Edinburgh is cold, wet and windy. Hey, it must be January. I got back Saturday evening, back in work on Monday to watch the company nurse its collective holiday hangover. Apparently I missed the big party and am therefore a bitch - so said Monique, but she was smiling. She seems a lot closer to Harry than before, maybe I'm imagining things. The water cooler soap opera continues.

I finally got Papa to talk to us just before I left Germany. Well, to me and Pit. He's been worrying about the house - the rent is too high and they could be out by March. His pension isn't covering it. He wants to keep it from Mum as long as possible, so we agreed to bail him out till June. By that time, if he's still in trouble he's agreed to come clean. I hope he's being honest. If Papa has a failing, it's money. He used to gamble heavily on games of dice with his friends, more than you'd think usual. Things will sort themselves out though, they always do.

HAHAHA 24 in German!

Bauer's still a dick though, he gets no sympathy for not lipsynching.

Frohe Weihnachten!

It's twenty to nine and I'm feeling pretty damn full. Here in Germany, Christmas Eve is the big present opening day. We traditionally wait till nine o'clock in my family. I'm at a bit of a loose end really so it's xmas blog time!

It was lovely to see Sofie again in Geneva and catch up. I was only sorry I couldn't stay longer really, but hopefully she'll be coming up to see me soon.
Pitt was there at the platform as promised. He's going to propose! Laura's as computer-literate as a dead chicken so I'm safe enough writing about it here. They've been together for ever anyway, but it's nice that they're making it official.

I'm a bit worried about Papa. He's making an effort to hide it, but he has something on his mind, I know it! He smiles with the rest of us, but he looks sad when he's lost in thought. I'm going to try and talk to him, see if I can't bully it out of him.

The twins are lively as ever, although Mikael has a sore throat. I told him it's because he screams all the time. He screamed at me and ran off laughing. Little git. They've been itchy all day for their presents. I can't blame them really, it must be awfully dull to spend Christmas in a house full of adults. They're going to see a friend on the 26th which I'm sure they'll enjoy.


Cards!

Jack Bauer really is a bit of a dick.

Do you know, Frieburg is twinned with Guildford? That's quite sad really. Somewhere in Germany is a Guildfordian with dual nationality working for a multinational who can't wait to get home.

Speaking of which:












































Had a bit of relief from Excel today, Veronica asked me to translate a few things into English for her. They get me to do that now and then, documents that need sending off, that sort of thing.

Meanwhile, I've run out of chocolate Pretzels. I'll have to get Neil to bring me some back from his trip to NY.

I can't sleep. Papa called me this evening, he said he couldn't wait to see me. He sounded so sad, I hope everything's ok. I'm sure I'm imagining things.

Meanwhile, I'm making my way through the first season of 24. That doesn't help sleep either, really.

Everyone was pretty downcast today, what with the Emersons and all that. I wasn't given much in the way of distraction from the spreadsheets - except passing on a call to Fred S. What joy.

At any rate, not long now. One more week till Christmas, hurray! I've got my tickets booked back to Frieburg. I'm leaving on Friday, going to see an old friend in Geneva first. It's the horrors of Easyjet followed by the joys of the SBB. I'm getting into Frieburg pretty late, half past midnight on Christmas day. Pitt says he's going to meet me on the platform before we go home, which is nice. He has something to tell me.

Caught the last twenty minutes of The Culture Show. Spielberg's a phony.