Should have gone to the opticians today for my new specs but somehow just couldn't get the energy to make the effort - plus the thought of all those crowds doing their Christmas shopping was enough to put the kybosh on that plan. Will just have to wait until after Christmas, tough! Ian went up to Salisbury to see his kids this morning so I had a lovely lazy morning with the Creatures from the Black Lagoon. Had intended taking Max for his first walk today but as its been raining too much had to resort to putting him on his new lead and walking him up and down the landing! He does seem to be getting more used to it so hopefully when we do finally get to take him out he'll be as quick as Pepsi was.

Although he's a pure bred scotty dog he looks more like a daschund as he has a long body with very short legs. Our vet tells us this is normal and as he gets older he'll start looking more like a proper scotty, but he's so comical looking at the moment we can't help but laugh.

Well we finally got round to starting to put up the Christmas decs this afternoon. Two long multi coloured rope lights draped around the study, along with an optic fibre xmas tree and candle bridge lights in each of the 3 windows. looks great from outside. Ian actually bumped into some of the neighbours who live opposite and they were asking when we were going to put the decs up as they enjoy them so much so he was able to tell them they'd see them when they get home. Still have to put the tree up in the lounge and decorate that and also the outside lights. Icicle lights round the bay window and multi colour lights down the length of the fence. Oh nearly forgot the curtain lights for the lounge windows! So still a lot to do! Looks like we're going to be busy tomorrow, as we still have to clear out the spare bedroom for Sam and Kieran to stay when they come for Xmas. Arrrgh!!!!

Pepsi has finally mastered coming down the stairs on his own which is great as it was getting to be a pain having to carry him down every time he needed to go out. I attempted to get Max to go up on his own but he wasn't having any of it and I could see he was still too small really so it'll be a little while before he can make it.

Ian came back from the supermarket with the ham for Christmas and is buried in recipes as to which is the best way to prepare it with glazes and cloves and the whole shooting match. He's having so much fun planning the Christmas Dinner. He's got a special turkey on order and is going to prepare it the way he did last year which was superb. He cooks the crown and legs seperately and stuffs the legs before wrapping them in buttered foil. Last year they were sensational. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Well its Christmas next week and I've got a stinker of a cold, plus its now gone to my chest and I'm coughing all the time, which is very annoying and painful. Have had to have the last few days off work with it, which would have been useful, but all I want to do is sleep, as I am coughing most of the night. Doesn't seem to bother Ian - he just sleeps through it!

Just looked down at the puppies, Pepsi & Max (aka Beelzebub & Mephistopheles, the Creatures from the Black Lagoon!) They were wrestling and Pepsi had Max in a full nelson- they are so funny to watch when they play together. They are being very good today (it cant last) Neither has done a pooh off the pads and little Maxsie has only had one wet accident on the carpet which is such a relief as they were a nightmare yesterday and really drove us to the wall! But they are so sweet we have to forgive them and just hope this 'phase' wont last much longer - of course we realise we are probably just kidding ourselves! This could go on for a very long time, particularly with Pepsi being a Westie. Max is still very young at only 10 weeks but caught on to the puppy pads from the word go, he seems much more mature than Pepsi, despite being 3 months younger, but I think Scottie dogs are much more cool, calm and collected than the 'mad' Westie!

I spoke too soon - just found a Pepsi pooh out on the landing carpet, despite there being a pad only a foot away- he just doesn't seem to get it! Anyway they have both been banished to the Black Lagoon (the puppy pen) for the time being.

We watched the Royal Variety Performance last night which was very entertaining and saw a medly from The Producers with Nathan Lane and Lee Evans. It looked great fun and I've always loved the movie so I checked out Ebay for tickets and found a package with good seats and overnight accommodation in a very nice 5 star hotel called the Langham. It's just off Regent Street so is very handy for shopping and sightseeing as well. So I've booked this up for us as a special treat for New Years Day. I will have the chance to wear my new full length fur coat (faux of course!) which I've just got off Ebay so I'll be able to sashay around town in that - great fun!

Ian has just come down from the loft where he has spent the last hour or so putting down loftboards so we can use it as a proper store room. Mainly for Xmas decs, up until now we have just been piling them around the hatch. We seem to have accumulated an awful lot. I was amazed at the number of boxes that came down this year. We have also got a lot of my mums stuff piled in the spare room which can now go into the loft - and probably never see the light of day again! sadly I just can't bring myself to get rid of it.