With Eric and the ever fragrant one in the good old US of A during what we always say is the most wonderful month of the year .........

.......... we were in a bit of a quandary as to how to proceed with our daily posts, Eric and Alices further adventures or our Christmas prep back home?

After a little debate, none heated, in the end we decided that after umpteen years of getting ready for Christmas we really are creatures of great habit .....

....... so, back at The Towers with just Darrell and I, it is very likely that it would all appear to be very same old, same old, while with Eric and Alice everything would be all so new, different and at times tres exotic ........

....... sooooooo we've decided to continue with their American adventures, especially as it seems it's getting very Christmassy over there too if called "The Holidays" instead.

They should be back for the Big Day, fingers crossed ........

.......... stockings will be hung and then straight after (the day after Boxing Day) we'll all be off to the sea, to wit Christchurch, a new holiday tradition started last year because we've always, always, always yearned to be by the sea during some part of the festive season.

As someone famous or not so famous once said (Mr D?) plus ca change ..... so let Eric's and Alice's adventures continue to roll just like those cattle trucks of the old west ......

..... and what better way to continue but with a little Christmas shopping at Darrell's festive behest ........

...... to inject new memories and taste sensations into his festive fayre this year, what is he like?  ......

 Top of his list, Lucky Charms for breakfast or exotic snacking in the evening ......

 ....... Goldfish of all persuasions and varieties .......

...... plus any other type of savoury snack type comestible of an unusual and different ilk or amusing name  .......

...... however the crown of all festive crowns goes to Eric for actually finding the Dolly Parton cookie mix that Darrell up to now could only dream of! Yes, he makes the most wonderful "biscuits" from scratch but to be bestowed with the gift of making Dolly's very own cookies was almost too much to bare.  Let's just say several boxes were duly purchased and several huge tears shed across the pond! Heaven help us all!