Winter Solstice, end of the World, Christmas etc.

  I'm feeling pretty good about things generally. I survived the 'end of the world' and Christmas, two things I do not believe in. the evening sky on the 21st (Winter Solstice) looked very ominous though.

  Christmas day was spent on the beach, nothing different except that I did not move us to the park at the customary 4am. Instead we slept in until 7am at our nightly boondock. It was so quiet. No traffic at all and the Carl's Jr. we park behind was closed for the day.

  From the previous Wednesday to Sunday Newport Beach put on their annual 'look how the rich people live' parade. Also known as the Boat Parade. Each evening, from 6.30pm to 9pm, boats of all sizes, decked out in Christmas tree lights and decorations, troll around the harbor for us poor folks to watch in supposed awe and envy.

  Despite the rain it does manage to attract a crowd so, being the opportunist cab driver that I am, I troll around the crowds like a Great White shark looking for prey.

  As a result of all this 'work' I have not been TH'ing much however I have managed a couple of quick hunts, but only netted another silver ring and yet another lock-knife.

  We did not exchange pressies this year. That's normal for me but a little hard on Christine, my wife. Her son is..ahem, 'away' for a little time and, despite the fact that he is 29 and a 'grown man' (me talking) she is a bit sad about it. She is no stranger to 'a little time' herself. We had a three year enforced separation before we got married...I probably should not be sharing this fact..but then she does not read my blog anyway.

  No, the reason for the lack of boxes under the tree and the lack of the tree itself is that we are purchasing our 'pod' this week. I have made a deal on a 1987 Class B Horizon van 

  On Friday I am travelling by Greyhound to Bakersfield to collect her. I am quite excited!! Christine is also happy as she will have another vehicle to make all homey. Now that we no longer have the boat we need an escape vehicle so we don't feel stuck here. It could be that that is just the way I see it, but she also wants to go a-roaming.  I must say I am very lucky to have a woman who puts up with my ideas, plans and dreams.

  I phoned my mother on Christmas day. She and my dad are back in England, where I am from. She is 80, my dad is 81 with Alzheimer's. She is losing her short term memory too so the conversations are hard and  often repeated, but it's good to hear her voice. Her long term memory is fine so we talked about her childhood, before the war.

  I wonder how the two of them manage, they probably talk all day.....it will be like:

Mum: Fred rang to say happy Christmas.

Dad: Fred who?

Mum: Your son!

Dad: Oh....good.

Mum: I'll put the kettle on.

Pause.

Mum: Fred rang to say happy Christmas.

Dad: Fred who?

etc.

  While detecting this little guy started following me along the beach. After I dug a potential treasure and moved on he would trot up to inspect my work. He was with me for over an hour.
  I went back to the same stretch of beach the next day and after  a while I had the feeling I was being followed. And I was. He stayed with me for two hours that day before getting bored.