[Sundae]

Wolf, I believe you have mamy happy hours ahead of you.
I have been known to cry real tears at some of the entries, as has everyone I've known to read it (although this is a selective sample, as I wouldn't give it to my Godfather-the-Priest for example).

I'm so sorry it's late, please don't take away overseas privileges next year! I promise to do better.

Damn, I'd better get a move on posting pics of CZ's gifts to me. A brief description - two sets of pink lights, run from batteries. So totally me! Currently decorating the Christmas Cactus downstairs, which declined to flower this year. Will be moved into my bedroom as soon as decorations come down. A packet of Seagull Droppings (really chocolate raisins - all eaten now but I retained the packaging! A completely SG card of a gorgeous cat breaking a path through the snow, and a postcard of Weston Super Mere, where the lovely CZ resides.

What a wonderful bundle of loot, you think?
No!
The main present is a book.
It's called the Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery and it's a mixture of folk history, recipes and cooking techniques from the previous century (including cooking above a fire, on a wood-burning stove etc). It's amazing - full of photos and characters whose voices ring from the pages. Expect to have me regurgitate (sorry) some of the articles and recipes onto this board in the coming year.

It was a wonderful gift because I would never have considered buying it for myself and at present halfway through and wishing it was twice as long.

Photos tomorrow I promise, in order to do the gifts justice.