I have also learnt something about my family. I submitted to them a list of books I would like before Christmas, divided into two parts: Kiwi railways and all other stuff. Clearly they did not know what in particular to get me from the choices I provided, so I have suddenly found myself in possession of the entire railway section of the list! One of the best presents I have ever received - and now I am keeping this in mind for future lists! As for the other portion, they managed to find almost a half of it. I have plenty of reading for the plane trip to New Zealand tomorrow - some Dickens, lots of railways, Alexander Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago, etc.
Speaking of that trip, I have to be up at about arse o'clock tomorrow morning, so I better go and get some sleep. I thought you were meant to stay up late and get pissed on your 21st? What a horrible and unpleasant waste of time that would be. And unlike those of you in the US, I've been legally able to drink for 3 years anyway.
Have a good one, folks!