Xmas Day

So first Christmas day away from Watford/London.

I woke up bright and early to be greeted by a bit of a grey sky - boo!

Dulce (the cat) and I got onto the couch ready for some Skype action with friends in Vietnam and the Swiss family Harrison...This was lots of fun!!!

Of course the 2nd most important thing on Christmas day was to use the industrial/restaurant style waffle maker to make myself some waffles - again lots of fun. Waffles with banana, banana and vanilla yoghurt, and sea salted caramel sauce - Delish! I can't wait for a waffle party with a friend on Saturday.

new song by LMFAO - "Everyday I'm waffling..."

A face pack, some netflix action and then off to the cinema (yes they are all open on Christmas Day!) and I watched Les Miserables. Alas I was in the front row, which was pretty intense and way too close to the screen. I would like to see it again a normal distance away, not 6 foot away. I think it is a good musical with some great songs - I have seen it in the west end 3 times, but a little long, and I think the same applies to the movie. This may have been because I hadn't eaten any lunch.

I thought the movie would be on a grander scale somehow - more in the mould of Oliver with big choruses and bigger sets. However I really enjoyed it. Anne Hathaway was superb, as was Eddie Redmayne as Marius. I found my right eye seemed to be particularly irritated throughout their numbers and water was incessantly coming out of it...;-) They used Greenwich Naval College for a number of scenes, which was a little strange. I thought they would have filmed exterior shots in Paris.

If you like musicals you will love it, and if you love Les Mis, you will really love it. Russell Crowe was probably the weakest link. I think he is generally a pretty good actor, but he seemed to be focusing so much on his singing that he kind of forgot to move his face...

I came out of the cinema to a lovely pinkish setting sky and headed downtown to join a friend and her family and another couple of chums for dinner. The snow has fallen on the tallest mountains that surround the city, and they looked fabulous as I headed East along the 10, with glimpses of the Hollywood sign, and Griffith Observatory out my window. I cranked up the radio and smiled widely to myself.

My friend's flat is lovely, in a really nice block just near the Disney Concert Hall. We sat down and ate cooked meats and veg and chatted and giggled for hours, with me being very aware I had to drive home and so couldn't enjoy the wine too much...!

It was a lovely evening, and the most sober Christmas I think I have had in many a year. I missed my family, and the plethora of texts I normally get from friends, but it was a lovely day all the same.

 I hope you guys had a super Christmas! Feliz Navidad. Tomorrow I am meeting some Brits for Boxing day drinks, but guess what...I will be driving again!!! Boo..................................