Boxing Day

This afternoon we walked to North Finchley and back - not for any particular reason other than to get some exercise and fresh air; we've been pretty much cooped up in the Carpathia since Christmas Eve and it seemed like the thing to do. It's only a mile there and back, so it's hardly a daunting prospect and my trick knee is behaving itself most of the time now.

One of our ports of call was Woolworth's to see what, if anything, was left on the shelves. Beyond expectations, the North Finchley branch is one of those that had a stay of execution until next month. I have to say that it was a sad sight. Half the store was already closed off and there wasn't a great deal to be had in the bit still trading. It was very much like the retail equivalent of picking over a carcase, which I suppose it was. Still, I managed to pick up a 100 blank DVDs for future recording, we found a nice glass vase for future flower displaying and Furtle's last ever pick'n'mix. We paid marginally more than £13 for the lot.

Wandering into Robert Dyas and Argos yielded nothing and when we got home Furtle acquired the PC speakers and the filing case she was after on-line instead. A browse around Waterstones was equally fruitless, none of the books there called out to us - or rather we found two books but couldn't find a third to make up the two for three offer, so we didn't bother. Our retail therapy having drawn so little, we rather naughtily consoled ourselves with a seasonal visit to McDonald's for a dose of junk food before wandering home. I have to confess that there's little iof anything that I currently wish to buy. The acquisitive side of my nature is temporarily sated by the on-line order I have placed for a new charcoal reefer, which comes in gratifyingly large sizes; sizes that are even too big for one with such a mighty frame as I:


Of course, I shan't look quite as trim as this callow youth, but I shall be able to wear the bloody thing over my work jacket if needs be.

We are thinking about braving the West End tomorrow afternoon. There is nothing we wish to buy and we will do our best to avoid the sales crowds, but Furtle has expressed an interest in seeing the Christmas lights and I promised to take photos for bibliovixen if the opportunity arose, so provided it isn't teeming down with rain or anything, I foresee an afternoon in the centre.

For the record, by the way, my Christmas swag consisted of a mug with various Marvel Comics covers on it, the complete Campion on DVD, a lava lamp (I've wanted a lava lamp for years), a book of discreet exercises for gentlemen to undertake in their business suits, a quiz book and an inspired Furtle got some photos I took some years ago developed, so I had a little wander through memory lane, too.

Boxing Day

This afternoon we walked to North Finchley and back - not for any particular reason other than to get some exercise and fresh air; we've been pretty much cooped up in the Carpathia since Christmas Eve and it seemed like the thing to do. It's only a mile there and back, so it's hardly a daunting prospect and my trick knee is behaving itself most of the time now.

One of our ports of call was Woolworth's to see what, if anything, was left on the shelves. Beyond expectations, the North Finchley branch is one of those that had a stay of execution until next month. I have to say that it was a sad sight. Half the store was already closed off and there wasn't a great deal to be had in the bit still trading. It was very much like the retail equivalent of picking over a carcase, which I suppose it was. Still, I managed to pick up a 100 blank DVDs for future recording, we found a nice glass vase for future flower displaying and Furtle's last ever pick'n'mix. We paid marginally more than £13 for the lot.

Wandering into Robert Dyas and Argos yielded nothing and when we got home Furtle acquired the PC speakers and the filing case she was after on-line instead. A browse around Waterstones was equally fruitless, none of the books there called out to us - or rather we found two books but couldn't find a third to make up the two for three offer, so we didn't bother. Our retail therapy having drawn so little, we rather naughtily consoled ourselves with a seasonal visit to McDonald's for a dose of junk food before wandering home. I have to confess that there's little iof anything that I currently wish to buy. The acquisitive side of my nature is temporarily sated by the on-line order I have placed for a new charcoal reefer, which comes in gratifyingly large sizes; sizes that are even too big for one with such a mighty frame as I:


Of course, I shan't look quite as trim as this callow youth, but I shall be able to wear the bloody thing over my work jacket if needs be.

We are thinking about braving the West End tomorrow afternoon. There is nothing we wish to buy and we will do our best to avoid the sales crowds, but Furtle has expressed an interest in seeing the Christmas lights and I promised to take photos for bibliovixen if the opportunity arose, so provided it isn't teeming down with rain or anything, I foresee an afternoon in the centre.

For the record, by the way, my Christmas swag consisted of a mug with various Marvel Comics covers on it, the complete Campion on DVD, a lava lamp (I've wanted a lava lamp for years), a book of discreet exercises for gentlemen to undertake in their business suits, a quiz book and an inspired Furtle got some photos I took some years ago developed, so I had a little wander through memory lane, too.