Christmas Eve relative evasion-related hi-jinks
As scribbled on the blackboard, I had to run or hide. Relatives were coming over. Specifically, my youngest brother Daniel's Greek Godfather and his wife, who come over at a random time around each Christmas, without fail, giving one hour's notice beforehand via a phone call. At 2pm we got "the call."

My dad was out shopping, so mum was frantically cleaning the house up while I continued to blog and surf and such. I had until 3pm to make myself scarce. Unfortunately, due to my shocking online procrastination I didn't get into the shower until 2:45pm and when I emerged clothed ready to drive outta there to anywhere else, it was exactly 3pm. They arrived on the dot.

It's not that I dislike these people. They are nice people and all, and it's a good thing that they have the courtesy to visit each Christmas. (My Godfather never comes over for Christmas although we do go to the footy with him.) It's just that I have nothing at all to talk about. And they can't speak much English, so my dad is talking or translating in Greek half the time so just sitting in the room there for two or three hours is my definition of a holiday in hell.

I managed a quick getaway after the following brief exchange:
Me: Hi. Merry Christmas.
The Godfather: Hello Andrew.
Me: Uh, I'm Peter...
The Godfather: Oh, Peter, How are you? How was Japan?
Me: Yeah, good... I gotta go now, bye, Merry Christmas
The same guy had asked the "How was Japan?" question last Christmas, since when I haven't been back to Japan, so he either has a bad memory or couldn't think of anything else about me to ask. Social interaction at its most painful. I don't think I came across as rude or anything, I just wanted out of there.

So anyway I ended up at good ol' dependable Ricohet, where I beat Damo 4 games to 3 despite some shocking play from both of us. That lasted until 7pm, and just to make sure they weren't still there I dropped Damo home then went over to Nick's bungalow and watched DVDs w/ Nick, Fozzie and Kyle until 1am. What DVDs? The first half of Star Wars Episode 2, which turned about to be very unimpressive on a 34cm screen, followed by the mildly amusing 10 Things I Hate About You and the pilot episode of Red Dwarf. Got home around 1:30 and unwrapped my prezzies.

Somehow I don't think I'll be able to escape the family 'festivities' again today as eating at the table at Christmas lunch is *mandatory*. I even get woken up if I'm still in bed at midday... oh well better get some sleep if I want to survive it. Merry Christmas to ye all.