Christmas ‘06

Okay, this was a new one - our first actual family Christmas back in San Francisco, and it was grand.

First we had to get there, which means sitting in the airport a lot after getting through security (which was very easy because the guard liked my hair and opened up a new lane for us).

Hanging around afterwards was also really easy because SeaTac is huge, has a bajillion resturants, a Discovery Channel shop, and a massive food court in which were playing a really good string quartet (in the lit area behind me and to the right). Veeery nice.

Of course, to combat jetlag, one has to internally pressurise one’s blood stream with carbonated alcoholic beverages, preferably in an Alaskan pub (very much like a Samoan pub but with more fur, snow, and antlers).

There was also a fountain, called the ‘talking fountain’. This is what it says…

We arrived safely, despite some annoying arsehead brat dumping their apple juice down my boot while I tried to snooze. And it was really really stormy. I also got really ill right after we arrived and had to fight it for the whole trip, almost losing my voice several times.

Check these waves (the sea is quite a distance away here). Mister Pacific is not happy…

Friends, family, relations, and their husbands, wives, fiancés, and significant others, all popped round or were visited. Here’s Erin and her sister Heather…

Here’s me getting my hair braided by Deana.

We went and visited our friends the Baloians, who were heading into the city for New Year’s to see their son Michael’s band ‘Lord Loves a Working Man’.

Josh (who was exceedingly ill, but came round anyway) and Elise, with Greta in the background…

Josh with Elise, kicking back…

And Alexa brought her husband Vali and their wee sprog Simone…

Here’s a main gathering of mates with Simone hogging all the attention.

Almost dinner time.

And a taste of home for me.