A Great Leap Sideways

We had a fairly low key Christmas.  Brendan brought presents from our parents with him, which supplemented my burgeoning collection of unholy underwear.  They also gave me a pepper mill, as Argentina seems yet to have mastered that technology.  The local palate is averse to spicy food, which extends even to fresh cracked pepper.  I did buy one here, but the ratio of nails-on the-chalkboard squeaks to peppercorns successfully ground is pretty pathetic.  We broke in the new mill over our salami and egg breakfast.

The afternoon passed in agreeable holiday style, playing cards and watching movies (Mike had never seen Gremlins before!), including the gala premiere of 4D.  Mike shot a bunch of video during December 4th, and had spent his down time over the past few weeks editing it into a bravura 15 minutes of cinematic gold.  Easily my favourite movie of the year.  I braved the evil oven to cook a chicken with some of the trimmings, and we called it a night fairly early so Brendan and I could wake up early and pack.

I wouldn't have minded staying at floor hockey central, but someone else had already booked it for the 26th of December onwards.  My new place is a whopping two and a half blocks over from the old one, and pretty much the polar opposite in terms of style.  It is still in an old building, but the interior was gutted to make a gleaming four-plex.  Instead of the perpetual gloom to which I had become accustomed, this one is flooded with natural light.  Instead of gaucho country charm, the new pad is decidedly modern - polished concrete floors, brushed steel walkways, angular white leather furniture.  What sold me on it was the giant private rooftop terrace, complete with parilla.  New Year's Eve party at my place!