Merry Christmas :)

Just a wizard girl
livin' in a muggle world.
Took the Hogwarts train
going anywhere.
I have that on a t-shirt and I love it so deal with my fangirling.

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas. I know it was really tough for a lot of people this year for various reasons. I actually stalk lots of blogs but don't really comment because I'm far too awkward to do so. But I know a lot of people on here are struggling so know that I'm thinking of you all and hope you're managing okay.

It's actually been a really good Christmas. I mean, it usually is. It's my favourite time of year because I love spending time with my family. It's just the best and I don't know why I enjoy it so much, I just do.
I was in the choir at midnight mass on Christmas Eve which was a complete disaster. The mass went okay, everything was lovely, but the choir. My God. We had practiced ONE of the songs we were doing, The Angels' Carol, it's a beautiful song and it's split into three parts for men, ladies, and one of the ladies who kind of tries to sing in an operatic way which kind of works but probably sounded way better 25 years ago. That sounds really horrible, sorry!
Anyway that was the ONLY thing we knew we were doing. Apart from my baby brother doing a solo of O Holy Night because he just has the most amazing voice.
First, the organist who runs the choir, Simon, dropped half of his music and his wife had to pick it up while he tried to keep playing.
Then he'd told us that instead of doing the NORMAL, LOGICAL thing and getting up for communion, getting back to our seats, and then starting the hymn... we were to sing first. So we sang The Angels' Carol and hadn't even hit the second verse by the time everyone else had gotten communion. So basically the priest had to wait for us to finish before he could get on with what he was doing. Oh, and part of that is because after the first verse of that song, Simon realised he was playing in the wrong key and made us start again.
The whole thing was a disaster. He'd just turn round and go "Hark the Herald!" or "Save Us, Saviour!" and we'd all have to whisper the message to each other because we didn't even have an order of service or anything. D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R.

ANYWAY. It was over pretty quickly and I spent a couple of hours sitting up with my family watching music channels and chatting and moaning about how awful the mass was for the choir.

Christmas day my aunt, cousin, and step-uncle came over briefly before they went to have Christmas dinner with some friends. My grandad lived with them so it was a tough day and they couldn't spend it in that house alone. I think they're coming over on New Years' Day either for dinner or after dinner.
But just to be clear: I don't care if Jesus Christ himself comes over on New Years' Day. I am going to my room to watch Sherlock when it comes on. I've been waiting so long for this.

Today Mike and I are making dinner (read: Louise is making dinner, Mike might try to help). He bought me pasta in June. I know that sounds weird, but he went to Italy to perform in a concert with the school music department and he brought back presents. Mum got a hand-blown glass horse, dad got a hat, and I got some funky pasta that's in all these weird shapes, sizes, and colours.
So we're (I'm) going to make that with a nice, creamy, white wine sauce with chicken and mushroom. I bought a tasty tear-and-share garlic bread too. Yum!

On Monday, or Tuesday depending on the weather, Mike and I are going into Glasgow for our annual post-Christmas shopping trip. You'd think that taking a 17 year old boy into the city to go shopping would be like pulling teeth but we actually both have a great time. We go into Game and the Lego Shop and Primark and generally have a good day together. Thursday is my birthdayyyyy! I talked to mum and dad last night and they said it would be nice to go out for my birthday but they don't really have any ideas. I asked if we could go into Edinburgh for a while. We did it a few years ago between Christmas and New Year just to get out. We had a wander around the shops and just milled about. I loved it so we're going back this year.
I said I'd have a look online and try to find a board game to get for my birthday just so we can have a couple of drinks and play it as a family and have a laugh. I would LOVE to be able to play Cards Against Humanity with them but it's a bit much. It is a funny game but some of the cards are really offensive and it would make my parents uncomfortable. I might just get Cranium or something. Or Who Am I?, that's a hilarious game.

My auntie is coming over later to exchange gifts. I'm looking forward to seeing her. I'm also looking forward to the gift part because I happen to know she's got me a book called The Psychology Behind Serial Killers and I cannot wait to get stuck in.

Christmas is over for another year, and there's a slight tinge of sadness there because it's such a beautiful day, but I have a whole week of spending time with my family still and I can't wait.
Yay.