Merry Christmas

From California. Contrary to the picture, the sun hasn't been shining while I've been here - yesterday was the first day we had, and it ended oh so soon. But I took advantage of the weather to drive through Golden Gate Park and see the new De Young museum which recently opened. A Meuron-deHerzog building, it's a copper-clad moden building where there was once a neo-classic pillared (and dangerously unstable) museum. It's an interesting building, but with too many awkward corners inside and they've not yet figured out how to elegantly use the big open spaces.

It's a bittersweet holiday. Lovely to be home, visiting friends and family, shopping, relaxing, eating, eating, drinking, and eating. But my grandmother's been slowly dying and my mum flew back for the last week to see her. We're now waiting for her to slip away, hoping she's comfortable. We know my grandmother's ready, and my mum says that she's prepared as well - I can't imagine it's easy and I hope she's not being brave for our sakes. Last year we lost my uncle at Christmas so it's all a bit sad, really.

To help out, I'm doing all of the cooking. A standing rib roast, cioppino, mash, asparagus and cherry pie for dessert. Hopefully it will all come off well.

Not much more to do at the moment, but to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

An old-fashioned wedding?

Today same sex unions became legal in the UK. Same sex couples now have the same legal rights as heterosexual married couples over next of kin, inheritance, tax benefits, etc. It's a joyous day - I just need to find a man ...

Lunched yesterday with Jana who, despite battling cancer, remains sharp, gossipy, insightful and great fun. I drank too much wine, however and feel sluggish and unwilling to get on with the work I have to do.

The freelancing continues. I'm working at Agency for a few days this week and meeting with headhunters and a couple of agencies. Hopefully will have more work lined up for January before I leave on hols!