Oh Christmas Tree

Christmas was actually just as lovely as ever. I had far too much to eat and drink as usual. There were 12 of us this year. I had to help a bit more with the preparation as K and O had done the dinner this year, their first Christmas dinner. My uncle usually did it, he even managed it last year although I did end up sending him out of the kitchen as he was struggling to take stuff out of the oven. Unfortunately my cousin S got a work phone call just as the main course was being dished up, and he is in the sort of ‘profession’ where he couldn’t ignore it. He did as much as he could over the phone but had to go into the camp later on.
As we all sat down for dinner there was a moment of angst, I sat in my usual spot next to where Roy should have been. I tried to persuade Marcus to sit there but he said no that K had to so he did. For the last 20 or so Christmases I have sat next to my uncle Roy on Christmas day. He would insult me and laugh at my jokes, especially if I insulted him back. He would listen to my problems too and give his honest opinion on absolutely anything. I’m going to miss him so much. As we drank to absent friends we all managed to stay dry eyed, it’s what he would have wanted and I swear at that moment I could smell pipe tobacco wafting through the air.

On with the festivities, we were all too stuffed for cheese and wine and so we drifted into the sitting room. I lay in front of the log burner like a huge cat whilst everyone else chatted away. The minutes ticked by and more booze was drank. S and Vikki left with the children. Then it was time for Doctor Who so the proper grownups threw us out of the sitting room to watch some hideous soap whilst we withdrew to the study. K got his hip flask of port out which he has taken to carrying everywhere. He got it from a friend who had died in action. Nice!

More vino and port was consumed then we went upstairs and finally had our cheese course at about 8:30. After more chatting around the huge dinning room table we headed home. It was lovely and actually very similar to how it would have been if he had still been there. Which of course I think he may have been.

On boxing day we wandered around to Phil and Ems for dinner, this was nicely chilled out. Then last night we wnet out for a curry with Bob’s old school mates in Cleobury. Time for me to see my friends I think. Sarah has gone to France for New Year and I think Mer is moving house, I really hope Smally is about. I really need a cuddle.

Last wedding of the year

The wedding was lovely if not a little emotional. I’ve never been to such a small wedding before, it makes you feel very special for having been invited. Seeing K happy and with such a lovely lady means so much to me. There was lots of eating and drinking and a little bit of crying too. Now just Christmas day to get through. It is going to be so odd.

In the bleak midwinter

It’s been an odd few days. My work Christmas party was the usual drunken affair. I ate far too much which meant that I didn’t actually drink a huge amount as I was too full, I was very glad of this the next morning. We had a good old dance and I offended the 70’s obsessed DJ by asking for Nirvana. He played it and everyone loved it.

Next day I had a very stressful day at work thanks to some stupid client of mine. Anyway I’m not going there as I don’t want to think about work. Then yesterday, (Saturday) was my beloved uncles and godfathers funeral. It was a very emotional day, the church was tiny and so many people had turned up that there was a PA system outside. This meant as we followed Roy in there were crowds of people doing that awful sympathetic look. I know they can’t help it and it’s human nature but it does make you feel like you are in a bit of freak show. Two of my uncles best mates said tributes to him, I have no idea how they both held it together so long. Then K read a poem.

We all went back to a hotel for some booze and food. O’s family had flown over the day before for the wedding, they came to the funeral too, what a place to meet your daughters future in-laws. People slowly drifted away leaving just the close family. Then we left too. I was a miserable bugger the rest of the evening. Bob tried to cheer me up but ended up making me cry again by saying, “it’s awful that he has gone but you are a better person for having known him”. Oh my god how true is that?! Such a kind generous person, so fabulously insulting and brilliantly intelligent.

So now here I am on Yule up early waiting to go for a run. It’s K’s wedding tomorrow. How hideously ironic is that. I’m going to visit Smally later as I am feeling the need to see people I love. Live life, you never know when it is going to be cruelly snatched away.

Oh and happy Yule, the shortest day, the bleak midwinter. Say hello to the sun, it’s coming back to us.

Bah Humbug

I’m not in the mood for partying which is a shame as it is the work Christmas party tonight. These are normally a drunken noisey affair. I might drive so I don’t get too inebriated. I have so much work to get done before tomorrow. I’ve actually booked time off over Christmas and New Year which I am so looking forward to.

I drove all the way to Milford Haven and back yesterday. 8 hours driving fro a 1 hour site visit. Still it’s better than being stuck in the office.

RIP

Somebody must have been listening. The light has gone to shine elsewhere and I’m sure it’ll shine brighter than most. Goodbye. I’ll see you again one day. Oh and give Steve a cuddle from me.

Falling apart

F**k it all. I can’t cope with it. Just put the light out and let him be peaceful. Let the pain stop and let the grief begin. The glimmer has gone anyway. How did I do this last time, I don’t know. I can’t remember.

Broken crockery

I wrote an extremely melancholic blog a few days ago. I never actually posted it as it was far too personal in the end. It was along the lines of my family being very close and likening them to a broken plate that had been glued back together.

Well lets hope there is plenty of glue left. I think we are going to need it.

Being a bit of girl

Well as I wished for the cold weather has hung around for a bit. There is something quite reassuring about the cold and ice at the moment. I think it’s because we have had a couple of mild winters in a row, coupled with the biblical flooding in the last 2 summers sort of brought climate change to the front of everyone’s minds. But it’s now winter and it’s cold, well done weather. I stupidly went for a run last night, it was only about 6 O’clock but the pavements had already started to freeze. I almost came a cropper a few times but just about managed to stay on my feet. I think I’ll go to the gym tonight!

I am in the midst of a health drive for a number of reasons. Firstly and most importantly I want to sort out my silly immune system. I’ve been taking vitamin C and Zinc soluble capsules for a few days and you know what, (I really don’t want to speak too soon) I am feeling better and might not actually have a cold anymore. I also want to lose a few pounds before the wedding, (22nd December). I had a dress in mind to wear but it is very tight, it is supposed to be tight but not THIS tight. So I went dress shopping at the weekend, on Saturday in Worcester I didn’t manage to find a single dress in my size and got very annoyed. So we went to Hereford on Sunday. I tried a really nice dress on in Laura Ashley, (I must be getting old). I had my usual trouble of it being stupidly long on me and making it look like I was wearing a sack, a nice lace sack but a sack all the same. So back to the drawing board. I need to lose weight so I can fit into the dress I have at home. This has involved giving up the booze, eating even lower fat meals than normal and doing even more exercise than normal. I’m also on some crazy detox tablets which should also help the immune system. Being on the wagon in December sucks. We have a dinner party on Saturday and I am determined not to drink. Then it’s my work Christmas do next Thursday, I may have to drink there or rumours will start about me being pregnant. And then the wedding, well obviously I will drink .

Boys from the Dwarf

Everybody knows I’m a bit of a geek, this obviously includes being a Sci-Fi fan. At this early stage I would like to point out I am NOT a Star Trek fan. I’m more of an elite, (very small) genre called Sci-Fi comedy, (and to a lesser extent Sci-Fi Fantasy) this obviously includes Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy and (fanfare) Red Dwarf. Let me fill you in on the history there, I was 10 years old and my dad hadn’t long bought me a TV for my room. I was sat on my bed idly flicking through the channels. I had been a big fan of the 9pm comedy slot on BBC2 for ages so happened to find myself there just as the first episode was introduced. I was hooked and have been ever since, well until Red Dwarf 8 was aired but let not go there. I used to video the episodes and watch them so many times that I still know most of the dialogue, this is especially true of RD3 and RD5. Myself and my friend from school Cassie would spend hours quoting dialogue at each other. In fact I would probably be a lot more intelligent now if I head wasn’t full of hours of words, cheers for that RD.

So imagine my absolute amazement when I was on the old RD website a while back and found out that 4 NEW specials are going to be aired on Dave next year!!!!!! Only 2 of the shows will actually be episodes but needless to say, I can’t wait. Let’s hope I’m not sorely disappointed like I was with RD8, (I still can’t bring myself to buy that DVD).

Rimmer: “Erm, I think we’re losing sight of the real issue here, which is ‘What are we gonna call ourselves?’ Erm, and I think it comes down to a choice between ‘The League Against Salivating Monsters’ or my own personal preference, which is ‘The Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society’. Erm, one drawback with that – the abbreviation is ‘CLITORIS’.”

Dogs

Right my next door neighbours have a dog. I have nothing against dogs apart from noisy dogs. This dog barks at even the slightest noise, if we open and close one of our kitchen cupboard doors it starts yapping away. It is soo annoying. And what’s worse is it has started to randomly yap at 5:30 every morning, I’m a very light sleeper so this irritates the hell out of me. I think the dog must sleep in their bedroom with them, which is next to our bedroom, as it is sooo loud. Also when they go away for the day or even overnight I think they must shut it in the kitchen possibly in a cage or something as it bangs against our kitchen wall continuously.

So what inspired this rant about next doors noisy dog, there is a dog barking outside my office right now. Not yapping like next doors dog does but giving a single bark every 20 seconds or so. I think I might go mad!