bak in the jug agane

[incandescens]

Let's see.

Firstly, I apologise for my absence and for any lack of email replies over the last few days. The phone line to our house -- that is, my family's house, where I was spending the holiday -- went down on New Year's Eve, and it has only just been fixed. (The odds on expecting BT to come out and fix it on New Year's Day or on the Sunday? Yup. You guessed it.)

Things got even more interesting today when our local district had a small local power cut overnight and we woke up to a cold house. Fortunately we did have hot water, and the gas was working, so we could make tea/coffee/etc, and one could always put on extra clothing, but I am sad to say that my warmest moment yet today was when I got on the train in the early afternoon to head back up to Leeds. (And it was a nice smooth journey, so I can't complain, even if it was 4.75 hours long.) I understand from my parents that they got the power (and thus heat) back on at around 5.30pm. Not the most entertaining temperature to spend the day at.

So: back in flat, have been going through a lot of email/etc, and back to work tomorrow.

Trying to be enthusiastic.

Ah well, it was a lovely Christmas holiday.

(Up to Sector Eridanus in SMT: Strange Journey. Go me.)

---

Innocent's Song

Who's that knocking on the window,
Who's that standing at the door,
What are all those presents
Laying on the kitchen floor?

Who is the smiling stranger
With hair as white as gin,
What is he doing with the children
And who could have let him in?

Why has he rubies on his fingers,
A cold, cold crown on his head,
Why, when he caws his carol,
Does the salty snow run red?

Why does he ferry my fireside
As a spider on a thread,
His fingers made of fuses
And his tongue of gingerbread?

Why does the world before him
Melt in a million suns,
Why do his yellow, yearning eyes
Burn like saffron buns?

Watch where he comes walking
Out of the Christmas flame,
Dancing, double-talking:

Herod is his name.

-- Charles Causley

Comments

[archangelbeth]

Hooray that you are back and in the warm, and that your parents are as well!

Dontcha just ha low-tech? *wry smile*

[incandescens]

I totally sympathise with Cordelia, believe me.

Welcome back, Molesworth! Welcome back!

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Gah to the power cut. Under similar circs two years ago I roasted a turkey in my gas oven to heat the kitchen at least. (This involves having a turkey to roast, or at least a functioning store where turkeys can be bought at short notice.) Glad that's been resolved at least.

[incandescens]

My mother informed me that evening (once I was back in my flat, and phoning them to check that all was well) that she had spent much of the afternoon in bed and under the covers and fully dressed, and that she celebrated having the power back by having a long hot bath.

Cannot disagree with this at all.