Dizzy December

It is full on. Today is 13 Dec. Since last I wrote--a lot of golf, a lot of Christmas shopping, 30 Christmas cards written, visits with friends, on and on. I visit city centre more in December than I do the rest of the year. I now have 15 of my 16 Winter League cards in. Happy with that. Presents bought for 20 people.

Highlights: 2 December was the annual Shandon Ladies Christmas dinner. Much dancing and even karaoke. It really was fun to let loose with the women I've been competing against all year. Yeah, it's fun to win trophies, but it's more fun to be in a pack of friendly people who like to have a good time. I haven't danced that much in years.

8 December I got a haircut--I really like my hairdresser, and I called into a tailor, where I picked up a waistcoat I had had taken in (having a men's vest cut to fit me). A little pressie for moi. 11 December was mixed foursome, which is an interesting format. We have had a hard frost for more than a week. I've been playing in temperatures ranging from minus 1 to plus 1 Celsius. It's a very different game, more like crazy golf than golf golf. Also 11 December went to see the annual Christmas comedy at The Lyric with buddies Eddis and Patricia. Good craic. They called Horatio Todds, a local pub, High Ratio of Prods. Ballyhackamore, full of restaurants, became Ballysnackamore. Best bit was a Presbyterian minister translating a priest's midnight mass into Ulster Scots. Hilarious.

12 December was book club dinner at Celine's house. Another friendly bunch of women with whom it is fun to pass a night of drinking and dining.

Today, 13 December, I took off work to play in the Turkey Shoot. I had 24 points, on 9 holes. Not enough to win, but a good card. Given we are playing on frozen temporary greens, we were all happy to get the ball in the hole. This is me with my buddy Patricia, who had 26 points. (Post script: Patricia won the competition overall and I won the B group--great way to end the year.)

There was a best Christmas sweater competition. I didn't win, however I DID have the best sweater--made by my mom for me for Christmas years ago. I bought the silly glasses before the Christmas sweater theme was announced. Last year we dressed up (as elves, Christmas trees, etc). My plan was for us to be Dancer and Prancer, but best laid plans...

Tomorrow two men will come to install a layer of insulation in the attic over the return (an 8 foot X 20 foot rectangle at the back of, and at a right angle to, the house). They are charging an absolute fortune, but I'm paying the premium to try to make the house more energy efficient before mom arrives. This has necessitated clearing out the attic space. Here is what the guest bedroom looks like right now as a result:

Hopefully the guys will get the insulation finished tomorrow (Wednesday). That gives me Thursday, Friday and Saturday to move everything back into the attic (and clean the house, change sheets, prepare for house sitter). However. I work Thursday, out to dinner with a friend Thursday night, and I'm going to Derry Fri-Saturday, then I have a party at Shandon Saturday night. I leave for the US at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

What, me worry? LOL

And in my spare time? I'm editing a 93 page book manuscript for a friend. I'm on page 33.

13 December.