The Rain In Spain

My first entry. What is happening in the world today? Well, boy has a very swollen right cheek and three days' worth of tooth ache as he refuses to go to the dentist (something about being manly). As a result he has spent the entire day on the sofa playing football games, and motioning every few hours for a paracetamol top-up. The dog is, quite literally, in the dog house because in a moment of ecstatic doggy happiness he decided to have a one-dog race around the living room and managed to knock the Playstation on to the floor, just as Real Madrid were about to score.

It is raining. Well, it's more of a drizzle. It won't stop and has been like this for about six hours now. Its too wet to take the dog out for more than a minute at a time (hence the living room races), and I refuse to go anywhere near any of the shops as this is the penultimate weekend before Christmas, and a Sunday...need I say any more?

The house is very cold. When I bought the place, they didn't tell me about the subarctic weather conditions which occur inside these apartments in winter. Boy is happy under several blankets and with the heater on full in the living room. I've been banished with the dog to the computer room.

Work is very quiet at the moment, so my colleague and I are taking advantage and taking a few extra days a week off. I've had three days and feel totally relaxed (and am hoping the feeling will continue on Monday morning!). I spent the whole of yesterday afternoon being rather productive, if I do say so myself. After leaving Boy at work in the Port, I met up with the grandmother in San Pedro to have a meander.

This year is the first that I've had no set idea about what to get people for Christmas, so have taken to spotting random things around town. It's proved rather productive, and as a result I have nearly all my Christmas and Three Kings presents wrapped up under the tree.

I've also been "browsing" on eBay and have spent a small fortune on some extraordinary gifts (for me). I think everyone will be pleased this year! Boy has been pointing out for about 18 months that he doesn't own a watch, and when we went to Gibraltar last I saw one that I thought he would like. I didn't get the chance to do a disappearing act and buy it, as he also spotted it. Rather than heading back to Gibraltar on my own, eBay America came up with the goods and the watch is currently (I hope) winging it's way across the Atlantic.

Since I moved away from the centre of San Pedro six months ago, I haven't been shopping there in a long time. Yesterday I certainly made up for it, and dragged the grandmother in and out of nearly all the shops that were open. I really should be the Ambassador the "Chinese" shops. I must spend billions in them every year - and contrary to popular belief, they are NOT full of tack - it just takes a trained eye (i.e. moi) to spot the goods. Yesterday I found the black trackie bums I have been looking for since 1948, AND a really smart white hoodie for Boy's Christmas sack.

I also went on a very dangerous mission - I went to Casa. I have to say that I was most well behaved - I went in, bought the three candles that I planned to buy, spotted a spice rack that Boy will like, and left the store. That, despite there being a 50% discount on Christmas things.

I'm now off to take the dog outside for a bit, and then see how the invalid in the living room is doing.