"And it's a world of dread and fear" How is your Christmas? Mine's been good, although despite the big build up, the whole affair ends pretty suddenly here with people returning to work the day after Christmas. Boxing Day is not celebrated or observed in the U.S., but I actually refuse to work on cultural grounds and sat at home yesterday on my own watching football, eating cold meats, cheese and pickles.

Last night we went out to celebrate Boxing Night with some friends, the wife of the other couple being the only American amongst us, and that was very nice and I celebrated with another lie in this morning as I continue to 'work from home' this week.

I did very well pressie wise, although I don't know if you remember but I was in Coach buying the other half a gift last week. All very organised it was. Choose gift, over friendly sales assistant taps it into her pda and then bravo, a little man comes out with said gift all wrapped and in a nice bag. Voilà!

It was Christmas morn, and other half unwraps said package with big smile on face, which soon disappears when she pulls out something completely different to what was on her 'Christmas list' and of course not what I chose in the shop. Er, great. Thanks Coach, great job.

Today is a day for catching up on chores as I sit at home watching CNN's coverage of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, another courageous historical figure's fragile life ended in the most cowardly way possible.  ¶ 15:00