Zassy, skitzy super-girls

Pictures of parents in the pool with their children always cheer us up, so here are a couple. And, as a bonus, they are people we actually know.

We grandparents were, as usual, fully entertained by the antics in the water. We know how to have a good time. Like the day Google decided to talk to me in Dutch instead of English. I have no idea what random set of key clicks achieved that.

We decided not to try and squeeze a Christmas tree into our apartment this year. Instead, we (Liesel) decorated the shelves with lights and ornaments and it looks terrific.

My day in Manchester was fun. I met Jenny for lunch before visiting the Arndale Centre via the Christmas Markets. The chances of standing next to a visitor from Mars are a million to one, they said. Yet, here I was.

Everyone was full of Christmas cheer, and including the lack of a John Lewis in Manchester city centre, the day was a bit of a failure, really. I also failed to track down the particular species of shampoo I was looking for. And the gig I was going to in the evening? Couldn’t now find the details online. I suspect the Dutch Google gave me double Dutch duff information. But it was good to be out and about in the fresh air. It’s so easy to stay indoors when the weather is this uninviting.

I explored more of the Central Library: I even ate my tea here, nothing too loud nor aromatically offensive, it is a library after all.

Watching people is always educational. I especially enjoyed seeing some zassy, skitzy super-girls. Those aren’t proper words, I hear you cry. Oh yes they are, as popularised in a Marshall Ward mail order catalogue from 1969.

Who could resist a shiny pink blouse for 36/11d? Well, I did, and I’m sure my Mum did, too, although she did use this catalogue on a regular basis. Maybe my Mum didn’t think she was zassy or skitzy enough, but she was definitely a super-girl.

After being kicked out of the library, I walked to my bus stop. The ratio of buses in service and ‘sorry – out of service’ was about 1 to 1. I’m sure there’s a good reason but it eludes me. But there you go. Or not, if you’re waiting for a bus.

Walking around Manchester were a hundred or more people, raising funds for Shelter. I felt bad: I’d seen this walk promoted on a poster a while ago then totally forgot about it.

This week, we stayed in with William. He helped Liesel, his Oma, bake and decorate some cookies.

We had a nice chat with Helen online too. The bushfires in NSW are still raging and have released as much CO₂ so far as the whole of Australia usually does in one year.

The rest of the day consisted of eating, jigsaw puzzles, reading, tickling and singing and dancing.

On the way home, I voted in the General Election. I didn’t stay up to watch the results come in, that way lies madness. What a terrible result for the country. I was told that, no, I couldn’t hibernate for five years.

Next day, it was Martha’s turn to bake the cookies. After watching William for a short time while Martha performed in the Nativity play at Nursery, “Gold for the baby”, we brought her round to our place. She made a whole tin of cookies and didn’t eat as many as I did.

After the final swimming lessons of the year, Liesel and I went to CostCo, hooray. I managed to walk nearly three miles, up and down the aisles, but eventually I found the way out. We bought some more goodies for Christmas, mainly liquid and alcoholic.

Earlier today, I went for a walk to post the last of our Christmas cards. I say “last” but it was all of them, late. I had fun setting up our new Freeview box, PVR, DTR, thing, whatever it’s called. Just in time for all the wonderful Christmas TV programmes. The day ended with a very pretty sunset.

Ended? It was barely 3.30pm when the darkness descended, the cue to draw the curtains and to pull a veil over this page.