The fact that I needed three attempts at typing in the correct URL to find my blog is testament to the amount of wine that I have consumed. Fancy wine, at that. (fancy wine being wine that costs over $10. At $10.99, this wine scrapes though). After a stressful day attempting to appear as normal as possible, it's provided the relief I was seeking.

Today was spent driving to Nelson's Bay and lunching with Ben's dad. It was surprisingly okay. I got away with being quiet with a benign smile pasted onto my face. Ben's 10-year-old half-sister, Laura, greeted us most enthusiastically, running to the car and giving me a massive hug, declaring that I would make the 'perfect sister-in-law'. er, what can one say to that? Benign smiling. It's usually the answer.

World Idol is blaring in the background. Interestingly enough, one of the talented candidates chose to perform Nirvana's 'Lithium'. He deserves my vote. However, SMS costs money, and no World Idol competitor is worth 20c in my book.

The tofu turkey was a success. There are photos, which hopefully I shall be able to post somehow, or link or something, not quite sure how it all works. The little drumsticks looked so realistic.

For a change it actually feels like Christmas, being boiling hot outside. Fortunately my mum's house has an air conditioner which has created a most pleasant atmosphere indoors. Vanessa and I have been preparing a feast for much of the day, with the centrepiece being a spectactular tofu turkey...tofu shell complete with stuffing. and DRUMSTICKS. Vanessa tried to give it 4 drumsticks, in keeping with her post-apocalyptic Christmas theme (mutant turkey, riddled by radiation sickness) but I stopped her just in time. It is now in the oven, bubbling away. I must baste it in approximately 5 minutes. We were originally supposed to have lunch but the turkey has taken longer than expected. So it will end up being an early dinner, I think.

My mum gave me a gingerbread house, which is something I have always wanted. I have a long and proud history with gingerbread. For those of you who don't know, I was the reigning decorated gingerbread champion at the Royal Easter Show for 3 years running. I used to draw up complicated designs for each characte (you had to submit 3 pieces). Each would have a definite personality. My favourite was a girl in a red dress, complete with tiny red embroidered flowers. When I was going out with Nick, I made his likeness in gingerbread once, complete with Dead Kennedys Tshirt and combat boots. He pinned it to the notice board in his room. I think it fell off eventually, fortunately gingerbread doesn't decay very quickly.They were quite impressive, if I do say so myself. The old ladies who judged them at the Show used to coo appreciatively. Once they held one of them up for all the audience to see. My proudest moment.

Must baste my fake bird. More reports on the Berry Christmas later.