Bah Humbug - It's December again! 3 or is it actually 2 days to go?

Bah flipping poo Humbug.

I think I don't believe in Father Christmas, any more.

There are, at this moment, only 2 full days left. And, that is because I am writing in the evening, at the end of the day, when essentially there is not much left of the 3rd day before Christmas.

A day that started off searingly hot, rather like a griddle pan, only I was not about to sit around like a steak waiting to be cooked. After a morning of working, I decided that my hair needed trimming - or I might fast end up resembling Einstein, and I might as well paint my toenails pink. They have been orange for over 6 months now. Time for a change of colour, or I shall be deemed boring or too predictable. Mind you, the orange colour did stick out, like a sore toe.

And, just when I thought things were going tickety-boo as posh people say. I dropped my Blackberry Priv in the carpark. It slipped out of my hand as if it was covered in butter. I don't remember butter at the hairdresser, but maybe I missed something ...

Smack.

And a pretty mosaic of lines across the top of the screen. Naturally, I chastised myself with more than a colourful array of expletives. I chastised myself even more, when I was told by some two-bit repair centre that it would take about 10 days to get the part.

Now, I have to debate whether I go to the official BlackBerry service centre, which you cannot call, or whether I chance it with a dodgy repair shop.

This is why I Bah Humbug Christmas. We are enticed to spend money on frippery, and when we need to get something repaired, it takes five times longer than it should, and is no doubt charged at a premium because it is the holiday season.

I am not sure I believe in Father Christmas any more. Father Misery, alright.

I suppose I shall have to simply listen to Greg Lake and try and believe in Father Christmas. At least he made his protest against the commercialisation of Christmas into a song ...

And I still don't have an oven that works. Wonder if the turkey will freeze until next year?

Bah flipping Humbug.

Bah Humbug - It's December again! 13 days to go!

Monday 12th December.

One of those days when I had to use my brain. My assignment was due in by noon, UK time. No time for Christmas today.

What I did need to do, however, was to chase up on my oven that was not working, but should have been working. Still at the back of my mind was that niggling feeling that we might just be ordering pizza for lunch on Christmas Day.

Not much to say today, so I shall post a photograph of Santa decorating a tree that is decidedly miniature, next to an old telephone, that is fake.

Lots of fake around this year.

Bah flipping fake Humbug ...

Bah Humbug - It's December again! 15 days to go!

Saturday 10th December. Another weekend in December. And I have an assignment to submit on Monday. That rules out any Christmas shopping. But then, who wants to go Christmas shopping at the weekend?

No, after tutoring, I hurried home ...

I was excited. My oven saga was coming to a close.

I was going to use the repaired oven for the first time this evening!

I had to get home and prepare for the momentous, almost historic occasion. I would have an oven for Christmas afterall.

The moment of truth arrived. I switched the programme on to number 4, stood back and admired the fact my oven was now working.

Meanwhile, I prepared the meal.

Out of the corner of my eye, the oven light flashed, or did it twinkle in unison with the fairy lights on my Alt-tree? Whatever, this was exciting stuff. My oven was on its test drive for Christmas.

As with all test drives, there are hiccups.

After 30 minutes, the oven was still barely warm. Something was not quite right. After an hour, the oven was at 170 degrees. Hardly hot enough for my dish and oven french fries.

The rain was teeming down outside, so no recourse to the barbeque. But there's an idea for roasting, if I can find the twirly whirly thing that spit roasts meat.

Frustrated, we grilled the meat and grilled the french fries. It was an interesting experience.

I wrote an email to the supplier. Thank goodness I had not paid them. There is always a purpose in holding back on payment, until someone comes after you with a huge stick or something ...

Bah flipping Humbug. The picture in my mind of a succulent roast turkey, roast potatoes and parsnips grew hazy.

No use calling anyone to "á table!" when there's nothing to eat. This is worse than Bob Cratchit's house.

How am I going to cook for Christmas now?