The snow is GONE!!! \o/ This morning the pavements were still like uneven ice-rinks, but when I picked up the girls from school there were only a few lonely squelchy bits left. Oh to be able to just walk without having to worry about the next step sending you flying. :) Also, I spent far too much time yesterday being COLD, and not being frozen solid after two minutes outside is also a definite plus.

Today I went to the dentist - for the second time in two months :( - and since my appointment was early afternoon I had a *plan*, which worked beautifully. After the dentist visit (my dentist is lovely, btw, and looks a tiny bit like a pretty Sarah Jessica Parker) I went to Caffe Nero, bought myself a cup of hot chocolate and a very soft slice of lemon sponge cake, and sat down with my Christmas cards, which I had brought with me. See, I HATE writing Christmas cards. Well I'm fine with the nice simple ones with a cheery greeting, but I hate those to family and friends abroad for whom the yearly Christmas card is the time to update on what's been happening over the year. And since I am near incapable of making my actual life sound in any way interesting or entertaining I hate writing about it. To be honest I'd much prefer to just write a letter on the computer, but since I'd have to do it in three different languages it would rather defeat the whole 'making it easier' thing... (My family is LOVELY btw. Couldn't wish for better. I'm just a rubbish letter-writer.)

Ah well, I've got all the difficult ones out of the way now, so I feel very virtuous and relieved. And since Darcy has been very innovative and crafty this year, we even have quite a lot of the presents sorted...