The Gift of Christmas
27/12/25 18:44
Now that it is over for another year but the decorations remain in place for a week or so, I can confirm that I spent the last days thinking about friends from near and far and I was lucky enough to speak to my dearest on the day itself. Both Fiona in Sydney and Adam in Bow were having very different days and I was loving out conversations including the 1h 50m one with Fiona covering all the million topics we normally discuss in great detail but of course this year we have added the Mushroom Killer to our conversation!
This year I have two nativity sets out. One was made by potters in Bolivia and I purchased it in a strange shop in Berwick Street, just in a building next to the famous fruit and veg market. I think that street is home to the last of the traditional costermongers with their noisy cries!
The second set is Holy Land olive wood and was not cheap, but has become a little treasure to me as the figurines came wrapped in the daily Palestinian newspaper. I wonder if the printing presses survived? When I put the sets out of course I keep the Jesus figure covered until after Midnight Mass and I get surprising joy in unwrapping them.
On the subject of Christmas mass, midnight means 7pm, the singing was good and I still cannot get to grips with the priest having no help or assistance on the altar. I mentioned this to Anthony and he confirmed what I fear, that no parent now trusts their sons or daughters to work closely with clergy. What times we live in! The few have ruined it for the many.
This year I have two nativity sets out. One was made by potters in Bolivia and I purchased it in a strange shop in Berwick Street, just in a building next to the famous fruit and veg market. I think that street is home to the last of the traditional costermongers with their noisy cries!
The second set is Holy Land olive wood and was not cheap, but has become a little treasure to me as the figurines came wrapped in the daily Palestinian newspaper. I wonder if the printing presses survived? When I put the sets out of course I keep the Jesus figure covered until after Midnight Mass and I get surprising joy in unwrapping them.
On the subject of Christmas mass, midnight means 7pm, the singing was good and I still cannot get to grips with the priest having no help or assistance on the altar. I mentioned this to Anthony and he confirmed what I fear, that no parent now trusts their sons or daughters to work closely with clergy. What times we live in! The few have ruined it for the many.
General musings
23/12/25 13:30
Getting this website ready for 2026 and reforming the journaling habit again after so many years of being "quiet" for political reasons. It feels like an old friend chatting to this website and I remember the pages lost when it was on Homestead.com in the late 1990s which means the 30th anniversary of george-maclean.com is on the horizon in a few years time.
Have been in a Mrs Merton Heated Debate with my local new doctor about my sub-optimal Magnesium and Potassium levels. Since I never ever want to have too much potassium again as I remember my overdose way back in 2017 and my complete sadness at being on a potassium free diet for 10 days over Christmas… I cannot have Mg as it has a negative interaction with one of my other drugs, so my GP has agreed that I shall not have either Mg or K supplements for now but will keep an eye on it. I think recently I have been not eating my greens, or enough greens, so I shall go back to having great winter veg until the summer comes and I can ask for a salad without looking like a dick.
Got some lovely WhatsApp images and video from Arizona overnight - they are up in the mountains and playing in the snow. That should not be allowed since it is too hot here in the Central Belt to wear a Thinsulate lined Christmas bonnet as it cooks the head!
I have been given approval to start the preparations for AB60 which happens in March and I think I have tied down a venue for a casual night out. That should be a fun weekend indeed!
Since Christmas Day is only going to see the two of us celebrating, I have to think about what to eat. Have some turkey of course but I am not a fan of sprouts but needs must when the devil drives, so I will do them in pancetta and cumin (to reduce the gas impact).
Have been in a Mrs Merton Heated Debate with my local new doctor about my sub-optimal Magnesium and Potassium levels. Since I never ever want to have too much potassium again as I remember my overdose way back in 2017 and my complete sadness at being on a potassium free diet for 10 days over Christmas… I cannot have Mg as it has a negative interaction with one of my other drugs, so my GP has agreed that I shall not have either Mg or K supplements for now but will keep an eye on it. I think recently I have been not eating my greens, or enough greens, so I shall go back to having great winter veg until the summer comes and I can ask for a salad without looking like a dick.
Got some lovely WhatsApp images and video from Arizona overnight - they are up in the mountains and playing in the snow. That should not be allowed since it is too hot here in the Central Belt to wear a Thinsulate lined Christmas bonnet as it cooks the head!
I have been given approval to start the preparations for AB60 which happens in March and I think I have tied down a venue for a casual night out. That should be a fun weekend indeed!
Since Christmas Day is only going to see the two of us celebrating, I have to think about what to eat. Have some turkey of course but I am not a fan of sprouts but needs must when the devil drives, so I will do them in pancetta and cumin (to reduce the gas impact).
Big day getting closer
22/12/25 14:28
I decided to grasp the bull by the horns and head out food shopping this morning as when Anthony takes tomorrow off we will be stressed out with the traffic. I am glad nobody saw me in Asda as I was like a lost lamb wandering about looking for tinfoil which of course illogically is in the kitchen/toilet roll aisle. Best not make a mistake with those choices.
I remember that I am the only one of my posse that likes fruitcake so I bought myself one and got into a big discussion with a guy selecting Madeira cake and which one was best. I hope we bought wisely and tastefully! I am wearing my Christmas Pudding sweater today but it really is too warm outside for that. Alfie is in his Dumbarton Donut sighing loudly out of his nostrils. It is very cute. He was not in a good place yesterday as Anthony was in East Lothian for the day and it is difficult to deal with a sulking dog all on my own.
Neighbours across the back garden have taken down their garden fence and are getting another one. My curtain twitching has gone into overdrive.
I remember that I am the only one of my posse that likes fruitcake so I bought myself one and got into a big discussion with a guy selecting Madeira cake and which one was best. I hope we bought wisely and tastefully! I am wearing my Christmas Pudding sweater today but it really is too warm outside for that. Alfie is in his Dumbarton Donut sighing loudly out of his nostrils. It is very cute. He was not in a good place yesterday as Anthony was in East Lothian for the day and it is difficult to deal with a sulking dog all on my own.
Neighbours across the back garden have taken down their garden fence and are getting another one. My curtain twitching has gone into overdrive.
New specs!
19/12/25 10:04
New specs worn today. Cooking specs have been lost since I got up this morning.
Heading off to GLA with Ian and then back to check out one of the farm shops for cows milk. It was not quite the adventure I had hopped it would be at the farm and the milk looks good so that will be on my Frosties tomorrow morning.
Counting down the days now until Christmas, but have not decided what our menu will be on the day.
Heading off to GLA with Ian and then back to check out one of the farm shops for cows milk. It was not quite the adventure I had hopped it would be at the farm and the milk looks good so that will be on my Frosties tomorrow morning.
Counting down the days now until Christmas, but have not decided what our menu will be on the day.
Almost Christmas
17/12/25 11:14
Last week I drove into Glasgow to pick up Adam from the Euston train arriving in Central Station. How the centre of Glasgow has changed with all the easy streets either cut off to cars or the directions reversed. I was stressed out, and will get the train next time! He arrived leaving his luggage on the train so we were off to a good start!
What laughs we had all weekend, with the Glasgow Gang coming around to see the new house for the first time and to deliver thoughtful gifts and give us much great conversation and pizza! Adam was very pleased that the house is a warm one and will be heading back up in March for his birthday celebrations. It still strikes a chord with me that my pals are now OAPs, but we are all thankful to have made it thus far and have many plans for the future - mine does not include a cruise ship I have to say! One of our many George-Adam conversations revolved around his favourite Northdown artwork and it has been decided that "The Windows in the West" will be in his bedroom on his next visit. That print and the smaller originals from the same artist were Christmas gifts from Jenny over several years and they bring back happy memories.
Once Adam headed back to Bow, we had a visit from Killiecrankie Jams and Loretta for a quick cuppa, exchange of dance music and a lovely New Home gift from them.
What laughs we had all weekend, with the Glasgow Gang coming around to see the new house for the first time and to deliver thoughtful gifts and give us much great conversation and pizza! Adam was very pleased that the house is a warm one and will be heading back up in March for his birthday celebrations. It still strikes a chord with me that my pals are now OAPs, but we are all thankful to have made it thus far and have many plans for the future - mine does not include a cruise ship I have to say! One of our many George-Adam conversations revolved around his favourite Northdown artwork and it has been decided that "The Windows in the West" will be in his bedroom on his next visit. That print and the smaller originals from the same artist were Christmas gifts from Jenny over several years and they bring back happy memories.
Once Adam headed back to Bow, we had a visit from Killiecrankie Jams and Loretta for a quick cuppa, exchange of dance music and a lovely New Home gift from them.