A seasonal meme, from Pavlov’s Cat:

1) Do you have a tree, and if so what is hanging on it?

We bought a very fine pine tree from the Farmers’ Market a few weeks ago; the smell for the first few days was enough to justify the purchase (not that it was expensive – $30 I think).

As for decorations, there are a few red and gold ones, and some tiny blue disco balls. All the decorations are at the top. This is why:

Note evil eyes.

2) What’s the most successful bit of Christmas cooking you’ve done so far?

I glazed a little ham for a pre-holiday supper with Ampersand Duck and her family. Mmmm. (Glaze is described at my flickr page for the keen). Much to Owen’s amusement I often take pictures of me dinner. We had it with baguettes from the French bakery, endive from the garden, sharp cheese, mustard and a great deal of Duck’s husband’s sour cherry relish.

I also made Pavlov’s Cat’s Fresh Cherry and Toasted Almond ice cream. It was sensational.

3) And the least successful?

By virtue of being due to have a baby in two weeks, I have done nothing else.

4) Which bit of your Christmas shopping are you happiest with?

Sage is thrilled with his “Lightning Bequeen” play tent. He spends hours in it, so I am thrilled too. Owen loves his three volume Woody Guthrie collection.

5) Have you opened any of your presents yet? What was it / were they?

Running a bit late with this meme, obviously. Perfume (two kinds!), book vouchers and cash. I may also have bought myself an exceedingly expensive saute pan. May have.

6) Do you have any bad Christmas associations that will have to be tackled?

I like to call them my family ; )

7) What’s your favourite carol? Why?

Not a big carol person. Amanda from Flop Eared Mule sent me a fantastic compilation of Christmas songs, and the Sufjan Stephens songs on it have blown me away. I’m off to buy his Christmas record when the shops settle down.

Which part of your Christmas plans is most likely to go awry?

I had feared point (6) may create iss-ewes but all was well. Yay.

9) What’s your most favourite thing about Christmas?

Watching my son’s pleasure.

10) What’s your least favourite thing about it?

That it occurs when the sun is in Capricorn, because I am a Cancer and more than usually prone to overemotional ridiculousness then.

11) What Christmassy thing have you seen or heard in the street or on the teeve or in the blogosphere that has

(a) touched your heart

A group of Muslim people in Sydney who spend Christmas day cooking and delivering food to street people on behalf of a Christian charity so the usual volunteers can spend Christmas with their loved ones; an article about drovers who can’t celebrate Christmas because there’s nowhere with enough feed and water for the mob to stop.

(b) hit a nerve

I have remained un-nerved this year.

or (c) made you want to barf?

Standing in the toy aisle at various shops was a bit rough.

12) Who do you wish you had contacted to say Happy Christmas but haven’t so far?

Oh dear, I’m not so good at that sometimes. Many.

I hope everyone had a very enjoyable time and that they and their loved ones are well. It was a very good Christmas.