"So Speaks the Queen Bee" - Smart Went Crazy, 1997

MERRY CHRISTMAS, everybody!

As I've learned since moving to England 5 years ago, the Queen's pre-recorded speech to the Commonweath countries is broadcast on TV on Christmas afternoon at 3pm UK time. It's become a new Christmas tradition for me to watch.

But starting this year, you don't have to be in the UK or another Commonwealth country to watch her speech. There is now a section of YouTube called "The Royal Channel", and you can see the Queen's speech there. If you're interested, you'll also find other videos there as well.

I'm impressed that the Queen is keeping up with the times!

John and I have had a terrific first-Christmas-in-our-home today, just the two of us. I hope everyone has enjoyed Christmas as much as we have!

Janet

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Gene Autry, 1949

Here in our household, that traditional Christmas song should be renamed "Murray the Red-Nosed Cow Skull"...


(Click on the image for a full-sized version.)

In case you don't remember Murray, here's a reminder from last year.

Wishing all of Lord Celery's readers a very Merry Christmas!

Janet

"You Light Up My Life" - Debby Boone, 1977

My officemate Gavin has found a fantastic site on the web, chock full of photos of some of the ugliest home Christmas decorations that I've ever seen. And I've seen some garish ones in my time.

Take a look at uglychristmaslights.com. It's not just the photos that are terrific; read the comments from the site's creater as well.

I'm laughing so hard that I'm crying. And it's been quite some time since I've done that!

Janet

"Rockin' Robin" - Bobby Day, 1958

I just took this photo of our back garden's resident robin...


(Click on the image for a full-sized version.)

John and I have named him "Batman".

Janet

"Here to Stay" - Marlon D, 2005

(Click on the photo for a full-sized version.)

What a terrific day today -- see what the folks in the Birmingham immigration office put into page 15 of my passport!

John and I are a bit tired from the trip and all the waiting (on very uncomfortable chairs) but absolutely thrilled to have gotten my Indefinite Leave to Remain right there in the office today. Not everybody is so lucky.

Indefinite Leave to Remain in Britain is very similar to getting a Green Card in America, so it's a huge deal. I don't even think it's really soaked in yet what an important step this is!

And by the way, isn't that a horrid photo? I was told very specifically that I could not smile for the photo. It looks like I was in a lineup at the police station.

Goodnight from Oxfordshire...

Janet

"A Traveling Song" - Myracle Brah, 2007

Just a quick hello to everybody, from Roma.

As I wrote in my last post, I'm in the midst of my European tour. Late last week, I was in Paris, getting home late Friday night. And then on Monday morning, I left the UK for Rome, where I'm spending the workweek.

I've taken a few interesting photos along the way. But sadly, I have to admit that I've been too busy (and too tired, when I had the time) to post them in a blog entry. But I promise I'll post some of the shots once this trip is over.

I hope all of my regular readers are OK?

By the way, the food here at this hotel is wonderful, and the hospitality shown to me and my course delegates has been just fantastic. But still, I'll be very happy to get home in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

More when I can...

Janet