A frosty, but dry day as the suspected snow did not arrive but a cold one to walk Sam twice and welcome Di's family to enjoy a fine Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding and cream and coffee after.
Then to watch H.M. The Queen broadcast her Christmas Message to The Commonwealth of Nations welcoming progress in achieving peace and reconciliation in South Africa and also for the historic peace agreement between Israel and the P.L.O.
A very poor Christmas for some 300 Jamaicans confined in the airport after a holiday plane was subjected to harsh immigration checks
I had stayed up late last night, which was bad enough, but my concurrent enjoyment of some fine Orcadian whisky was the real reason that I was loath to wake and get up this morning. Diana was the one to stir me and soon I was showering and washing my hair before shaving and dressing for breakfast. Half the family being yet to stir and Sam creating to get out made me opt for his company for half an hour and so I walked him to the gravel pits on a cold morning with some slight ground frost. Frosty, but dry as the suspected snow did not arrive here.
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Even so, we heard of it falling in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Northern England so there was a White Christmas for some UK regions today. Quite tired, I slumped in the lounge with a mug of coffee until Di's parents and sister arrived for a visit. I made them coffee as Diana chatted to Charles, Norma and Sue and then Sue's two dogs played with Sam in the garden for the rest of the time they were here. We had let everyone open one present last night and then another after breakfast this morning so that the rest of the "Father Christmas" presents had to wait until Di's family could come and watch them open them.
Then a fine Christmas Dinner of roast turkey, potatoes, sausages, bacon, Brussels sprouts, peas and stuffing with gravy and cranberry sauce for those that wanted all the trimmings. Christmas pudding and cream after and coffee. Once all was cleared away, it was time for the family presents to be opened and for most of us to watch Her Majesty The Queen broadcast her Christmas Message to The Commonwealth of Nations. Thanks for the progress in peace and reconciliation in South Africa where the old white minority government voted itself out of future power earlier in the month. She would like to see South Africa back in The Commonwealth soon, I felt sure. Thanks also for the historic peace agreement between Israel and the P.L.O. for all the complications in its implementation.
On behalf of her people there, Her Majesty longed for peace in Northern Ireland and wished the leaders well in achieving that aim. A less personal message than in recent years as her family barely got a mention for it had been another undeclared Annus Horribilis. At least Princess Diana joined the Royals at Sandringham for the opening of presents and the local church service before driving off for the rest of the day with her own family. Let's hope for more peace and reconciliation between her and Prince Charles.
Another walk with the dog once the relatives had gone, a tea sitting in the lounge and then the rest of the evening on my journal and my Wayplan software as Daniel was connecting his work computer to the network in Debbie's room. A very poor Christmas for some 300 Jamaicans confined in the airport after a holiday plane was subjected to harsh immigration checks. In fact, 27 of them were deported back home again after spending the Christmas period in detention even though the entire party protested that they were visiting relatives for the holiday occasion.