So, that was 2007, was it?
Monday, December 31, 2007 ~ 2 comments so far
I’ve always meant to do something like this but never found the time… ohh ok, the inclination, before. Perhaps that’s because it is somewhat overly narcissistic but, well, that’s never stopped me before..
So here is a (skewed) look at the past year, as seen through the eyes of this blog:
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Do you have the receipt?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007 ~ 13 comments so far
So, did you get anything nice? You DID! Ohh you must’ve been very good then.
I got some excellent presents this year, but I have to admit that as time marches my attitude towards Christmas is changing.
I’m fairly agnostic these days, and look upon such Christian-based holidays in a more spiritual sense. Christmas is a time to re-connect with family and close friends, to spend time with loved ones and generally ground yourself before the next helter-skelter year comes along.
The acting of giving and receiving presents is well established but, like many traditions, seems to a little misplaced these days. After all, in our current society where anyone with a reasonable income can afford everything they need, and a lot of things they don’t, then any gift is either very specific, or generic enough that it becomes one more item in a cupboard or wardrobe.
That sounds mean. It’s not supposed to be, and I know that most people put a lot of thought and effort into their gift buying, all of which is very much appreciated, and it is genuinely exciting to open a present that has been chosen especially, but there surely must be a limit of the amount of stuff one can own.
I am seriously considering asking for donations to charity for next year.
Hey, I said considering, I’m not actually going to do it… am I??
Anyway, I’m sure you got a present or two that you aren’t really that fond of… go on, spill the beans… I’ll even let you comment anonymously (use a false name, your email address isn’t displayed).
If I get enough comments I’ll give you the gory details of the wonderous present I got from my in-laws one year…
Shhhh, can you hear Santa?
Monday, December 24, 2007 ~ 7 comments so far
It’s Christmas Eve which means it’s time for our traditional watching of the Muppets Christmas Carol, a few glasses of wine and possibly even a mincemeat pie*.
I hope, whether you celebrate it or not, that you are having a peaceful time with you and yours, and I hope that Santa is good to you (not YOU obviously, you’ve been bad).
It will be a little quieter than normal here, with posting based largely on my ability to recover from the several hangovers I have planned… well, I’m not planning the hangovers, more the drinks the precede the hangover. And yes, I could drink a little less. In fact I could drink a lot less but this is when I get my binge drinking done so shush.
Right, I hear the sound of cork popping so I’m off.
Have a wonderful day tomorrow, and remember that it’s all about the people you love, not the presents you get or the turkey you burn.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Freezing Fog
Saturday, December 22, 2007 ~ 2 comments so far
It’s all gone now, but the previous three days saw us drive to and from work in freezing fog. During that time, the country road that we take got whiter and whiter. So, on Friday afternoon as I was home earlier than I expected, I nipped back out with my camera.
Acceptance
Friday, December 21, 2007 ~ 7 comments so far
I can’t help it.
It’s not my fault.
I try and fight it, honest I do. I do my best but.. well.. I am but a man, there is only so much I can do. Normally I can resist, I mean it’s not like I’ve not had practice at this sort of thing and I’ve tried, god help me, I’ve tried.
Alas, I can fight not more. I have succumbed.
It is Christmas.
The thing is, and I may have mentioned this before, but I live with a Crimbo nutter. Take today for example, we are both have this afternoon off and while I’m not liking the fact I need to go into Glasgow to finish my Christmas shopping, Louise has CHOSEN to go into Glasgow to meet her sister and cousins, do some shopping AND she had her Christmas hat on first thing this morning in preparation. A big red hat with fluffy white trim, and matching jingle bell earrings. Mental.
She’s so bad she gets excited when she hears the sleigh bells at the start of the Coca Cola adverts…
So, faced with the deluge of Christmasyness I encounter in my own home there is little I can do but smile and admit that yeah, I quite like this time of year as well. Yes it’s all a bit trite and silly but sometimes you need those things in your life. Regardless, it’s worth it to see the whopping big grin that comes over the face of my beloved when she spies an especially nice Christmas tree.
Yes, I admit it. I like this time of year, the lead up to Christmas and the festivities that are on the horizon.
Although ask me later this afternoon, whilst I’m wading through idiots and numpties, being thumped in the shins with bags and generally navigating the quickest path to the two shops I need to visitm and you may get a different response.
Admit it, you like this time of year as well. Don’t you.
Chocolate
Thursday, December 20, 2007 ~ 2 comments so far
Mr Cadbury and Miss Rowntree met on a Double Decker, it was After Eight.
She was from Quality Street; he was a Fisherman’s Friend.
On the way they stopped at a Yorkie Bar, he had a Rum and Butter, she had a Wine Gum.
He asked her name, “Polo, I’m the one with the hole” she said.
“I’m the one with the nuts,” he thought! Then he touched her Milky Way.
They checked in to a hotel and went straight to the bedroom.
Mr Cadbury turned out the light for a bit of Black Magic.
It wasn’t long before he slipped his hand into her Snickers and felt her Cream Egg.
He fondled her Flap Jacks, then he showed her his Curly Wurly and Tic Tacs.
Miss Rowntree wasn’t keen to have any Jelly Babies, so she let him take a trip down Bourneville Boulevard via her Party Ring. He was pleased as he always fancied a bit of Fudge.
It was a magic moment as she let out a scream of Turkish Delight.
When he pulled out, his fun size Mars Bar felt a bit Crunchie. She wanted more, but he needed Time Out. However, he noticed her Pink Wafers looked very appetizing. He did a Twirl, had a Picnic in her Sherbet Dip and finished off by giving her a Gob Stopper!
Unfortunately, Mr Cadbury then had to go home to his wife, Caramel.
3 days later his Magnum lolly started to drip. It turned out Miss Rowntree had been with Bertie Basset who had Allsorts.
Cold mornings ahead
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 ~ Comments Off
A thin layer of white renders the land a frosty glitter. Warm breath floats into the black above. One by one the neighbours emerge from their warmth, and the ritual begins. Engines chug, fans blow, and slowly the ices drips away.
I love such mornings, with the crisp air pinching your cheeks, seeking out the gaps in your scarf, wheedling up coat sleeves. The morning commute made all the more glorious as you rise out of the town to the top of the valley, streetlights gone, the night sky sparkling under the moon glow.
Admittedly it can be a little dodgy on the way down the other side but that’s what traction control is for… yes?
And so we race towards Christmas.
I have two shops left to visit. I will need to do that on Friday afternoon/evening as although I’m off, we need four new tyres and they are getting fitted at 1.30pm.
Saturday and Sunday we are starting the “visits”, dropping off presents and so on. I’m off on Monday but will be finishing the wrapping and generally preparing for spending a couple of days at my parents.
Christmas Day we will see my Gran in the morning, maybe nip to my sister-in-laws to catch my brother-in-law there before heading to my parents for the afternoon, then back up to my sister-in-laws at night (in what is becoming tradition since my in-laws moved to Spain).
Boxing Day we’ll spend sometime with my parents and head home in the afternoon or evening.
27th we are going out with Susan and Ian, for a bite to eat, a little ten-pin bowling (presuming my knee can handle it) and a few shandies.
28th I have a night out with some ex-colleagues, and if past nights are anything to go by then we’ll finish up around 4am in a lake of tequila.
29th we are back through to Balloch to see my mates, Keith, Stuart & Alan, Ian, Bill and Fran, exchanging silly presents and seeing who can come up with the silliest cocktail.
30th is largely about getting home at some point and gathering our energies for…
Hogamanay! Back down to Susan and Ian, for they have the largest house (with a nice big pool table, fosball table and whatnot).
1st is usually a complete write-off, something to do with getting to bed at 6am or later (earlier?).
And no doubt on the 2nd day of 2008 we’ll be back through in Dumbarton to first foot our families.
After that I have five days to recover and do all the things I said I’d do over the festive period. And, to be frank, I’ll probably be looking forward to getting back to work for some sanity.
No doubt everyone else is the same, but it does perplex me why this time of year is so very busy. Why we feel the need to cram it all in to the few days holiday we have I’ll never know but, for all my moaning, I guess I do kind of enjoy reeling from one day to the next.
Let the festivities begin!
Ummmm but not until Friday…