There was also, as tradition dictates, an ugly sweater competition that got you an extra dip into the bauble pit. I confidently broke out my fabulous beige-on-brown reindeer number that makes me look like a 1970s wife-swapper, but (un)fortunately Jeroen and Kristin arrived looking like this:
And there's no topping that.
At the end of the game The Davieses were left with the aforementioned foil tree and a...well, I'm not sure how to describe it. A sort-of mini enclosed garden of jewels with a butterfly inside. Christine judged us to be the biggest losers so we got the booby-prize which was an awesome Darth Vader in a Santa hat. He had obviously felt our presents.
All in all a successful evening, and less antagonistic than that year when an Israeli-Argentinean black market broke out mid-game. So now it's onto the next Christmas tradition: hanging the baubles on the tree when the Muckers come to visit and then hiding them away in a very deep, very dark cupboard until the festive season is over.
Hannah says: Merry Christmas!
The legendary cheese ball makes its annual festive appearance, and there was much rejoicing.
Vince adopts his evangelical preacher pose and explains the true meaning of Christmas (unwrap, acquire, plunder, accuse, etc.)
Darth Santa.
A...um...hand-made tin foil tree.
And this.
With all these baubles it was time to find a tree, and luckily our local rescue station was selling them within walking distance. Pine needles in my house is bad enough, but in my car...
I like the minimalist look.
Then it was onto other Christmas activities! Pete "helps" Mummy make a white Christmas cake.
Reasons to love America #746. The nutritional information says that a serving size is 14 crisps. Ho ho ho.
