What's Up in December 2016?

[Athena]

It's December already! Time is going fast (not really, time always moves at its own pace, but it feels that way for me lately).

 

I've been doing a lot lately and December is going to be a busy month for me (I think for most people?). I have a lot of things on my to-do list as well as a lot of appointments and of course the holidays. The worst thing is the dreaded dentist visit and I possibly will have to have a bloodtest (hopefully in January though). I also have the yearly appointment about my treatment plan. There are also a lot of fun things coming up, like Christmas and New Year's, my boyfriend's birthday, Sinterklaas, several other birthdays in my family.

 

What've you been up to lately, or what are you planning for the next while?

[Brian.]

Things are slowly settling down at work and I have some time off in December which is very welcome. I have been looking forward to Christmas since the start of November and December always means it's just around the corner. I've been off my bike since the weather started to get colder so I really need to start running on a more regular basis to keep at least some kind of fitness up.

[Onion Budgie]

Good luck at the dentist, Athena!  I had two fillings done back in September, and my teeth took a whole month to settle down again, it was 'orrible.  

 

My Christmas decorations go up today!  I'll also be doing all of my gift wrapping, which is fun for the first 10 minutes, and then hair-pullingly tedious, but if I get some Christmas music blaring then perhaps it won't seem so bad.  

 

And brrr, it's cold today.  Brrr.

[Kell]

I have completed ALL my gift shopping and wrapping - did it all by the end of November, so I wouldn't have to stress about it any more LOL!

Rehearsals are going really well for the Xmas show I'm in the week before Xmas, and I'm also booked to do a party next weekend as Candy the Xmas Fairy, which will be a total hoot! So, I'm being kept busy, and will be pretty much AWOL for the month, but I'll try to pop in from time to time. Have a good one, everyone!

[Nollaig]

I'm not feeling very festive this year, despite trying quite hard. I went to a carol service Wednesday night which was lovely, but didn't quite make me feel festive. I have lights up at work, but I don't feel like putting my tree up at home. I've a few other decorations up, and I've my cards to write but haven't started those yet either.

 

Tonight is the annual Late Late Toy Show, which is when our flagship weekly late night talk show turns into a childrens' christmas toys-and-performances extravaganza. The host has dozens of kids on demonstrating toys and games, and dancing/singing, and there's always a little book segment, including some books in Irish for kids. The people in the audience get tons of goodies too, free toys, hampers, vouchers etc. It's good fun, even for adults (a surprising amount of dark humour usually features, but goes way over the kids' heads!). It's generally the official kick off of christmas for me, so here's hoping it works.

[Anna Begins]

Aww

 

Noll, I'm sorry! Maybe if you put up the tree anyway, you'll feel better?

[Talisman]

December is off to a flying start for me as I settle into the new job. I contacted our sales rep today who sells us all the cleaning products that we use, and have set up a meeting with him next week to introduce myself. I have also arranged a little Christmas gift to say thank you for how he has helped us this year with free samples etc. I also have a meeting on Monday with HR and my new own boss, the Head of Housing and Facilities, to discuss what we need from the third cleaner that we are advertising for - what hours we need, what duties can be redistributed to this person and so on to lighten the load on the rest of us. It seems that I will be involved in the interview process for this, which is pretty scary but also something I am looking forward to. My new contract was waiting for me when I got home from work tonight, so I will have to sign that and bring it back in on Monday. 

 

Coran and I are going in to Guildford tomorrow to get all the stuff that we need for the forthcoming trip to Lundy, and for me to stock up on Lush goodies. We will also have a very tasty lunch in our favourite organic veggie restaurant. It is hard to believe that Christmas is only 3 weeks away !  

[MrCat]

Everyone around me seems to have a cold these days but for some reason I got away with it. I am trying my best to be on the safe side by drinking lots of tea, coffee, eating sweets and staying indoors reading, meaning that I just have to do what I always do 

[Flip Martian]

Looking back on my Facebook "memories" over the last week or 2, this is the first year in some time I haven't had a stinking cold at this time! Of course, not being on the usual commuter train to work and mingling with loads of people probably has a lot to do with that but I take the positives where I can!

 

Feeling very laid back and relaxed but not "christmassy" as such. Looking forward to having my wife home over xmas - she started working as "occasional" help at a day care centre and has ended up working 4 and 5 day weeks for the last few weeks. So it will be nice to just relax and spend some time together.

[Virginia]

Glad you haven't succumbed to the crud Flip! I've got two more days of being around these college kids who don't understand basic hygiene concepts. smh, you can pay 6 digits in education but I swear, you can't buy common sense. I actually observed one young woman come out the bathroom stall, cell in hand. She walked towards the sink area (which only had one person there and it has 4 sinks). This girl walks towards the sink then backs away as if someone put up garlic cloves and hung up a cross. Then she stayed in a corner of the bathroom for several more minutes, texting. Texting will kill the world.

 

Hubby and I took an unscheduled walk around the mall and we picked up trousers, snazzy suspenders and a bowtie. We also got some yummy garlic shrimp. The ride home was sheer murder. I promised him I'd only eat ONE shrimp and I did, but oooohhhhh the temptation was real. We got home ate the shrimp and then realized we would need more food. I ordered buffalo wings and while waiting I decided to pick up some wood. Thisis the perfect weekend for sitting in front of the fireplace eating wings, drinking hard cider and studying.

 

Tomorrow will be a nasty, cold and rainy day. So I'll be repeating what I'm doing now (sitting in front of the fireplace, with my laptop and hard cider) and not leaving my house. 

Edited December 3, 2016 by Virginia

[Talisman]

I actually observed one young woman come out the bathroom stall, cell in hand. She walked towards the sink area (which only had one person there and it has 4 sinks). This girl walks towards the sink then backs away as if someone put up garlic cloves and hung up a cross. Then she stayed in a corner of the bathroom for several more minutes, texting. Texting will kill the world.

 

 

I dread to think of the amount of germs on that girls phone. That's just nasty.  

 

Sitting in front of the fire with a nice drink sounds like a good plan to me. Coran and I are not doing much today either. We are going out for a coffee once the washing machine has stopped, and to hopefully get some ballet tickets as it's that time of year when all the live performances are being broadcasted at the cinemas. It saves the drag of going all the way into London, not to mention the cost.

[Athena]

Good luck at the dentist, Athena! I had two fillings done back in September, and my teeth took a whole month to settle down again, it was 'orrible.

x

Thanks Onion Budgie! That sounds very horrible .

x 

I have completed ALL my gift shopping and wrapping - did it all by the end of November, so I wouldn't have to stress about it any more LOL!

 

Rehearsals are going really well for the Xmas show I'm in the week before Xmas, and I'm also booked to do a party next weekend as Candy the Xmas Fairy, which will be a total hoot! So, I'm being kept busy, and will be pretty much AWOL for the month, but I'll try to pop in from time to time. Have a good one, everyone!

x

I'm glad things are going well so far, Kell .

x 

I'm not feeling very festive this year, despite trying quite hard. I went to a carol service Wednesday night which was lovely, but didn't quite make me feel festive. I have lights up at work, but I don't feel like putting my tree up at home. I've a few other decorations up, and I've my cards to write but haven't started those yet either.

x

Awww Noll, I'm sorry you haven't been feeling very festive . *hug*

x 

December is off to a flying start for me as I settle into the new job. I contacted our sales rep today who sells us all the cleaning products that we use, and have set up a meeting with him next week to introduce myself. I have also arranged a little Christmas gift to say thank you for how he has helped us this year with free samples etc. I also have a meeting on Monday with HR and my new own boss, the Head of Housing and Facilities, to discuss what we need from the third cleaner that we are advertising for - what hours we need, what duties can be redistributed to this person and so on to lighten the load on the rest of us. It seems that I will be involved in the interview process for this, which is pretty scary but also something I am looking forward to. My new contract was waiting for me when I got home from work tonight, so I will have to sign that and bring it back in on Monday.

x

I'm glad things are going well for you, Talisman .

x 

Everyone around me seems to have a cold these days but for some reason I got away with it. I am trying my best to be on the safe side by drinking lots of tea, coffee, eating sweets and staying indoors reading, meaning that I just have to do what I always do

x

I hope you won't get a cold!

x

Feeling very laid back and relaxed but not "christmassy" as such. Looking forward to having my wife home over xmas - she started working as "occasional" help at a day care centre and has ended up working 4 and 5 day weeks for the last few weeks. So it will be nice to just relax and spend some time together.

x

I hope you don't get a cold and that you enjoy some nice time together .

x 

Glad you haven't succumbed to the crud Flip! I've got two more days of being around these college kids who don't understand basic hygiene concepts. smh, you can pay 6 digits in education but I swear, you can't buy common sense. I actually observed one young woman come out the bathroom stall, cell in hand. She walked towards the sink area (which only had one person there and it has 4 sinks). This girl walks towards the sink then backs away as if someone put up garlic cloves and hung up a cross. Then she stayed in a corner of the bathroom for several more minutes, texting. Texting will kill the world.

x

Ewwwwww, that sounds gross. You'd think people would have more common sense.

x

We had a nice Sinterklaas dinner with my parents and my brother and his girlfriend. It was really nice to talk with them again. The food was really good too (we had gourmet).

[Nollaig]

Found out today I have to vacate my house before March. Lots of time, yes, but given my introvert, quiet nature, finding a suitable houseshare is a very stressful thing. Hoping a room in a friend's house will do.

 

Incredibly low lately. Going to Cologne Thursday and I am absolutely dreading it. I can barely drag myself out of the house to buy food, let alone travelling to another country. No idea how I'm going to put on a happy face for 4 days. 

 

Gonna go to a doctor when I get back.

[Athena]

Awww Noll, I'm sorry to hear you've been feeling low .

 

Having to vacate your house would be stressful to anyone, let alone for an introvert. I would be stressed out too. I hope you'll find a nice place to live.

 

I hope the doctor can help you .

 

[Sabry]

Hi!

 

It's been a while since I wrote here something but I've been a little busy these past months. Starting as a self-employed is not easy! It's very very difficult to find clients and get your name on the door. I'm still working on it. But at least I have some projects to work on. 

 

This year I'm especially happy that the Christmas are here!!! I don't know why but I'm looking forward to it! 

 

Do you have any plans or holidays for Christmas? I'm staying at home but I hope to have a good time with my friends and family. Now I'm trying to buy all the presents on time because I don't like the last minute pressure. 

 

Noll, I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling low . I hope you will be better soon!

 

Athenea good luck in the dentist! 

[Athena]

Hi Sabry! I'm glad you're doing okay. Good luck with the self-employed thing!

 

Thanks for wishing me good luck .

 

I wish you a very nice Christmas!

[Virginia]

Took my very last final. If all goes well (waiting on my philosophy grade) I will be college graduate, with a Bachelors in English. Now I must try to turn my brain off and get my nerves regulated. Think I'll finish off this bottle of wine and get royally soused, lol! I wont start looking for "real" work til after the new year so this will be my vacation.

[Nollaig]

Sabry, glad the self-employment is going well

 

Virginia, fingers crossed for your last result

 

We've officially cancelled Cologne. Even though I rallied a bit in terms of my emotional form and had decided to go and try enjoy myself, I am getting sick and my friend is already dying sick. Neither of us needs to be sick in Germany, and I definitely don't need to catch whatever she has when I have to face into moving and sorting this house.

[Athena]

Took my very last final. If all goes well (waiting on my philosophy grade) I will be college graduate, with a Bachelors in English. Now I must try to turn my brain off and get my nerves regulated. Think I'll finish off this bottle of wine and get royally soused, lol! I wont start looking for "real" work til after the new year so this will be my vacation.

I hope you'll have a good grade . 

 

We've officially cancelled Cologne. Even though I rallied a bit in terms of my emotional form and had decided to go and try enjoy myself, I am getting sick and my friend is already dying sick. Neither of us needs to be sick in Germany, and I definitely don't need to catch whatever she has when I have to face into moving and sorting this house.

Awww . I hope you and your friend feel better soon .

 

Today Michael and I went for a walk, posted Christmas cards and did a bit of shopping.

[Talisman]

Fingers crossed for your degree results Virginia - I like the sound of that bottle of wine.  

 

We have our work Christmas party on Friday which should be good fun with copious amounts of wine there too. I guess I have a reason to celebrate after all at the end (almost) of the year. It will be a marginally better prospect that what I had to do today - a deep clean of the café that the charity I work for runs in one of the nearby towns. That oven was horrible and the chairs were not much better. They are all sparking now thanks to a large amount of elbow grease.

 

I am meeting our sales rep tomorrow which should be interesting. My colleague doesn't think so though, as until we had a cleaning supervisor that was his domain. It is  2 weeks tomorrow as well that we are off to Lundy for our Christmas hols, which is even better.

[Nollaig]

It's worked out nicely that we cancelled Cologne, as today (the day I would have left) I am far too sick to have gone. Least with my friend having gotten sick earlier, we didn't wind up paying out for the hotel.

[Athena]

I am meeting our sales rep tomorrow which should be interesting. My colleague doesn't think so though, as until we had a cleaning supervisor that was his domain. It is  2 weeks tomorrow as well that we are off to Lundy for our Christmas hols, which is even better.

 

I wish you lots of fun on your holidays .

 

It's worked out nicely that we cancelled Cologne, as today (the day I would have left) I am far too sick to have gone. Least with my friend having gotten sick earlier, we didn't wind up paying out for the hotel.

I'm glad it's worked out that way money-wise but I'm sorry you've been feeling so sick .

[Talisman]

It's worked out nicely that we cancelled Cologne, as today (the day I would have left) I am far too sick to have gone. Least with my friend having gotten sick earlier, we didn't wind up paying out for the hotel.

 

That's good I guess, as it's no fun travelling when you feel that rough. At least you didn't lose out financially. I hope the housing situation gets sorted too, I can imagine how stressful that must be.

 

 

 

I wish you lots of fun on your holidays .

 

 

Thank you.

 

I had to put my Managers hat on today and give one of my staff a stern talking to, as it transpired that while I was offsite cleaning the café yesterday he didn't do any of the areas he was supposed to. He was as usual mooching about doing not very much at all. It is clear that he is pushing the boundaries and testing to see where mine are. My own Manager and HR were brilliant though, giving me all the support I needed, so at least I don't have to worry on that score. I found out today as well that I and one of the women from HR will be interviewing for a third cleaner on Wednesday next week. They ask candidates a list of set questions which does make it easier. I will have to run through things with HR the day before and just hope I don't look and sound as nervous as I will probably feel. It feels with everything that has happened these past few weeks that I have had to hit the ground literally running, but I guess that's a good thing, as it means I will learn and gain experience a lot quicker. I just have to keep reminding myself that I can do it.    

[Virginia]

Hey y'all!

 

I've started my self-care program to relax and "find" myself, lol! I spent the evening of my last finals stuffing myself and finishing off that bottle only to be sick in the wee hours. I had taken something for my headache without remembering that I had the wine only a couple hours earlier. UGH. Got thru it, lesson learned. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend and made a library run. Today I got up and drove 1.5 hours to my brother in laws house to get wood. The hubby was supposed to go but he got off work really late this morning and was just too tired to make that drive so I put on my work close and made the myself. I loaded our suv with lots of wood (large pieces) on my own, yaayy me! I then stopped at a roadside seafood market and produce stand and got some goodies. When I got back to town I decided to finish up the shopping while I was already out so I made three stops, came home unloaded the groceries and the wood.

 

It has been a really productive day and sleep will be sweet. We are expecting fridget temps this weekend, starting tomorrow. We have wood, food, wine, movies and no desire to leave the neighborhood (gotta walk the dog). This will be my first weekend without having to study so now I can read to my hearts delight!

 

I passed my biology class and now I'm just waiting on my philosophy grade to post. It may take a while as he's grading papers and essay exam questions. Why would a professor do that to themselves?!

 

Whelp, I'm going to relax, surf the net, pick up books to read and put them down to pick up something else, lol!

[Athena]

I had to put my Managers hat on today and give one of my staff a stern talking to, as it transpired that while I was offsite cleaning the café yesterday he didn't do any of the areas he was supposed to. He was as usual mooching about doing not very much at all. It is clear that he is pushing the boundaries and testing to see where mine are. My own Manager and HR were brilliant though, giving me all the support I needed, so at least I don't have to worry on that score. I found out today as well that I and one of the women from HR will be interviewing for a third cleaner on Wednesday next week. They ask candidates a list of set questions which does make it easier. I will have to run through things with HR the day before and just hope I don't look and sound as nervous as I will probably feel. It feels with everything that has happened these past few weeks that I have had to hit the ground literally running, but I guess that's a good thing, as it means I will learn and gain experience a lot quicker. I just have to keep reminding myself that I can do it.

 

Good luck with the interviews . I'm glad you're getting good support. You can do it!

 

I passed my biology class and now I'm just waiting on my philosophy grade to post. It may take a while as he's grading papers and essay exam questions. Why would a professor do that to themselves?!

 

Whelp, I'm going to relax, surf the net, pick up books to read and put them down to pick up something else, lol!

Well done on passing your biology class. I hope you have some relaxing time .

 

The farmer next door is busy in his field. I'm wearing earplugs because it's noisy even inside.