Life, And Other Natural Disasters...

Seems like ages since I posted anything of merit; I suppose it's because at the moment there is little positive to report on the move front, although found out in the last 3 days at work there is a recruitment in the pipeline which gives the possibility of a move, if I jump through all the right hoops, which seems how all moves will be managed from now on...

But enough of this.  Just returned with t'other half from visiting Dearly Beloved Aged Parent in the West Country over Christmas, returning with presents and vittles.  Stopped off on the way back to meet up with some old friends from back in my re-enacting days, stirring up a few memories there!

Belated Christmas Greetings to all and a happy 2012!

May your stocking be filled, your turkey cooked just right, your gravy smooth and your brussel sprouts (if you must) be not too flatulent!

Getting ready now to lug suitcase and xmas pudding down to the station for the journey down to Crawley.  Heaven only knows what the trains will be like today what with the weather and all.  Oh well... head down and barge through!!!

Happy Christmas, Nadolig Llawen, God Jul!

To quickly re-cap - Edinburgh trip went well; visited koalas; made a new friend completely by accident.  Which was nice.  Work goes on as always; the usual mix of clients from the ones who just sit and say nothing to the vociferous ones who over run by ten minutes...!

And now to the holidays - Spending Xmess in Crawley with karendunn and family and friends.  Dearly Beloved Aged Parent is not too far away in the depths of East Sussex with his sister and long term partner.  New Year sees me heading to the Valleys and also to Cardiff to see the old one out/new one in...

Secret Santa present from work?  A book of food porn by Gordon "F*cking" Ramsey.  I will probably never cook any of the recipes in it but I will admire the unadulterated food porn within.

Apart from the fact that I can't travel back from anywhere on Boxing Day, (Note to US: Everything stays closed in the UK until after Boxing Day, although slowly some of the shops open for their sales) the other reason for being alone over Christmas is a sense of wanting to hide from the world for a few days.  Hide under the duvet with a bottle of sherry, pausing only to dip my hand in a tub of Cheese Footballs, cook lunch and feed the cat occasionally.  Mad Frankie doesn't seem too bothered.  I bought him a catnip toy today, but he doesn't seem too bothered by it.  Maybe he's done rehab for a serious addiction...

So, anyway, the sherry glass is charged and raised to wish all and sundry happy holidays.  And karendunn, sorry you didn't get a pudding this year...

(stolen from madamemish)

Please accept with no obligation, expressed or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that Great Britain is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting the following terms:

This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal at any time by the wisher.
It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting.
It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for him/her or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.
This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first.
This warranty is limited to the replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Urf, back to work today (but only for today). Xmas was a blur of good food, good wine and a lot of laughter. Boxing Day, I awoke at 1030 (most unusual for me!) feeling disturbingly chipper. Went for a walk up to the town center and was suprised to see most of the major chains were open for their January Sales.
It took ages to get home yesterday; there were problems with the trains up towards London. Ended up taking a coach to Barnham (free of charge) then picking up a train back to Portsmouth.
Favorite present? A teddy bear from Karen and Keith with a bag of milk chocolate balls and a note saying "A bear whose balls you can lick without getting arrested..." Hmmm...

Hmmm... doesn't really rhyme, does it?  Anyways, dear beloved aged parent picks me up about 8am to head over to Sussex and drop me off at Karen and Keith's.  The presents are packed; the pudding is ready.  All that remains is to wish you and yours

Happy Holidays!

Now be off with you and do the eating and drinking and being merry thing...!