The Haul

Last night we stayed up until after midnight so we could open our Christmas presents ASAP, as Cindy's family always do. I had already picked out for myself a nice Bluetooth mouse and the first two seasons of my new favourite comedy.

But there were also a few surprises that had some cultural significance. Cindy's parents got me, among other things, a napkin ring with my name on it. The French still use cloth napkins more often than we do so they usually have their own named napkin rings and, for anyone who spends any time in the South, it'll be made of olive wood.

Cindy's brother lives in the east of France, not far from the headquarters of Lacoste. They came in laden with very chic crocodile-emblazoned boxes for everyone. I got a nice pair of socks and a cap (which I might need on our trip down to Morocco).

When we were in Belgium earlier this year we had a few meals with a couple of Cindy's cousins. Well apparently they remembered what we were drinking because I also received a boxed set of Belgian lambic beers. I don't normally like beer but this brand, Mort Subite was very good when I tried it in Belgium. As well as a fancy balloon glass, the set has two different cherry beers, a raspberry and a gueuze.