Its the most wonderful time...

And suddenly its that time of the year where everything is all wintery and the streets are crammed with people armed with bags and bags of presents as well as even more determination, pushing past others trying to reach for that last object that would complete the list for the year.

OH and I have taken a pretty relaxed approach to shopping for each other. Internet shopping has made things so much easier, and we can order in advance and have things delivered to the in-laws, all wrapped up so we don't even have to make much of an effort, apart from last weekend when we went shopping for Christmas baubles, and Secret Santa presents for a lunch we were hosting the next day.

The premise was simple: each person would buy 2 gifts of 10 francs each, then there would be a ballot, and then each corresponding number would be given to the person who held said number. Simple! Although, the reality went along the lines of something more like this:

"Draw lots, determine order of person, open a present, then either open another present but then you could 'steal' someone else's present. Said present can only be stolen a maximum of 3 times, and it can be stolen back, but not in the proceeding round. Next person can 'steal' the previous person's present, and the previous person would then have the option to open another present, or wait the next round to open 2."

For my part, I paid scant attention and just kept refilling my glass of wine, lamenting the 2 expensive baubles I suspect OH had broken deliberately because of the Swarovski crystals on them. For not paying attention, I ended up with a pen with a naked man, some magnets and some pretty cool ice shot glasses. OH ended up with some delicious chocolates which everyone finished before the game was over.

The aftermath of that Christmas lunch is still reliving itself through random discoveries of an empty glass here, a greasy tray there. Hopefully, when we go away, the fairy on the top of the tree will wave her wand and make it all disappear. Or, since we couldn't find a fairy, and all Swiss top of the tree ornaments look like minaret covers (ironically), another fairy will be certain to be doing it instead.

Merry Christmas you jolly lot.