.  Primary purpose is to do a little "unusual" Christmas shopping; secondary agenda is of course man watching.  There's something about cute blond furry Swedish men, which probably explains my frequent visits to Sweden.  That, and the meatballs...

hantsbear: (wot you looking at?)
2004-11-14 10:37 am

Useful And Acceptable Gifts...

And so, my Chiropractor's appointment comes round again.  Leave the house at 0830 to head over to Southsea; coffee in Knight and Lee's department store (probably one of the last department store restaurants with waitress service) and then to the clinic for my appointment.  Where I am greeted with "Ah... we left a message on your answerphone...".  At which point I discovered 1) My chiropractor has a raging toothache and is scouring Portsmouth for an emergency dentist and 2) The clinic doesn't have my cellphone number.  I'm sure had I not been on the Effexor, I would have kvetched for England (or Golders Green at the absolute minimum).  Instead, I was quite calm about it.  Decided to head off to Chichester instead and make an attempt at a few little bits of early Christmas shopping.

Arrived in Chichester 20 minutes late thanks to the wonderful state of the British rail system (a rail had broken just outside Portsmouth).  Went into MVC (a chain of music and DVD stores) and was complemented on my beard by a very cute, longhaired bearded little bear.  And then, at the market square, a very woofy folk band was playing live.  All in all, Chichester was full of woofy, furry goodness yesterday.

On to today... mundane stuff - second coat of paint on the bathroom floor... general tidying up... bolognaise sauce... and "Crap From The Past" on the PC...

hantsbear: (flower bear)
2004-10-28 06:42 pm

Keep Taking The Tablets...

Seem to have hit a quiet patch right now, just as I start the "brain candy" as [livejournal.com profile] albadger  describes it.  Well, so far, apart from the occasional attack of gyppy tummy and raging insomnia that hit me the night after the first pill, no noticeable side effects.  Have to check in with the doc next week, but otherwise okay.

Last time I spoke to [livejournal.com profile] rock_bear , he was sniffling his way around Devon in search of bikers and honey and lemon, poor love.  I'd say he was returning to civilisation on Sunday, but then I realised he was heading up to Southport, near Liverpool, so p'raps not.  I should add to that last comment that I have never actually been to Liverpool; I just made the comment on the offchance that some outraged bear from Liverpool will offer me an all expenses paid trip to, er, show me the sights...!

In the meantime, I now have an offer of Christmas entertainment from some old friends.  I am on a promise to make a Christmas Pudding; I'll probably have a go this weekend - mind you, they usually require quite a bit of steaming, if memory serves.  I think I've got most of the ingredients, including a drop of some of my favourite Otard cognac.  Well, maybe more than a drop...

hantsbear: (South Park)
2003-12-28 04:51 pm

Survived Christmas...

Briefly : Xmas Eve - Dear Beloved Aged Parent picks me up around lunchtime and we drive to Southampton Airport for the flight to Guernsey; lunch was pepperoni pizza - how festive. 35 minute flight uneventful; arrived at the hotel and my gaydar pinged off the scale on being introduced to the co-owner of the hotel - camp is not the word. Alas, somewhat in the Old Queen league, and therefore dismissed as being of no intrinsic value...! The hotel was mainly filled with retired gentlefolk, with which much polite conversation was made, while my teeth ground. Food was excellent; plenty of it too. Alas, sleep was a precious commodity; Dear Beloved Aged Parent snores if not worse than me, certainly on a par.

Xmas Day - Went for a walk, and then a drive around the island. Christmas lunch; pretty traditional. Snoozed most of the afternoon then watched some movie or other - I forget what. Light buffet supper. Bog all sleep again.

Boxing Day - Walk. Drive round Island. Eat. Drive into town. Eat. Try to sleep. Trying not to commit patricide.

Got up early on the Saturday to catch the flight back to Southampton, then Dear Beloved Aged Parent drove me to Karen and Keith's in Crawley. As he drove off, gave huge sigh of relief. Nothing against the old bugger, but he was trying to be too jolly to one of the waitresses, which started to wear a bit thin. Much as the hotel was nice; food was excellent... if I do anything like that again, I think I will try and stick out for separate rooms.

And onto today. Woke up around 7am, and looked on CEEFAX for Douglas's flight.

"0950 Dallas Fort W AA 78 Expected 1254"

Groan. Roll over. Hung around at Karen and Keith's until around 12-ish then struck out for the airport. As I arrived around 1240, the plane landed, so I hung around until the flight status changed to In Customs Hall. Pottered up to an internet kiosk to get rid of spurious e-mail, and had just finished as a somewhat dis-shevelled Douglas staggered towards me muttering things about nicotine, caffeine and his general loathing of Texas and American Airlines. So, replete with the above, we got on a grotty conveyance and ended up back home.

Thus endeth the festive season...
hantsbear: (flower bear)
2003-12-24 07:18 am
Entry tags:

Christmas Eve...

I'm off now until Sunday, when I should return with a [livejournal.com profile] longhairelric in tow, so until then...

Season's Greetings!
Happy Holidays!
Nadolig Llawen!
God Jul!
Hyvaa Joulouaa!
hantsbear: (that's mister cranky koala to you)
2003-12-21 07:12 pm

On Christmas...

I got the Stern Eyebrows down the telephone tonight. It came about as I was talking to Russ about Christmas, and how I was not looking forward to spending 3 days in the same hotel room as my father over the holiday. No exit route; no back-up plan; no personal space. As I have mooted on more than one occasion, I love my father to bits, and if he passed away I'd go to pieces. But in small doses. And I've seen more of him in the last 2 months than usual. I know he means well, but I don't think I'd be dreading this trip quite as much if I had my own room to retreat to as and when.

After last Christmas being a bit of a trial with the whole John thing going on and me slowly climbing the walls over the whole holiday; I'd like to spend a Christmas with someone special to me.

Maybe next year...
hantsbear: (wild hair)
2002-12-22 05:13 pm
Entry tags:

Spicy Christmas Wishes... Seasoned Greetings...!

It's that time of year again. Time to wish followers of this journal a hearty greeting; raise a toast to you all and hope you have a happy Christmas/Yule and a hearty and healthy new year.

I'm going to be in Ireland over new year, so this will be my last post for a few weeks.

And I look forward to meeting some of you at last next year.

Big seasonal hugs from hantsbear.