Today was mostly spent trying not to fall over while making our way along the icy sidewalks to Unithai, to the supermarket and back home again. The roads and pathways are still somewhat treacherous, and everyone out shopping had to walk around with a funny stiff-legged sort of waddle to avoid slipping on the hard-packed ice.

Tomorrow will be mostly spent trying not to leave the house at all, not just because of the ice, but because we have to pack and get psyched up for travel, for on Monday—weather willing—Jeremy and I will be flying off to America for Christmas.

I’m really looking forward to the Christmas break; I can’t wait for two weeks of not having to answer phone calls, respond to emails, or deal with solicitors and estate agents. It’s been a mentally and emotionally draining few months, and it’s going to be equally if not more stressful in the new year when we have to move house, so these two weeks away will be the calm in the eye of the storm. I intend to relish every moment of it.