Not so happy new year

Christmas was indeed lovely. It was possibly the calmest, most laid back Christmas day I've ever had. We were awake early and had opened our presents by 9.30, but then took the rest of the day to enjoy doing whatever we wanted to do. A nice walk, long lazy lunch, snooze on the sofa and Peter Kay dvd was about all we could manage. Got thrashed at Scrabble again mind you. I don't think either of us really wanted to get up and go to Shropshire on boxing day, but we made it and had a lovely time visiting all the folks.

Back again now though and plunged into the deep-freeze. It's mighty chilly. Both of us had to sleep in full thermals, socks and hats on Tuesday night. Gorgeous.

I had the challenge of collecting a urine sample from the cat this week. He's not been well, poor moggy, and in order to see if the tablets have worked, the vet needs a sample. I couldn't imagine how I was going to achieve collection, but I was given some non-absorbent stuff to put in his litter tray and once he had done his daily pee I was able to tip the tray and use a pipette. Nice job. Dropped it off proudly at the surgery this morning.

I hope his little problem has cleared up because we're about to traumatise the cat even further by taking him up to G's house next week while we attempt to blitz the place top to bottom. He may never forgive us. But it seems we're disappointing everyone at the moment. We've had to cancel the trip to Cornwall over New Year. The only time off available to both of us next month is first week of January and we need a good week with both weekends either side to tackle the redecoration required to make G's house rentable. If we go to Cornwall for New Year's weekend, we lose half the time and we just won't get everything done. I was looking forward to seeing Tabi and Sam so much, and am pretty gutted we're having to sacrifice a lovely trip in order to get the place sorted, but it's one of those things.

So it looks as if New Year's Eve and the next 9 days is going to be spent camping out in an empty house, sanding and painting like mad. Not exactly glamorous and not quite what I had in mind!

Happy Christmas

OK, I've cheered up a bit since my last update. I'm still fed up with work, but at least I've got the next few days off! Today has been a fairly normal saturday so far, mostly shopping and housework, but I've just finished wrapping G's presents and am getting more and more excited as it gets closer to him finishing work.

I'm not sure what I'm excited about really. I know what he's put under the tree and we're not exactly planning a crazy time over the next couple of days, but I can't wait to get started on my first Christmas at home with the man I love. I might just beat him at Scrabble too!

Bah!

Why oh why oh why is my job like this? It happens every year, but it's still a surprise. We have had a stack of requests in this week all requiring attention over christmas and into January. Most have taken account that it's holiday time, but not all, and in any case it means January is going to be crazy.

Also, the company has had a very good year this year and everybody is congratulating each other. Much slapping of backs and all that. But the same old problems remain and I haven't had a single christmas card or thank you from any of my 'internal customers' who have hit their targets. I don't actually like getting thanks, but not getting it is even worse.

I think I need a holiday. A long one.

Between christmasses

Well it was a lovely fake Christmas indeed. By the time G and I arrived on Saturday night, the gathered Sherds and Fergs were already three sheets to the wind. Tabi looked amazing in her party dress and it was wonderful us all just being together in the same place. I can't remember much other than there was lots of loud conversation and nobody really wanted to call it a night so we all sat up late in front of the box and watched reality tv finals taped from earlier in the evening.

I am now the proud owner of a cool retro Save Ferris t-shirt and some very uncomfy but pretty pants. G was delighted with his Top Gun Iceman t-shirt too - perhaps a little too delighted… He looks very hunky in it anyway :-)

Had a good poke around G's house on Monday with mum and dad. They were very objective and positive about the amount of work that needs doing and what we can achieve between us in the new year. There are some serious problems and a few bits and pieces that really should be tackled by professionals with scaffolding, but I reckon we can get the place looking spanky and attract new tenants.

There is a pretty lighthearted attitude in the office today, but I am having one of those clumsy days where I am a danger to myself and probably others. Think I'll go home and hide for a bit.

A bit fishy

Fake Christmas this weekend! Very excited about seeing Tabi and Sam up in Shropshire and giving Tabi her gorgeous presents that I am rather loathed to part with ;-)

Off for the first of several Christmas lunches in a few moments. It's at work and will probably degenerate into random acts of food throwing. I may have to leave before they bring out the mince pies.

Am aware I haven't documented the progress of the travel plans recently. G and I had a good chat the other weekend and decided that our initial plan of early March departure is too radical and we're just not going to get organised in time. Given that nothing is booked and we haven't even decided on anything more than a rough itinerary, and December has been a write-off in terms of getting anything done other than organising presents and working overtime, we're thinking of a departure date slightly later in the year. It also gives G a chance to sort his house problems out.

I just need to do a bit of research on seasons and the optimal time to get to places. We don't necessarily want to hit peak season everywhere, but we need to avoid monsoons and frozen extremities.

-- later --
That was grim. Senior Management were waiting-on and the Director of Professional Services spilled fishy hollandaise starter in my hair and all down my shoulder. Bloody idiot! It was funny if I think about it now, but I do smell a bit suspicious. I might have to slope off home in a bit to have a shower. Off to see King Kong tonight and I don't want to draw that kind of attention to myself!

Big blast

Woke up to the Hemel oil depot explosion this morning. The shockwave travelled through the house and then there was total silence. There was no mistaking that it was a blast wave. It felt as if there was something very wrong going on somewhere, but that it was probably far away. Couldn't believe it when we switched on the news. Then it dawned on me the plume may well be visible from the back of the barn. Over the last few hours a heavy swathe of black cloud has blocked out the sun. It's very eerie.


Despite the ominous start to the day, I feel ready to tackle some Christmas jobs. I need to return the new tree lights to Focus and then get on with writing some cards. I just wasn't in the mood yesterday. I spent most of the morning on eBay then pulled myself together and went out for a nice walk. I always feel as if I've done something worthwhile with the day if I have a good tramp through the woods. Did a bit of cleaning and reorganising of the living room so we can get a tree in, but still no tree procured as yet.

Almost finalised the Christmas food order on Ocado. The menu runs something like this:

Christmas eve: Moules et frites et maybe some bubbly
Christmas morning: Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs
Christmas dinner: Roast organic chicken, chippolatas AND sausage meat stuffing (guess who insisted on that!) roast pots, carrots, broc, parsnips, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, gravy. Cheese and biscuits, oh and new york cheesecake - that traditional christmas treat.

I feel a bit ill just thinking about it all.

Got absolutely trounced by G again at scrabble last night. I know I know - wild and crazy. We are going to have to find a game I'm better at for the sake of our relationship.

Happy Birthday to my lovely sister. Phoned her up at 9ish, hoping to wake her with a very ropy rendition of happy birthday to you, but she'd been awake since 6.45 opening presents. I think she was still drunk from the night before. Party on sis! Lots of love for the coming year.

Scrubbers

Well I never - work seems to have unblocked blogger access now. Maybe there have been legitimate concerns about access denied to useful industry information or something like that.

I'm a bit worn out today after yesterday spent scrubbing G's house. Somehow it's easier to clean up other people's grime than one's own, but I'm glad I was wearing industrial strength marigolds. People can be so filthy. It's such a sweet house. I wanted to move in instantly and look after it. It needs a fair bit of love and attention and I reckon G is going to have to start kicking up a stink over the damage to the building caused by the demolition/building site next door. It's a mess and he's left with a much devalued property until the building work is completed and with the sub-contracted building firm going bust recently, it could be left for quite a while. Of course when it's all done, the increased curb appeal may improve the value, but until the damage is repaired and the site in good nick, it's a bit of a worry.

Have got my dad on the case though. He's full of good advice when it comes to taking on big bad corporations and obstructive authorities.

Glad I was able to help G out and share the burden. It wasn't quite the romantic christmas shopping trip I had planned, but it was lovely to spend the day together working hard, and then to meet a few of his old colleagues at Tanners. Seemed like a happy friendly bunch and they were very pleased to see G.

Mum and dad looked after us on Sunday eve too, although we're still suffering the after effects of mum's delicious cassoulet. It was all very Blazing Saddles.

Happy feet

The vacillation continues. Took myself off for a walk through the woods this morning and had a strong sense of excitement about the future and getting out there and doing it. A complete turn around from last week. Trouble is that now I don't trust myself to stick with this mindset for long. I'm bound to change my mind about it all over again. I will just get fed up with being so darned introspective and indecisive soon and a decision will be made!

The Christmas party was excellent. I felt really nice in my outfit. The venue was close to home and the atmos great. I got merrily drunk, but not to the state of falling over. Managed some good twirly dancing with Jason even though I was about 6inches taller than him in my high heels. He's a good lead and was able to make me move without my really knowing his style of dancing. The band was playing some laid back jazzy numbers during the champagne reception at the beginning of the evening and I yearned for a Lindy Hop partner and the chance to do some real swing-outs. Few and far between though. G came to pick me up at midnight which was just the right time to leave. Head and feet still a bit sore yesterday, mind you.

Off for a flying visit to Shropshire tonight. Lovely chance to see mum and dad but will be rolling the sleeves up on Monday and helping G sort his house out in the hope of getting new tenants in as soon as possible. He got a phone call from the agent on Friday to say the current tenants had done a bunk without giving notice. Bit of a worry financially speaking, but at least he's got deposits to hold on to. Not the best time of year to be advertising for new people.

Nidification

It's worrying how easily I've slipped into updating this once a week. I was hoping to post updates more regularly, but then not a lot has been happening. Work has blocked access to blogger.com too so I can't easily get in and administer the site. Ho hum.

Christmas shopping has begun. Managed to get quite a lot done during lunch times last week. Still some major purchases to make though. Two days off next week should get things properly underway. I'm really looking forward to Christmas Day this year. First time in a while. It's got to be an improvement on last year when I was laid up with food poisoning. There was a chance I would have spent the whole holiday smelly, weak and alone if Dad hadn't driven down to rescue me. With Mum nursing a kidney stone too, the whole things was pretty unfestive.

I'm looking forward to seeing the folks on Boxing Day and can't wait for Cornwall and New Year, but I've always wanted a quiet, romantic Christmas. I can't believe how quickly things seem to have fallen into place this year. Just me and G at the barn. Presents under the tree, lovely simple food, a bracing walk, roaring fire and the Queen's speech. Splendid. Just got to order the organic chicken and find G the perfect present.

I knew it would happen, but I'm starting to panic about travel plans. Christmas planning is taking up a lot of mental capacity at the moment and I know that once January comes around we'll have so much to organise it's untrue. At the moment I can't believe it will happen at all. I also spent most of this week wishing it wouldn't. I'm enjoying work at the moment and spending time making the house nice and feeling secure and cosy. The thought of walking away from all that is distressing.

But then it's got to be healthy to go and have some adventures when everything else is in good order. I won't feel like I'm running away from anything. I've also been thinking about G and what a trusting and generous soul he is. He gave up his own security net to be with me and must miss friends and all his sporting activities that were nicely established. A big part of me wants to make it happen for him.

People who know us both are worried about the strain it'll put on our relationship if we do go. We're quite new to each other after all. But I have a sneaking suspicion it'll be the best thing about going away. We'll only have each other.