When we travelled to the USA it was Xmas Eve when we left and Xmas Eve when we arrived. Poor kids had two Xmas Eves to wait through before Santa arrived.
Ah, now this was when the kids wished they were Norwegian, right? In Norway Xmas eve is the big day -- big family dinner, then unwrap the gifts. If they'd been Norwegian kids on that trip they'd've demanded a double set of presents.
Half-marathon over. Sabbatical year over. It's back to "sacking shirt and oat cakes" as they say here.