Merry Christmas!

Here's Olga to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, or whatever greeting you feel most appropriate!

I've discovered the downside of the dog sweater -- getting it on and off. It isn't particularly easy to deal with, particularly putting her front legs through the leg holes (even though we enlarged them). But once on it's snug and apparently comfy, and she seems quite happy chasing her tennis ball or wandering around on the beach.

Most of yesterday was pretty low-key. Aside from a couple of walks with the dog -- followed by bathing her in the unfamiliar shower, which she did not enjoy at all -- I did nothing special all day. Just reading.

In the evening, though, Dave and I went out to dinner -- a landmark event considering it was his first restaurant meal since his surgery. He made this reservation when we first set our Whitstable plans, before we knew his surgery would happen, so I was glad we could see it through. We took a public bus into town and went to Samphire, on the Whitstable high street. And since this town is known for its oysters, we started the meal with those.

To eat them, we were given this utensil. I've never seen anything like this in my life but it's quite effective at loosening the oyster from its shell. I then added a bit of the juniper mignonette and a dash of Tabasco, lifted the shell to my mouth and slurped the whole thing down. It may not have looked very elegant but it's the best way to get the "liquor," or liquid that surrounds the oyster.

Anyway, they were yummy, and we followed that with a scallop and then fish pie (Dave) and Waldorf salad and Creole-style mussels (me). Unfortunately we couldn't stay for dessert because Dave was getting tired and sitting upright for extended periods is uncomfortable for him. We grabbed a taxi and headed straight home for ice cream in front of the TV.

Today will be a bit like yesterday in terms of activity -- not much. Dave and I agreed on no gifts, so there's nothing to open, which is fabulous. In fact I have become so lazy about Christmas gift-giving that it's barely a factor in my life. I send my nieces Amazon gift cards and that's all I can manage. It's uninspired, but it's something.

Dave is going to make a pot of chili and I'm going to take Olga back to the beach. I suppose I can muscle that sweater onto her for one more day.