Yes, I actually bought gifts for other people this year.

Snow, ladies and gentlemen, there has been snow.
Snow, I say. Snow, fellows. There's snow! It has been snowing!
It's only the 21st, but I'm excited at the potential for a white Crimbo. That Bing Crosby song is playing on a constant loop in my head, and I'm all giddy, like.
Furthermore, I haven't slipped yet, which is good for me. I'm a fairly clumsy sort of chap, and ice is never a good surface for a person like myself to walk upon. Funny as f**k, but not good. Not good at all!

Anyhow, I took this opportunity to cram in a bit of late Christmas shopping. I'll keep it vague, to insure against the possibility of my gift-receivers reading this: among other things, I got for my father a suitably ironic present; for my sister, I got a daft, annoying present (it suits her, you see); and for my aunt and uncle, I'm giving them a gift of my own creation. Yes, it's a drawing. Of sorts. I'm sure they'll love it - it just needs a frame. Fortunately, they're away during Christmas, so I have until New Year to get a frame. It's an A3 canvas, and finding a frame for it is really hard. But to obtain one I shall endeavour!

I wore my trademark long grey coat, a pinstripe suit, and my trusty old bowler hat. I looked very festive. I liked how the snow collected in the brim of my hat - it really did accumulate. There was an inch-thick layer of snow around my hat when I caught sight of myself in the window of Ruddock's. I did chortle, I don't mind telling you.


Ah, Christmas. Looking forward to it already.
So should you. Forward.... look!

At ease.