Christmas plans:
Well, it's late Christmas afternoon here now, so I'm relaxing happily.
The pre-Christmas I was quite ill with some awful bug that's around at the moment -just before that I'd had a sort of milder version (compared to some others I associated with - but still unpleasant) of the bug, which is in the form of a cold with always secondary infection/s- in my case in my throat and chest. It nearly went away and then came back with a vengeance as soon as I was back at work with the public transport commuters coughing and hacking and spreading their friendly germs all over the doors, seats, handles and stair rails, and then the office airconditioning constantly infusing me with stale and sick air, while other colleagues cough, croak, wheeze and having near-death experiences at just the right depth and angle for the virus to bounce back at me again (not necessarily the fault of colleagues when you're under punishing workloads, already working 10 -12 hour days, and a 'couple of days' sick leave isn't enough to make you better - this thing needs a month or so!).
So the second time I ended up on antibiotics, two different 'puffers' (ventolin and some steroidy thing that was a bit scary - and no, I'm not 'normally' asthmatic), and some steroid tablets. Four days later they upped the doses on everything and I gave up on work, and whatever remnants i still had to do for christmas (luckily it was mostly done before I got to my dramatic stage - only some interstate friends will get their cards / presents late, but they'll understand

). Luckily, that combination and the time off work got me into recovery mode - by yesterday (24th) i was no longer tired of the effort of trying to breathe, no longer alternating between asthmatic wheezing, bronchial chest eruptions, and gagging. I actually managed to hold some food down, and when I spoke there was actually some semblence of sound that was almost recognisable. Progress!
By today, I am talking in froggy, but happy and understandable tones, and am breathing as if it's an automatic process again. Just in time for it not to ruin my Christmas morning

I'm on the 'heavy doses' of everything for a couple more days and then the steroid doses decrease, and I hope that'll finally get rid of this thing.
It didn't say 'don't mix with alcohol' but I've been pretty careful just in case. I seem to be still alive at this point, so last nights effort obviously wasn't too much. Which gives me a guideline for this evening's fun
Oh, and nearly forgot: also the pre-Christmas had the usual politics because there always is at Christmas time with the kids' dad. The kids are getting older - youngest is 17 - so this sort of stuff is not unexpected and doesn't have quite as much impact as it used to in earlier times. And luckily I was too ill to care this time anyway, so it sort of fell even more flat than usual
So this morning ... the kids and I had a sleep in, and then a really yummy Christmas breakfast which everyone helped prepare, and then just lots of merriment and fun while we made a production of opening the presents in and around the many interrruptions from phone calls and texts from local friends and girlfriends, and interstate family and friends. It was loud, fun and magic.
And now I'm having quiet in between 'down time' while they're all out, and will be having quiet reflection with friends - and maybe the kids - this evening.
It's been the nicest Christmas I've had for quite some time
PS
Sean - It does save on drama

... but can also be quite sad. At least mine are all only 4-6 hours away. Your's (family and a lot of friends) are way too far away.
Hope you have Skype and all that technology stuff that I keep meaning to look into.
... and that you and
Sister Mary Fellatio and offspring have a full and happy Christmas anyway
