You Gave Me Life Again

Of course :)

Excuse me for the delay in responding. These holidays have been... Arthur describes them as “full on”. For once I feel his way of speaking is apt to the occasion. Full on is correct.

The best thing about Christmas? Gelda has told me this makes me sound like Ebenezer Scrooge but the truthful answer is that the best thing about Christmas is that it mercifully comes to an end after a couple of weeks and one is able to go back to work and resume taking control of one’s inbox. I am looking forward to a productive 2020.

(Arthur’s note: don’t listen to Mr Grumpy he had a good time really, but yeah the kids were totally full on.)

Apparently Cath has...

Hey there! We both spend a lot of money on Christmas. I just went to the supermarket and spent £30 on ice cream... Gelda bought Astrid an ice cream maker (from Santa) and Zeldris was worried it might not work well so now we have back up ice cream! In eight different flavours. Plus sprinkles and edible glitter.

I always buy Zeldris a suit for Christmas. And I very much enjoy the unwrapping part...

Gelda: Zeldris, why don’t you ever get Arthur a suit?

Zeldris: why? I got him a Nintendo switch and those pokemon games. That cost a fortune.

Gelda: well... because then he would wear it...

Zeldris: Gelda, he’s a fireman! He has a fireman’s uniform.

Gelda: ... okay, good point, well made.

When it snows we do hide and seek with a twist. Loser gets snow down their shirt!

Please note that Zel’s snowman looks angry. I totally forgot that and remembered when I saw this photo and it’s just so damn funny 😂

Hey there! Um... we use Amazon like everyone else. They’re one of Zel’s clients (he’s helped them out with the tax avoidance stuff) so even he uses them. And we hide them in the present cupboard... which we all know about lol but oh well.

The kids make their presents. This year they tried a gingerbread house.

It was supposed to look like this:

And ended up looking like this:

NAILED IT!

Hello. We are excited about a number of things but principally this year we are determined to have a tree that survives into the new year, without any... adverse effects caused by certain felines.

So this year Cath is allowed nowhere near the tree.

Also, on a personal level, I am looking forward to getting some sleep.

Zeldris, for goodness sake! How you can thinking of sleep at this time of year?? There’s presents and stockings and presents and wine and presents and chocolate and presents and Gelda’s cookies and presents and... did I mention presents?

Arthur, some of us have been working twelve hour days and are tired. We want to sleep.

Nah, you can when you’re dead.

That’s easy for you to say, you’ve been in a coma for two years.

I... have experienced my worst fear. Arthur was harmed. He was in a coma because of me, and I could not save him. The days between Cusack’s attack on him and his eventual recovery were some of the worst in my entire existence.

I do not think I have ever felt so raw as when he finally woke up. And I hope neither of us ever have to go through anything like that again.

Hey there! Zel’s favourite season is Autumn. He likes the colours and the energy of the cold. Also there are fewer holidays so he can spend more time in the office.

Gelda’s favourite season is Spring. She enjoys seeing the flowers in the garden come to life and the ambient temperature. She gets too hot in summer but she detests the cold too. So Spring is perfect for her.

The kids love winter. Who doesn’t love snow and Christmas to be fair.

My favourite season is Summer. Everyone is so happy and it’s nice and warm - I never think it’s too hot really - and the flowers are in full bloom. It’s perfect.

Arthur impulse buys biscuits and toys. I impulse buy biscuits and toys. The house is full of biscuits and toys. And we are both equally likely to do it.

Arthur: I love everything about Zel if I’m being honest. He’s not like anyone else I’ve ever met. I love that he’s so great in so many ways - I mean, he really is objectively brilliant - and yet he’s so easy to tease! It’s just wonderful being with him and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Zeldris: That... is very nice of you Arthur. I’m deeply touched. I would not change a thing about you either. I really appreciate that you take joy in such simple things and you can see the good in everything and everyone. You make even spending a day in the park seem like a grand day out.