"Most of the principal characters in this book by now being thoroughly uncomfortable in their various ways, Christmas did its best to bring on the culminating point of horror."

Angela Thirkell - Marling Hall

i do love angela thirkell and have read nearly all her books - at least all of her barsetshire novels; there are one or two seemingly obscure others that i haven't yet been able to track down.

i remember laughing out loud when i first read the above quote from "marling hall". having spent so much of my life in retail related trades which are ALL ABOUT the intense pressures of the holiday season, i could totally relate. i'd become used to being so cranky by the time the 24th of december rolled around that i could barely be civil when someone wished me a happy holiday. "fuck you / drop dead" was pretty much the sentiment that occupied my thought bubble although i kept a (probably somewhat insane looking) cheerful smile on my face.

generally by the time christmas actually arrived i was so worn out that while others were happily unwrapping presents and toasting with eggnog i was passed out beside the tree snoring away. i'd come to in time for valentine's day and sometime around easter i'd start to feel myself again and could be safely unleashed in public without anyone running the risk of being bitten.

this year has been very different. despite the fact that i haven't had a proper day off since early november and the past few weeks have been a circus, i've managed to maintain a much more positive outlook on the whole holiday affair. amazing what changing one's point of view can accomplish.

and while i still haven't reached the ebeneezer scrooge after the third ghost stage, i am determined to enjoy this holiday. in fact i'm actually looking forward to it. i plan to have a few friends over for dinner (which will certainly be catered as there's absolutely no way i'd ever subject anyone to a dinner prepared by me) and i expect we'll play a few board games, drink a fair amount of eggnog or whiskey and maybe play a few games. i think it will be nice. at least that's the plan.

since there are still 7 days until christmas, we'll see how it goes...