Baby, It's Cold Outside

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!"
--Charles Dickens
The Pickwick Papers, 1836



In England there are 12 Days of Christmas, and this year I was fortunate to be able to spend half of them with my friend Christie, who came to visit from Dallas. Having a visitor over was a great excuse to take one last spin around my favourite stomping grounds before bringing this song of mine in three-quarter time to a conclusion with the coming of the New Year.

Dinner parties have become a Thursday night tradition with my friends at the JR, and the SEU ball at Trinity College was the dinner party to end all dinner parties. It was the last time when all of the house officers would be together before all of us went our seperate ways, so I could think of no better way to see everyone off than at a black tie Oxford high table dinner. The food was simply magnificent.

Friday I made my last pilgrimmage to Stratford Upon Avon to see the Winter's Tale at the Swan. Standing right next to the RSC actors on the stage was definitely a new way to experience theatre, and I enjoyed every minute of it--even if the bear did look a little phony.

Having failed to secure broadway tickets for Saturday night, I was a little nervous that we would end up getting standing room obstructed view tickets for Dirty Dancing. As it turned out, we miraculously scored returns tickets for Sound of Music, which is huge over here right now. The lead role was cast in a reality BBC show called "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" with Andrew Lloyd Webber serving as one of the judges. The production was as good as anything I've seen in New York, and our seats weren't too bad either--10 rows directly behind Tony Blair.

Sunday we did the London walking tour and then hit Harrods for some holiday shopping. Met up with some friends at the All Souls carol service.

Monday we went ice skating at the Somerset House, where they had turned the courtyard into a rink with a big Christmas tree at one end. I was very impressed when Christie started busting out the Dorothy Hamill moves after reportedly having only been ice skating four times in her life. Even more impressive was when she followed that with a spot on Bonnie Blair impersonation.

Tuesday we drove the "Romantic Road" that winds through the Cotswolds. Unfortunately several factors worked against my expectations for this venue, including the fact that it was dark as pitch, pouring rain, I was driving a Fiat Brava that is now missing part of the drivers' side bumper, and my iPod doesn't contain any Barry White.