Evans-Amsri

Jeep is busy in the kitchen preparing food for 30 people for tomorrows party. As Jeep will not be able to have her 40th birthday party on her birthday, she has decided to combine a birthday party with New Year's Eve party. We are expecting about 25 adults but Jeep is catering for 30. Jeeps friend Loot has come round this evening to help. There is a lot of preparation needed. More helpers will arrive tomorrow. Some of my friends are coming round tomorrow too. It'll be nice to end the year with a bang!

I still have my cold. I have a chest infection to boot, which is playing havoc with my asthma! I'm on my second lot of antibiotics. The first lot seemed to have had little effect. Hopefully, this second lot will shift the infection. Maybe by the New Year? I hope so.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. May there be harmony and peace in your heart.

Jeep continues to make every effort to improve her English. This year she enrolled at the IOM College for an ESOL course. She has successfully completed stage 2 and will start the new term in 2008 at stage 3.

To use up my outstanding holiday entitlement for this year, I am on holiday until the 2nd of January. Jeep and I managed to slip away to the shops today without the boys. Wow! Christmas shopping on a weekday is a total revelation! The streets and shops were quieter than a normal Saturday! Christmas shopping has never been so much fun! We'll do that again. Only next year we'll make it a whole day and take in a quiet lunch too.

William and I have caught another cold. This winter is no fun! One week in and so far I have managed to contain the cold. Apart from finding it hard to breath, no chest infect - so far! Hopefully, it will be all over by the weekend. Perhaps this Christmas and New Year will be germ free. Weather wise, this winter is developing a colder chill than previous years.

Jeep was again asked to cater for a private party. This time for 21 ladies of the Northern Ladies Group on the Isle of Man. This went well and Jeep was praised again for all the delicious food that she had prepared.