Merry Happy!

I stole ‘Merry Happy’, my cheeky non-denominational salutation from the latest episode of NBC’s Community. I think I’ve watched it ten times in the last week and it still makes me laugh out loud. You don’t have it over here yet but I insist you watch it when it airs next year.

So here’s my slightly shorter Christmas blog – a tasty morsel which heralds the way for ‘the Marksies’, my first super-indie, end-of-the-year entertainment awards ceremony next week. I’m still whittling down the short-list but essentially, if it’s low or no budget, made me laugh or has my friends in it, it’s guaranteed a mention.

But before that, hot on the heels of Hanukah and a bowl of most excellent kneidlach soup from Canters deli, courtesy of Eddie and Katrina (I told my mum on Skype the other day that I’ve lit more candles in the last two years than I have in the last 20), comes Christmas.

Aside from all the crazy Christmas lights (I now know why Americans have such huge garages, it’s to store all the July 4th/Halloween/Christmas paraphernalia AND their sporting equipment) that pepper the neighbourhood, you’re likely to encounter festive madness at any moment.

I went for a quiet dinner on Sunday night and the three cheeky carol singers you see above decked out in Dickensian costume – there were actually four singers but a Blackberry can only do so much! – appeared at our table asking for our Christmas requests. This surreal episode happened at Tom Bergin’s restaurant in Hollywood – it’s an Irish pub so I plumped for the shepherd’s pie and wasn’t disappointed with the food, or come to think of it, the entertainment.

The carols were fabulous. Yes, I’m Jewish but I can still appreciate a good Christmas tune. I asked for Silent Night which is one of my favourites (as is White Christmas) but Jingle Bell Rock worked well too – most jaunty. It’s odd to have people singing at your table – who do you look at? I darted my eyes from one singer to another so no-one felt left out but it probably looked like I was having some kind of epileptic fit.

So I’m off to San Diego on a flying visit over Christmas, via various parties and drinks things. I have to say though, that nice as the shepherd’s pie and carol singers were, I’m craving a mince pie from Marks and Spencer (no relation more’s the pity).

I thought about making my own after spying a jar of mincemeat in Gelsons but after attempting to bake my first ever tray of brownies the other week with limited success, I’ve shelved that idea. I think instead, I’ll be better off dreaming, not of a white Christmas but of the M&S foodhall.

Merry happy!