:P Just like that, christmas is over...now only the new year to go. All that anticipation, waiting is gone in a day.

Christmas day was slightly different than it has been in previously, in that it was really cold! We were stuck inside for most of the day watching the rain fall onto the window. But it actually worked out well actually, as I got to spend some time at home with my family. Playing uno with my care bear cards! I've also been a good girl this year, well kind of - I got some of things that were on my christmas "wish list". These included a gym ball (which I'm sitting on right now!) an iPod holder and a best of Bryan Adams CD (yes there was a lot of singing that day!) We didn't stay at home for the whole day - we went to my uncle and auntie's place for dinner where we spent the night eating, playing buzz on the playstation, playing mahjong, and more eating. I now know why the gym is closed during christmas - so you feel more guilty and inclined to go once it opens up again.

One of the funny things I've found about christmas this year is getting christmas greetings from people you haven't spoken to for years (especially since I don't like them very much :P) - one even came from someone that I didn't realise he had my email address. That was kind of spooky, well not really - it just shows that a lot of people don't update/clean up their mobile/email contact list *lol* Plus the fact I get more SMS's than I would in a couple of months at any other time in the year! *lol*

Woke up late today, but we decided do try the ultimate challenge - boxing day shopping at Knox. Why knox? Don't know, I guess we wanted to try something different, go to a place that we don't normally go to. Boxing day shopping is a risky business, as there are a lot of people and it is one of those things that will test the patience of the most easy going of people.

Challenge number 1: finding a parking spot. This is one of the most dangerous things encounted during boxing day shopping, especially if you're at a surburbian shopping centre. Stalking an individual as they leave is often the most effective strategy, except when they are only going to their car to drop off some stuff...we almost become the victim of parking rage as we and another car arrived to a car parking spot at the same time (though I think we may have gotten there a little bit earlier). After a lot of glaring on both sides, it resorted to one of the people from the other car being a human barricade and stopping us from taking the spot. All I have to say is, I believe in karma.

Challenge number 2: deciding where to go. When you go shopping in a group of people, it is expected that everyone will want to go to different places. We solved that problem by arranging to meet at a particular point at a particular time. That was good, as I could go and get the things I wanted without my brothers or mum around. Plus the fact I had written a list of what I wanted, which made it much easier. In and out of the stores that I needed to go to. Boxing day is not the day to do window shopping as the fitting rooms are full, and there are no shop assistants around at all if you need any help! It also didn't help that I had only been to knox a couple of times, so I wasn't really that familiar with the layout, but I figured it out after a while.

Challenge number 3: its tiring! shopping at any other time of the year can be tiring, but it is amplified when shopping is done on boxing day. I was so tired when I got back (though it doesn't quite compare with a gym work out though - its a different kind of tired).

Despite those things, its worth shopping on boxing day, I think. You can get things cheaper than they would normally be. And although it can be brutal and downright nasty, its a lot of fun. It does help I like shopping to start with. Only other bad thing was that the popcorn store at knox has closed down, which meant no popcorn :( I wonder if you can get them anywhere else...