Consistently, predictably, dependably, unwaveringly ERRATIC

After a decade or so of being the one responsible for arranging the Christmas lights on our artificial tree and getting scratched and generally beaten up by the tree every time (doesn't help that our tree has to go in a corner so the room is limited) I have finally discovered there is an easier way!

Instead of assembling the tree then winding the lights from the top down ending with the cord and plug, I started adding the lights from the bottom as I built the tree. I know the string was the right length, knew more or less how it should go and I didn't have to tangle with extra cord and plug. IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER. And it this how people normally do it, could someone have mentioned this earlier?!

I have been meaning to post this for like … a month but between migraines and bushfires (we're fine), I keep forgetting.

It has been a pretty crappy year, mostly health-wise, but cards are good. Was handing out greyhound Christmas cards at the market on Sunday and was amazed at how many people were saying they've kept all of them, even keep them up year round!

Anyone who would like a card (quite possibly late, sorry!), please leave a comment here (screened) or email venetia@iprimus.com.au

Peregrine Mountain tea and croissants with boysenberry jam to start the day, a sip of champagne at a friend's place, and Christmas meal of:

Cider Roasted Turkey Breast

Sweet Potato Gratin

Green Bean Bacon Bundles

My first time cooking turkey and it went very well! Mum was amazed at how juicy it was.

Followed up eventually by Mango & Brandy pudding (not homemade!) with ice cream. But we waited until we'd hooked up our new portable air conditioner and it had cooled things down a bit. Not strictly a Christmas present but very good timing given the 40+C temps ahead.

It's been a lovely restful day, even with all the cooking. Small children are descending tomorrow, hopefully they'll still be worn out from today.

XMas Day Bonus: We've been inflicting reindeer antlers on the greyhounds at every market this month (they're so good about it and people love it.) Today, we just put their bandannas on - but we stuck the cat with a sequinned bowtie for an hour. He looked terribly smart.

Hoping you all had wonderful, restful (or busy, if you like!) days as well.

Very greyhound! First Christmas with ours, they just stared at us like we were nuts but the lure of the living room rug was too great so they settled down, watched closely until our actions were deemed weird but harmless then they napped. As greyhounds do.

A fleeting appearance before I melt away in the heat ...

I have Christmas cards, I think there's still time to post, who would like one?

Comments are screened or my email is venetia@iprimus.com.au

After spending the better part of two days feeling weak and feeble, I did manage to get some Christmas baking and wrapping done last night. Did multiple loads of washing today, had Christmas Eve dinner with cousin Dee, have a bit more prep to do and hope I stave off the migraine.

Oh crap, I have to make my bed. The only downside to clean sheets!

Are greyhounds a fandom? (They're a cult; we have t-shirts.) I feel like I've witnessed a fandom collision. J.K. Rowling has a rescue grey too ...

Miss Shadow got up on the sofa again! She is curled up beside me as I type. Mr Nosey was ensconced on one sofa while I was wrapping presents on the floor earlier (Mum looked at the pile and said, 'You are very efficient at this.' Which may explain why I get asked to do it for almost every birthday and most Christmas presents, just like the Christmas lights.) Miss Shadow came in when I was finished and when I was settled on the other sofa, I noticed her glaring at me. She has a very expressive face. It seems she was waiting for an invitation to get up again (have you met a dog who does that?) I put a cotton throw down this time and it seems to make her feel more secure.

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Roz came by earlier with her new dog (their elderly Staffy died earlier this year), reportedly a kelpie/greyhound cross. Well, he's clearly kelpie/something bigger but I couldn't see greyhound. *shrugs* He's gorgeous though and seems very sweet. Roz has asked if I'll come over soon and do some training with him - he's a bit too interested in the chickens right now but their cat has terrified him into submission although she hasn't realised it yet. Today she came into the room and the poor dog slunk away and tried to climb in Roz's husband's lap for protection.

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Yesterday was a bit exhausting for me and the dogs but they had a great many cuddles and their photos taken at least a dozen times. We went to one of our regular markets with the hounds in their antlers - and we brought the cool coats with us this time. They were needed although the weather was weirdly changeable and we had to take them off at one because of a sharp wind.

The little Fuji apples are sadly finished (we were buying five kilos a fortnight at one point) but we got the last box of the really good navel oranges, and the first kilos of plums and cherries. Plus corn, cavolo nero, capsicum, chickens, eggs and sausages, plus dried kangaroo tails and lamb bones for the hounds. Mum did some shopping I didn't need to know about, hem, and it took us two hours. If we were just shopping it would be half an hour. But with visiting all the favorite stall holders and stopping for everyone who wants to pat the dogs it takes a while.

Then we went to visit Mum's friend Ivy at her shoe shop so I could thank her in person for the lovely scarf she gave me for my birthday but hadn't opened by the time she left our party. She took photos of the dogs as well as did a customer and we all chatted. Mum may have made a new friend and joined a book club. The other customer was wearing a glorious blue skirt with peacock feather patterns from a shop two doors down and we stopped in there as well. I tried on the skirt and it was gorgeous and comfortable but even the Xsmall was a bit too big (yes, I've lost weight but I swear sizes have gone up. I am not skinny!) While in there a customer from the hairdresser upstairs and across the plaza came down and asked if I'd bring the dogs up because all the girls wanted to meet them! Good thing I keep up their stair practice. Again they had their photos taken but we only stayed a few minutes. They clearly weren't keen on the chemical smells. Then it was home and bed for three of us while Mum was still bright-eyed and energetic.

I try not to assume people are interested in my dogs (even though they are splendid dogs!) but then days like yesterday happen.

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I was lying on the floor earlier and Mr Nosey had his head on my chest while Miss Shadow had her head against my knee and one paw in my hand.

Here's a happy thing. We took the dogs out in their reindeer antlers today. Now we always get people wanting to pat them and talk to them and ask about greyhounds which is one of the reasons we take them to markets, etc. But add the antlers and it seemed like every second person at least was grinning at them as they walked past. We heard "Oh look at the cute dogs!" "Look at the reindeer dogs!" so many times and they had their photo taken about ten times.

It was nice seeing people smile.

We took the hounds to a nearby market we've only visited once or twice but it got too hot too quickly to linger and we hadn't brought their cool coats. They had some excellent cuddles with various people in shaded areas, took alarm at the extraordinary noises made by some sheep (they know alpacas but I don't think they've met sheep before) and we toured the various stalls but didn't find any potential gifts. Then it was really too hot so we went back to the car and gave the dogs some water - they rarely drink from public water sources, those are contaminated by other dogs, thank you very much. They like fresh water, poured into their own bowl and held for them. It's possible they're a bit fastidious. Or spoiled.

The we went off to a nearby shopping district - which turned out to be having a market as well but it was still too hot to take the dogs around much. But we had an appointment to have their photo taken with Santa at the RSPCA for the third year in a row. And when the Santa saw them, she was delighted. "You've brought them back again! I love these guys!" And we have some lovely photos, individual and double, Miss Shadow grinning away and Mr Nosey looking a bit worried at first, then succumbing to cuddles. (We tried to persuade him to get up on the 'seat' and he didn't like that at all. Won't do that next year!) We also met a bouncy, stocky Dalmatian, a French bulldog and a French bulldog/pug who were all lovely and wanted to play.

Home again to pass out (except for Mum) and tonight Kitt and Rena dropped by for an hour to pick up some DVDs they were going to borrow. We wound up talking about various aggravations of modern life/life in general and I said, You realise we're turning into cranky old ladies in our thirties?

Anyway. Despite the heat and the people (mostly relatives) who think we're bonkers for having Santa Paws photos taken, it was a good day. A lot of people smiled.

We put up the Christmas tree today and I had quite the battle arranging the lights. Mum always leaves it to me, saying I'm better at it. As I struggled with tangled cords and scratchy branches which combined to nearly topple the tree (Mum caught it!), I voiced the unworthy suspicion that this was her way of pushing the job off on me. She laughed and helped me disentangle myself from the tree. There must have been a gremlin in the lights this year, they weren't tangled to start with.

But the decorations are done now and looking lovely.