Friday 18th December

On my way in to work, there was a strange glow in the white sky, and snowflakes showered down. Snowflakes are not round and soft and heavy, like they appear in archie comics, but sharp and fractalised, very light, they move sideways and even upwards in the flurries. Last night we slept in the living room (because the bedroom is airless and depressing), and i watched big snow flurries around the orange street lamp outside. The bear was in a hopeful sort of mood - maybe all transport would be down in the morning, and he could stay at home to study for his driving theory test tomorrow. he's left it to the last minute and isn't sure of the difference between puffin crossings and pelican ones. alas, in the morning, the last vestiges of the night's shower were fading off the park in front of our row. But, as i've mentioned, on my way into work, the magical snow came back, drifting down like a screen onto the tube tracks at south kensington, while i stood safe on the platform within.

I tried to impress Nim and mum with stories about going into work in a snowstorm, but global news media has diluted these simple joys. They know what the weather's like in London, they're not very bovvered. Then i tried to impress them with the bear-taking-me-on-secret-destination minibreak story, but mum just said hmm. Nim preteneded to be excited, but i think she gets taken to New York on mini breaks, so she must be a bit blase. sigh.

i think i discovered the mini-break destination though - completely by accident! One of the recently visited weather pages on the bear's computer gave it away. i'm trying very hard not to look up the place on google maps with pictures. oooog.

Mary left a christmas card at my desk, gushily american as expected. but still, it's warm, and i won't complain. i think i've got some christmas spirit in me or something. speaking of which, we have secret santa gifts at work today. i like the person i was santa for and got him a gift that was 3 times the 'guideline' price for the office. hope he likes it. also, i hope the person who was my santa is not stingy or callous or forgetful. my warm gooey feelings about christmas will disappear very quickly if so.