photo 4.JPG,
originally uploaded by ebeth.

So today is Christmas Eve-eve. I knew I should've written this yesterday because then I could've told you that it was Christmas Eve-eve-eve. Hmm.. Maybe I'll just tell you that today is New Year's Eve-eve-eve-eve-eve-eve-eve. Eve? Eve.

This is my first Christmas season in the UK since the year my daughter was born and we had no real choice but to stay in London as she was only four weeks old. However, since then, I've always spent Christmas and NYE in Atlanta with my family.

So a life changing year. My ex has my daughter this year and she's currently in snowy Northumberland with his family. I've never been apart from her on Christmas and while I know she'll be absolutely fine and well looked after there... I miss her.

I'll miss her early on Christmas morning waking me up around 3am. I'll miss trying to convince her that more sleeping is exactly what Santa would want us to do. I'll miss the surprise, wonder and slight confusion in her eyes on Christmas morning. (Remember when *your* parents bought you things you didn't know you wanted? Like those socks?)

I won't miss, however, untangling those fucking plastic twisty ties that seem to hold every single toy to its cardboard backing. Seriously, what the hell is with that? I'd gladly take up a shift at Toys R Us to ensure no one steals anything if it just means that I can open a toy and not have to spend ten minutes with a child hanging on me, trying to separate said toy from packaging.

So that's the slightly sad bit of my Christmas week.. the better bits are a new blended family to celebrate with over the coming days (including my daughter who will be with us the day after Boxing day). I'm looking forward to new traditions and a lot of laughter. I just know there will be laughter.

I'm heading into Christmas overdrive mode.. thinking about what to cook on Christmas day. Said overdrive mode does not seem to include Christmas cards.

I seem to be a retard when it comes to those. Think people will notice Valentine's cards with Christmas trees on them?