An early but fine and peaceful start to the day as Sam behaved and the children enjoyed opening their presents. Diana cooked a fine Christmas lunch and was rewarded with special attention later.
The anti-Royal “Sun” newspaper spoiled the Queen’s Christmas speech by publishing it ahead of time.
Although Sam was very good and slept through the night without waking us up, I had slept lightly expecting to hear him at any moment. I was therefore not really full of the Christmas Spirit when I was woken before 7.00am by the girls and invited down into the lounge where the whole family gathered. The girls and Daniel had lots of presents and packages to open as usual and were absolutely thrilled with them. I had some presents that Diana had prepared too and even Di had some good ones from the children which was just as well as mine for her were late.
** "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **
Daniel and Angela had bought really thoughtful presents and had obviously spent a lot of time deciding on them and then getting them for us. Sam was good for the rest of the day as well as Daniel and Debbie got to know him even more. He was good on the lead, fetched some dummies and obedient to sit and heel signals, commands and whistles. I reduced his food again and hope that he will stabilise his weight as he has put on much recently. The day started very frosty and cold but seemed to get milder later. Diana cooked a really nice Christmas Dinner and then I spent much of the afternoon doing the washing up and then intercepting her in the bedroom and giving her a shave for the first time in a few weeks.
She can now be modestly contained within a "G"-string for the first time in her life and a suitable form of physical celebration was called for! This activity took precedence over listening to the Queen's Speech on TV this afternoon; but in any case the broadcast had been spoiled by "The Sun" tabloid newspaper obtaining the tape and publishing it in breach of tradition and the embargo. They have to spoil everything in their vendetta against The Royal Family. A rather bloated evening watching the TV with the family but then broke off to update my journal and have a bath before bedtime as I was really quite tired.