Just checking in.

Merry day to all here!

Good morning, @CheerBear, @Teej, @eth and anyone who might be around early on this merry day. Wishing you a happy time in the hours ahead, with as little stress as possible. Peace and love to all.

@Mazarita @CheerBear @Teej @eth @Shaz51 and everyone passing through...

Wishing you all the best day possible

You too, @Zoe7.

How are you this morning (if you feel like chatting)?

Hi @Mazarita I am okay - it is going to be a busy day for me - going to cut Toby's hair then give him a bath before I go to my sister's place to help her prepare lunch for today.

What are your plans?

Sounds good, @Zoe7.

I am expecting a low-key but enjoyable day. C and I are joining our longtime good friend for lunch at her place. A fairly simple meal and dessert, and exchanging of gifts. She is alone in her 4 bedroom rental house at the moment, as her brother, who she lives with, has gone up to the closest big city to spend the day with close friends there. We may end up staying with her most of the day, perhaps even into the evening.

That actually sounds like a lovely way to spend the day @Mazarita and your friend will not be alone either so wonderful for them too.

I am going to give Toby a haircut and bath so he looks super special for Christmas - santa only brought him one toy this year 'cos he hs so many but I am sure he play with it once and then it will go in with all his other toys. He does tend to play with the same toys over and over again and certainly has his favourites.

I am off to my sister's this morning to help her prepare lunch - I think she has most of it already sorted so I would say I am on peeling duty to get the vegetables ready. Whatever she needs I will do.

Of course I am taking Toby with me but he shuld sit and wait for me to do what is needed - maybe play with my sister's dog for a little while. They get on really well but her dog doesn't really play much despite Toby wanting to. He is a funny fella but totally adorable too. At least they get on though.

Nice that you get time with your sister today, @Zoe7. It will be helpful to her that are so willing to do whatever needs doing, as a kind of kitchen hand. Or maybe, more glamourously, an assistant chef.

Funny the way you describe Toby playing with his new toys for a short time, then discarding anything that is not a favourite. Sounds like a regular child!

Cool that the dogs get on okay with each other. That will make things easier, as I'm guessing you would go nowhere without Toby if you always had your way. It reminds me of Mum's long relationship with her dog 'Sam', who passed away several years ago now. He actually looked quite a bit like Toby too! Mum even used to take him to work (she was a nurse in palliative care and with the elderly). The patients loved him. I often make the joke that he was really my younger brother.

I would take Toby everywhere with me if I could -m I even looked into him being a therapy dog but there is no way he would reach the criteria ...he won't even come when I call him unless he wants to lol In saying that he is never far from me though so apart from the beach he is never far away. He loves to run on the beach and will often get way aheadm of me then looks back to make sure I am still there and goes a bit further - it is kind of cute but also lucky it is safe on the beach. He also goes up to anyone - loves the attention which is so opposite to his mum lol

Your mum's dog does sound like he was much like Toby - they do become our close companions and when we have had that relationship it is a wonderful thing to have in our lives.

My parents have 3 dogs and we call them our brothers and sisters too - just as my sister's dog is my nephew - it is strange to some people how we tslk about our furry companions but it works for us so that is all that is important @Mazarita.

I am going to have to begin to get things sorted soon before I go to my sister's so if I am slow replying that is why.

Did you get much sleep last night or are you still running on a couple of hours per night?