That time of the year again....

It's that time of the year again.

The time of frantic present-buying, of crazy and futile never-ending parties, the obligatory peace and goodwill wishes to all men....

It's the time when all the cynicism in me rises to the surface and threatens to drown all and sundry in its slimy green meanness and sarcasm.

It doesn't help that I never get nice presents during Christmas. (I know I'm being unreasonable in expecting nice presents when I go around proclaiming that I'm not getting anybody any presents, but it's just me to be so unreasonable what!)

But I suddenly realised that this year, out of the blue, I do have some very nice presents, and they come in the shape of people.

That's the thing about me. I'm like the Grinch of Christmas, and I've always managed to keep people at arm's length, for some strange reason or other. This year, I somehow changed my mind about myself, and decided to try to be nice, for once.

And the people that I've known, some for years, suddenly ceased to just be people, but they've become people I really really care about, the 'if I go out I'll actually look keep an eye open for things they'll like' type, and the 'really feel like spending money on them' type of care about.

It's just so wierd for me. Being slightly happier than my normal maniac depressive Christmas state, and actually having presents this Christmas. Because I now suddenly have friends.

Oohhh.. Presents...