Christmas Gifts

I have just heard a song with lyrics that are something like this; 

Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away. 

Well, that is re-gifting in a way. Talking of re-gifting, is it good or bad?

Most presents can be re-gifted, it is good for the planet and might suit someone else better. There is the odd occasion when you realise that a great deal of thought had gone into getting that special gift for you and my feeling is make sure you re-gift it to someone who does not know the person who gave you the present. The other option is a charity shop. Here thought must be taken as to which charity shop, the last thing we want is for your present to be seen in the window of a charity shop a week after Christmas. 

We have already received some cracking presents, a live miniature Christmas tree with little packets of decorations and instructions. Now that will not be re-gifted, that will be a big tree one day, reminding us of the joy of receiving a special, well thought out gift. Thank you, Lady Helen of Bankside Manor, I will plant it out next to the water feature, nestled between the two frogs that Susan loves so much. Just a message to the rest of those people who want to give me a present, the bar has raised.

Lady Vivienne (LV) came swimming with us today, more to get away from the woes of all festivities. LV is not doing Christmas this year as she has the melancholy, only affects Ladies of a delicate disposition and she has that as well as the other thing. Swimming was a challenge and that was after Jenson decided to teach a dog, bigger than him, a lesson on beach etiquette. Never interfere with a dog having a poo. The breeze was more of a strong wind and the waves were messy, I lasted maybe three minutes and beat a hasty retreat back to the shore. LV and Susan stayed a few minutes longer, then admitted defeat and came wading out the water a strange pink colour.

As LV was not doing Christmas, Susan invited her to dinner and a trial run at making a Gingerbread House. Susan does not have patients with no Christmas. I settled down with a bottle of wine and a good film to watch while the ladies got on with building the gingerbread house. Susan was on the tools and in no time the basic house was up. Much time was taken to make sure the fit was just right, no one wants cold drafts coming in, not even those who live in a gingerbread house. 

LV then set to work laying the tiles on the roof and fitting the doors and windows, all double glazed. After an hour and a half, the garden was ready to be landscaped with the path to the front and flower beds with borders. It took two hours and two gins each and the house was complete. Cracking job ladies, that was the trial run, Tuesday is the main gingerbread house building day and we are prepared.