rinnywee

Tirian is one damned lucky child. He got everything he had put on his Christmas list. This included (amongst other things) the board game Cluedo (hurry up and grow up, child, so I can show you the movie Clue); a remote control car and a Nintendo DS. For my part I got the Star Wars Trilogy box set, the new Robbie Williams CD, two CDs by Souad MassiThe Chronicles of Narnia PC game and Age of Empires III.

( Various photos taken with my new phone )

I'm back to work on Thursday, although to be honest it feels as though I am still there. I've received 6 work related phonecalls since Friday all beginning with "I'm sorry to disturb you while you're on vacation, but..." or "I realise you probably can't help me since you're not in the office, but...". I don't mind for some things, but Jesus H Roosevelt Christ on a stick, people, some of this should could either wait, or could have been dealt by someone IN the office if you'd emailed them. FFS.

Now, I am going to go play Scrabble with my son. At least until the next phonecall comes through.

Ahhhhh, Christmas Eve Day. In Australia (like in the UK) we celebrate Christmas on the 25th, so it's only since I've been in France that I've actually done something on both days. Not this year! I was going to go to a party, but that fell through. I was invited to a colleague's for dinner tonight, but to be honest, I just want a quiet evening in, just me and my cat. Tomorrow I am going to Luc and Tirian's to spend the day with them, and watch Tirian open all (a lot) of his presents. I'll also be cooking, so really, tonight is the real-life equivalent of logging out in a city of an inn in WoW. I'll get rested XP next time I play.

Right now I'm watching Must Love Dogs with John Cusack and Diane Lane. God, I love both of them. Especially Diane Lane, I think she's just adorable. It's your run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, but it's somewhat entertaining. I then have another John Cusack film to watch, albeit at the other end of the spectrum, Lord Of War. I'll then tidy my apartment a bit, do some laundry, drink some more (Tazo) tea and wait for Ugo to finish work (at midnight) and come over.

I went out earlier to buy some breakfast goods for tomorrow (and also some chocolate for Tirian), along with the traditional Buche de Noel. There was a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk (yes, even in bourgeois Versailles) and he just looked so cold and so tired. He was wearing a Santa hat, however, and was calling out "Joyeux Noel!" to everyone that passed. Almost all the people ignored him. I went into the supermarket to pick up my bits and bobs and also bought a small box of soup and a mug. I then went into the bakery and bought some bread and a small quiche. The woman behind the counter asked me if I wanted the quiche heated up, so I took the soup, emptied it into the mug and handed it to her saying, "yes, and this too". I took it out to the man on the sidewalk and sat with him for a while and talked while he ate. His name is Romain and although he looks around 50, he's actually only 37. He used to be rather successful (in a modest kind of way) and was married for a few years. His wife then left him, and he found he couldn't cope. He found going to work difficult due to his depression, and after a while he was fired due to non-attendance. With no income he found paying his bills and rent difficult, and was eventually evicted. He had nowhere to go and now lives on the streets, or sometimes in shelters, "if it's really cold". This was 2 years ago. The biggest problem, he says, is reinsertion into society. "Once an SDF (sans domicile fixe [without a fixed address]), always an SDF in the eyes of those who can make a difference". He said he keeps trying to get back on his own two feet, but doors are always slammed in his face. He'll spend Christmas in a shelter, and he said he'd probably make the journey into Paris "for the occasion".

I wished him Merry Christmas, slipped him 10euros and went on my way. I'll definitely be thinking of him tomorrow.

Another person I will be thinking of is Bolorchimeg in Mongolia. I sent her a small gift a few weeks ago, but World Vision say it can take up to 2-3 months for packages and letters to arrive. I guess she will have it in time for her birthday. :)

To you all, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful time with your loved ones. I ask, however, that you spare a few moments to think of those without family, or in hardship, and then be grateful for just how lucky we all are.

Peace.