Christmas Hols
17 December

As I drove into work on Thursday this week, the temperature on the digital display which I pass in Crosby read 13°C at 7:20am.

When I am contemplating global warming, those are the sorts of facts that do make me jump. I know that the days in November were not so much warmer than you might expect. However, the nights did not lose their temperature as much as you would expect and so the daily average was forced up. What we could all do with is a cold snap. The Winter Pansies in the back garden have been eaten by slugs. I ask you.

Having had a week off to do the Oxford thing, it was very strange going back into work for four days before starting my Christmas hols. Not only that but Jill had departed for a four week visitation to the antipodes leaving Ian, Steve and myself in charge.

With the major, external structural reorganisations of the project I work on, this meant that a lot of extra paperwork fell upon us. None of it is difficult; it is just fiddley and new. And, for at least one document, if not done properly, then our customers might lose out on their benefits just before Christmas. So, the child within me was a little worried by the responsibilities.

Suffice it to say that my current practice of letting people know how I feel continues to bear dividends and, though I had a crap Monday, by the time I'd finished with Tuesday I was feeling more in control of the situation.

However, when it comes round to the Festive season next year, I don't think that I shall plan my holidays in the same way as I have this year. That is, of course, making the massive presumption that I am still with Connect.

I was heartily glad when Friday came and I could officially begin my winter break.

We did very little on Saturday. Sunday brought Quakers for me; the service was followed by a shared lunch. Everyone liked the French bean and cherry tomato salad which I concocted. All the elderly ladies seem to think that it is a minor miracle that a man can produce edible food but then they probably put it down to my being gay even if they wouldn't dream of voicing that opinion. Come the evening Ross's brother, Sam, joined us for a meal and a social chat.

Ross and Sam clearly get on an awful lot better now that he's all grown up and left home. He told us about his course and some of his social life. I'm afraid that I asked him the direct question as to how many times he'd been to bed sober since arriving in Liverpool. We didn't get a direct answer to that one. We had a fine meal of lamb and veggies before settling down to watch 9 Dead Gay Guys which was just as funny second time around.

There's a couple of media things that I have been meaning to mention for some time now. Firstly is early morning weekend radio. Weekdays, I get up at 6am in order to get myself into work for 8am. Weekends, I find myself waking up at the same time. I used to get out of bed and do things round the house but, this autumn, I have found myself getting a drink a returning to bed for the warmth and a nocturnal cuddle. Radio 4 is interesting at that time of the day as well.

It mainly focuses around country and religious matters as titles such as Open Country, Farming Today, Living World, Something Understood, Sunday and Sunday Worship testify. I've found out about all sorts of things such as pear trees in the Cotswolds, Jewish doubts over the State of Israel, watermills in the Somerset flats, divisions in the Anglican community, hill farms in the Lake District, diversification into organics and tourism among the farming community, the Pope's clash with Islam, etc, etc. All in all, I feel that they give a better idea as to the economic, social and spiritual health of the Nation than any of the national news programmes. I'd give the whole experience four stars.

The other treat that has turned up this autumn has been television on demand. I have previously praised radio on demand; this is a similar free service available through cable TV. It has revolutionised Ross and my early evening television viewing. Instead of having to suffer regional news, Hollyoaks or endless repeats of Friends, we now choose from an extended selection of the previous evenings' schedules. It means that we can get thoughtful, adult TV whilst we have our evening meal. Once again, four stars for improving our lives.