Jumper Politics

I'm feeling guilty for not going home for Christmas. Dave is convinced that it's right for us to stay here, and I am looking forward to having time with him and Olga to enjoy the season in London. (And to enjoy the company of my friends Kevin and Brent, who will be visiting.) But I also hate to miss two free weeks with my family. It's a drag being so far away.

I'm going to go back to Florida in February. (In fact, I should just commit and buy my ticket, which I haven't done yet.) But I only have a free week then, versus two free weeks over the holidays.

It's a tricky situation when your family wants you home (at least I assume they do but I could be completely wrong!) and your partner wants to stay put. I don't blame Dave -- we've traveled every year since 2011, so we're due a Christmas to ourselves. I totally see his point. But the pull of familial obligation is strong, especially with my mom getting older.

Oh well -- it's just a few more weeks, really. We'll all survive. And I'll have time to spend with Dave and Kevin and Brent and hopefully also take some walks and explore Christmastime London.

Tomorrow, our last day at school before the break, is "Christmas Jumper Day" -- and here's the one I'm wearing. Newly purchased, just for this year!

I asked my boss whether I'd get in trouble for wearing a jumper -- which is British for sweater, God knows why -- with a political message. She didn't seem to think so, especially since there's an element of humor in it. I'm sure virtually everyone at our school who is in a position to vote is a Remainer, anyway.

(I took that photo in a school bathroom, by the way, and I went to great lengths to make sure you couldn't see anything unsavory. Kind of like how, back in the day, TV production authorities would never allow toilets to be shown on television. You're welcome.)

(Top photo: A pub near Kingston, Southwest London.)