After 4 days the replacement carer that I was working with has spat the dummy, not surprising considering he was a 21 y/o South African fresh of the boat and living with mother, couldn't cook, clean, wash, use a telephone. . . the list goes on.

So the last few days have been a bit tense, but now I have got a replacement and the trip to Amsterdam is still go. The pound has be pushing out an all time low against the Euro, and with the rate of exchange, it is about even. Christmas and the exchange rate are cutting into the budget, so the computer might be more of a new years gift rather than a Christmas one, and Noel just got her new Macbook pro the other day of which I am envious, but I still get fiddle around.

Northern Hemisphere Christmas MK II is well underway, the English spin on the holiday is a bit more like what I'm used to, but I really miss the Summer at this time of year. I never realised how religious England was, how much it was a part of there persona. Where in Canada there was a desire to be "PC" and have a multi cultural holidays, frosty the snowman etc, there is little of that here with Jesus and Santa hanging out everywhere. Maybe I should celebrate Festivus this year.