Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a great time last night and an amazing Christmas.


little_miyavi wanted to be the Christmas tree...

I have to say that, for me at least, it didn't really feel very Christmassy this year. I think this was mostly down to the fact that I pretty much spent the whole of December at work and I hated almost every minute of it. Still, even though I didn't feel particularly festive, I had such a good time.


Who knew that little_miyavi was Father Christmas...?!

Christmas day was mental, as usual. The Smidge and I got up at 5:30, lit the living room fire and made cups of coffee and hot chocolate before waking the parents - because clearly we are still four years old. We soon proceeded to tear into presents with much gusto and glee. My presents were made of so much awesome it hurts. I know I shouldn't have favourites but I do. Among them are my h.Naoto top and Nyappy Bunny figure - Thanks Ma and Pa! - and my uBuGoe flyer, Beyblade keyrings, Shadow Hearts postcard and a magazine with a FAIRY FORE interview in. Hee, Smidge, you are fantastic!


My fantastic presents: Shadow Hearts books, demos, postcard and telephone cards. An Cafe mirror, rolling stamp and Nyappy Bunny. BIG BANG by BREAKERZ, plus and assortment of Akihide/BREAKERZ trading cards. Beyblade keyrings. FAIRY FORE's SWEET-ness PV video, uBuGoe flyer and CD Data with FAIRY FORE interview. h.Naoto top. Massive tin of Roses, and moneys. Not pictured: PJs, make up, hair products, underwear and nail varnishes. Thank you everyone!


The Smidge's presents, mostly bought by me to be enjoyed by me. Lol. There be Yubinbasya, Miyavi, Due le Quartz, CSI:NY doujinshi, Reborn figures and Power Rangers. Haha. Fantastic!


The aftermath...

During dinner, I ended up with a mini fan from a cracker and a fork sellotaped to my hand. And I wish I could post the picture of the Smidge with a shoehorn for a nose but she would actually kill me. Or burn my FAIRY FORE collection. Eh.

The rest of the day was spent eating chocolate, playing with presents, drooling over Akihide in the sekai wo odoru PV and playing cards. For money.

It was a proper, good old-fashioned Christmas indeed. Lovely.

Boxing Day morning was spent cramming clothes and make-up into various bags as we packed to head up to Scotland. I burrowed into a mountain of duvets in the back as it was so cold my feet went numb. The journey up there was pretty horrific and took seven and a half hours, thanks to a slight wrong turning and an epic mission through the Scottish border roads in the dark. Oy.

We got to Livingstone just in time for visiting hours and went to see Gemma, Scott and baby Ellie in the hospital. Little Ellie was the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen and it was just so good to see G and Scott again. I miss them! After just half an hour, though, we had to leave and so we made our way to G and Scott's house for food and sleep.


Ellie Louise: an adorable bundle of awesome. And super tiny!

Gemma and Ellie were allowed out on Saturday so we had a second Christmas to celebrate. Again there was much chocolate involved, and quite a bit of alcohol too. Scott's brother, Paul, and his girlfriend, Natalie, came round that night to see Ellie and we all sat around drinking and talking about utter nonsense all night. 'twas very lovely.


Auntie Oog (me) and Auntie Smidge (myvxkirito). Poor Ellie shall be so corrupted...


My mom and Ellie. Awww.

Sunday meant a long, long journey back to England. We avoided the border roads but still ended up in heavy traffic on the M6 for what felt like days. It was an exhausting journey. It was very, very nice indeed when we pulled up to the house.

Monday was very much a day of rest, Tuesday was back to work, Wednesday was Chinese night and today in the start of a brand new year. One that I am determined not to fail at!

Still, it doesn't feel any different... Only that I now have a cold. I hope this isn't an indication of what's to come this year. Haha.

Best wishes for 2009, everyone!!