234.
I don't know if this is a bit late or a bit early. A bit late, because recently I have been trying to get my photo up in the morning; a bit early, because tonight is the night that the Christmas tree gets decorated, and, as you can see, it is not yet decorated. There is a very simple reason for this. Well, actually, there are two very good reasons for putting this picture up. Firstly, if I wait until the tree is finished, I would not be able to take the picture, let alone post it, because I will be slightly rat-arsed, steamin', roarin' fu' tipsy (as we say in Glasgow). The port bottles are not in the picture by mistake: indeed, they have a very important role to play this evening, for our family tradition dictates that I have the onerous task of drinking them while Linda decorates the tree. The other part of our tradition is the music: the tree is always decorated to the sound of The Chieftains (and guests, such as Elvis Costello) and their album 'The Bells of Dublin'. Liam hates it, and always moans during it, while I try to hold up my part of the tradition, and Linda places baubles on the tree. Anyway, they have started without me, and I really must make a start on those bottles of port. It's a tough tradition, but then, it is a tradition. Wish me luck!

With the tree decorated and the port finished,
we moved on to caipirinha and spritzers!