Well, it's January already and in keeping with the modern trend for downsizing everything, the year 2004 was just about four months long. At this rate, I should be drawing up my Christmas card list for 2005 already.

Mind you, half the people I know didn't get their cards on time this year because we left it to the last possible moment to send out cards. But we had the tree, the goose, and all the other paraphernalia of a German/Irish Christmas. Actually, it was largely German, but we did have Christmas crackers and a pudding (which I had to eat as nobody else could see the point of it; I forced myself).

For Caitriona, it was her first Christmas and while she didn't exactly know what was going on, I think it was clear to her that it was a pleasant time of year as she had lots of new toys to play with, including a pram (from her grandmother) and a wooden giraffe with wheels, which she can sit on and be pushed around by her brother. Soon she will be able to push herself around on it.

For the rest of us, Christmas was quiet and over all too quickly. And never mind about the goose getting fat, I've put on loads since before Christmas. And I'm too busy to take exercise, honestly.