It was all so festive, we just couldn't wait. Of course we pretended it was because so many European countries open gifts on Christmas eve - and because it was already christmas day in Australia and New Zealand... but actually we got like kids and were just too impatient to wait!
And such pressies! Ants seems well pleased with his tickets to see Scotland play Wales at Murrayfield in February. And look at me with my new toys!
We decided to hold the rest til morning and adjourned to the pub for what turned out to be possibly the worst Irish band ever - although that didn't stop us from enjoying a good oldfashioned sing along - then decided, at 3am, that it would be a good idea to ring the folks in NZ.
We started the next morning with a light but lushxurious breakfast, to mop up evidence of the night before, phoned home and opened the rest of our pressies: a pearl and amethyst necklace from my mum, and the best slippers from the out-laws in NZ: toasty warm sheepskin and exactly the right size! Adrian pusscat had more fun with the wrapping paper than her actual gift, and we played all over the loungeroom before getting ready for lunch.Pubs in England open from noon to 2pm, and most of the establishments in Corn Street were buzzing, ours no exception. After closing, 11 of us cooked and ate christmas dinner with the landlords (Martin and Cathy), including 3 kids who all still believe in Santa, and David-from-Kenya, a friend of Martin's from his development work in Africa.
It was amazing sitting in the pub in our stockingfeet, singing songs and unwrapping pressies while people came past and tried to get in cos they didn't realise it was 'family only'. We felt pretty special. Anthony got stuck early in the pub's reading room, although he emerged in time for port and cheese, served late into the night as various other regulars called in to say hello and raise a glass with friends. 
They were still coming in as we headed home, exhausted but happy, after our best UK Christmas yet.
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