I am surprised that there are two guests this morning. One is here for a month studying international business, but I don’t get the impression that he will be here over Christmas. Caroline tells me later that the other one, a Japanese gentleman, a professor, arrived at the University for two weeks with no reservation anywhere and they asked if Glenelg could put him up. Tony and Caroline are going to Wales, but Jake has agreed to take care of things while they are gone.
I walk along Bristol Road looking in all the shops for a toy for Lutchford—it is his birthday today (5 years old). I continue to Sainsbury’s, which is crowded with holiday shoppers. I buy a few groceries, boxes of Christmas shortbread for people at home, and a tennis ball toy for Lutchford.
When I put Lutchford’s gift concealed in a gift bag on the floor in front of him, he knows immediately that it is for him. He noses it and takes it right out of the bag. He hasn’t let it out of his sight since. Caroline says it will be his favorite toy, until he gets the next one.
I work on my journal, wrap gifts, write some postcards, and chat with Barbara on the phone. I heat some pasta for dinner and eat it in the TV room while I watch the old movie—Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis. I watch So you want to be a Millionaire. Caroline comes in to chat during the commercials.
Caroline asks me if there is anything I don’t like to eat. I say I am not a fussy eater. I like most everything… except, I add as an afterthought, Brussels sprouts. She says Brussel sprouts are a tradition at Christmas dinners in England and we will be having them tomorrow. Oops.
- In today’s news: The TV news says there is flooding in many places in the Midlands. I can hear the rain pounding against my bedroom window and the wind howling.
Jody’s UK Memories 