Happy Christmas Eve to you all.  I don't know if I will bother with any comments on the political/economic scene.  I am recovering from having a bad tooth extracted yesterday.  It was rather impromptu.  I knew that tooth would have to come out but was hoping to wait until after the holidays.  However, the dentist had a cancellation when I called yesterday for my new patient evaluation and then manned to squeeze in the extraction as well.  It all went very well--much better than I remembered dental visits from years ago.  And the rest of the news was better than expected.  I will need some expensive work but my teeth are sound except for the one that isn't there any more.  A couple of caps, a couple of fillings, and a good cleaning.

Enjoy your Christmas with the family, Nicola.  I had never heard of echium before and had to look it up.  Interesting; will merit further research.  I dried several cuttings of lemon balm and use it in brewing my tea.  I know what you mean about the smell when you brush up against the plants.  Our handy man remarked on our lemon verbena and spearmint.  I couldn't move on the patio without releasing the scent of mint, lemon verbena or balm, thyme, and rosemary.  I found an interesting book on sacred and healing beers made from almost every imaginable herb, fruit, or other edible plants.  One of the recipes makes a lemon balm ale.  I may yield to the temptation to try a small batch next summer.

I also love my gardens even when dormant, Kay.  There is something bleak and sterile about the patios without any kind of growing thing on them.  I look out at the containers and I don't really see the dormancy--I see next season and what I might plant.  Anticipation is wonderful.

Follow this link to wonderfully warm and inspiring story from the Daily Mail in the UK.  The world could use a lot more of this kind of eccentricity.

Maha posted links to a couple of absolutely adorable animal videos.  Watch as the kittens and ferrets explore Christmas.