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Christmas with the Allis' 2003
Dec. 20th, 2003 10:09 pmWell, I caught the train up last night. It was running early, for a change, unlike the time that laputain, jessikast and I caught it up for Easter and Emoticon, when it was about an hour and a half late. I'm not sure if being twenty minutes early makes up for this, but it was six am, and I was in Hamilton. I texted my brother to get him to pick me up, but when I had no response, I called home, and Dad came and got me.
I got some sleep on the train. I was asleep before Palmerston North, where they turned the lights out, and woke up later - Taihape, I think, and from then on I was either wide awake or asleep. Woke up just before Hamilton. When I got home, I wandered outside for a bit. I think I was looking for Basil, but I couldn't find him. Then I went to bed and slept for a couple of hours.
After, there was waking stuff (ie, my brother), and breakfast (me) and helping (everyone) so we were all ready when Gran and Grandad arrived for lunch. Daniel Vettori got his maiden (there you are Laputain and Fleming was in for ages), and I chatted with Gran and Grandad. I heard all about their train journeys to Rotorua, which sounded very nerve-racking, considering that they were both new to New Zealand at the time.
About 3.30pmish, the Auckland cousins arrived. There was greetings and chatting. The oldest, a girl has grown up muchly, and the youngest (also a girl) is now fifteen months, and extremely active. The rest are muchly indistinguishable to me, although the second-oldest has suddenly grown very tall, and is thus recognisable. I hung out with the second youngest (I think he's the second youngest) and we played with a movable metal wire thingy, which you can make into a flower and a hat and such like things. It's quite cool, and I enlightened him on who Jackie Kennedy was, and the fact that she wore a pillbox hat back when she was First Lady. I got comments on my new top, which is green and sparkly and very cool. I need a nice bra to wear under it that doesn't clash.
Tea and coffee was had, and then presents. The cousins gave them out, from oldest to youngest, excluding the toddler. I gained a late 21st present from the Auckland cousins - a lovely woolen rung/blanket in my colours, with it's own plastic travel/storage case. Also from them (although for Christmas) I got a nice set of shower-gel, body lotion, loofer with a nice lavender scent. It smells quite nice, actually, and I don't usually like lavender scents. And it wasn't writing paper. I frequently get writing paper from them.
Gran and Grandad gave me a book - The Bone Collector by Keri Hulme, which I don't think I've read before. I may have, and promptly forgotten it. It was second-hand, but there was also about $20 in Whitcoulls vouchers inside it, and I'll have to think of something to spend it on later.
The Australian cousins did what they usually do - sent over very similar presents to be shared amongst the relatives. It's probably because they live in Australia, and we're less of a family to them, apart from Gran and Grandad. I mean, I've met them once. This year, they sent over a nice framed photo of them all - aunt and two cousins - (Uncle, Dad's brother, is dead) - and they also sent over some samples of Australian tea. Since I don't live at home, and I'm the only real tea drinker in the family, I might see if I can claim it. It is loose leaf, though. I need a tea strainer.
Presents over, people played. I hung out with youngest boy for a while. Brother and cousins showed off unicycling skills. Both my brother and my cousins have one that they call a giraffe. It's a five-footer. And I found out that a monocycle is different from a unicycle. They can juggle balls and clubs on them. It looks really impressive, actually. Cousins and Uncle have a business importing and selling unicycles. Aparently, they sold about 80 this year.
There was lots of talking, and I did helping things (mainly by making deserts) and then dinner and desert and more talking. After that, it started getting dark. Gran and Grandad cleared off - hopefully I'll get to see them again before I leave - and then the cousins did also. I finally managed to get through to Black Knight, who had been talking to Deepbluemermaid on the phone, which I'd helped to set up. He was really thrilled about that.
I miss him lots. Sister and her boyfriend (who is being less of a dormat) were cuddled up, and I felt lonely. I don't have anything to cuddle at night. Basil's gone, and I'm looking for him, and it's just wrong that he's not there, Black Knight isn't here, and I carefully put Sam aside to carry with me, and forgot him. Sam being the stuffed rabbit that I sleep with at night.
Oh yes, and this came through one of my MLs today. It's for all you Buffy and Lord of the Rings fans. I've not finished reading it yet, but it's very good. Now I just need the music...
I should possibly go and be social, but I don't really feel like it. I might stay here and either read or write.
I got some sleep on the train. I was asleep before Palmerston North, where they turned the lights out, and woke up later - Taihape, I think, and from then on I was either wide awake or asleep. Woke up just before Hamilton. When I got home, I wandered outside for a bit. I think I was looking for Basil, but I couldn't find him. Then I went to bed and slept for a couple of hours.
After, there was waking stuff (ie, my brother), and breakfast (me) and helping (everyone) so we were all ready when Gran and Grandad arrived for lunch. Daniel Vettori got his maiden (there you are Laputain and Fleming was in for ages), and I chatted with Gran and Grandad. I heard all about their train journeys to Rotorua, which sounded very nerve-racking, considering that they were both new to New Zealand at the time.
About 3.30pmish, the Auckland cousins arrived. There was greetings and chatting. The oldest, a girl has grown up muchly, and the youngest (also a girl) is now fifteen months, and extremely active. The rest are muchly indistinguishable to me, although the second-oldest has suddenly grown very tall, and is thus recognisable. I hung out with the second youngest (I think he's the second youngest) and we played with a movable metal wire thingy, which you can make into a flower and a hat and such like things. It's quite cool, and I enlightened him on who Jackie Kennedy was, and the fact that she wore a pillbox hat back when she was First Lady. I got comments on my new top, which is green and sparkly and very cool. I need a nice bra to wear under it that doesn't clash.
Tea and coffee was had, and then presents. The cousins gave them out, from oldest to youngest, excluding the toddler. I gained a late 21st present from the Auckland cousins - a lovely woolen rung/blanket in my colours, with it's own plastic travel/storage case. Also from them (although for Christmas) I got a nice set of shower-gel, body lotion, loofer with a nice lavender scent. It smells quite nice, actually, and I don't usually like lavender scents. And it wasn't writing paper. I frequently get writing paper from them.
Gran and Grandad gave me a book - The Bone Collector by Keri Hulme, which I don't think I've read before. I may have, and promptly forgotten it. It was second-hand, but there was also about $20 in Whitcoulls vouchers inside it, and I'll have to think of something to spend it on later.
The Australian cousins did what they usually do - sent over very similar presents to be shared amongst the relatives. It's probably because they live in Australia, and we're less of a family to them, apart from Gran and Grandad. I mean, I've met them once. This year, they sent over a nice framed photo of them all - aunt and two cousins - (Uncle, Dad's brother, is dead) - and they also sent over some samples of Australian tea. Since I don't live at home, and I'm the only real tea drinker in the family, I might see if I can claim it. It is loose leaf, though. I need a tea strainer.
Presents over, people played. I hung out with youngest boy for a while. Brother and cousins showed off unicycling skills. Both my brother and my cousins have one that they call a giraffe. It's a five-footer. And I found out that a monocycle is different from a unicycle. They can juggle balls and clubs on them. It looks really impressive, actually. Cousins and Uncle have a business importing and selling unicycles. Aparently, they sold about 80 this year.
There was lots of talking, and I did helping things (mainly by making deserts) and then dinner and desert and more talking. After that, it started getting dark. Gran and Grandad cleared off - hopefully I'll get to see them again before I leave - and then the cousins did also. I finally managed to get through to Black Knight, who had been talking to Deepbluemermaid on the phone, which I'd helped to set up. He was really thrilled about that.
I miss him lots. Sister and her boyfriend (who is being less of a dormat) were cuddled up, and I felt lonely. I don't have anything to cuddle at night. Basil's gone, and I'm looking for him, and it's just wrong that he's not there, Black Knight isn't here, and I carefully put Sam aside to carry with me, and forgot him. Sam being the stuffed rabbit that I sleep with at night.
Oh yes, and this came through one of my MLs today. It's for all you Buffy and Lord of the Rings fans. I've not finished reading it yet, but it's very good. Now I just need the music...
I should possibly go and be social, but I don't really feel like it. I might stay here and either read or write.
