Day 341 - 21st December

Friday - last day of the week, last day before Christmas, last day of my working year!!!!

Well my plan for working from home did not work as I needed to be here due to working with JLP and sending some reports. I suppose this is good in a way otherwise I would only be at home, either eating, drinking or spending £ I simply don't have before Christmas.

Plan to get up to date on all my projects, send updates to key people and create plans for January 2013.
Also name and shame the people who have caused delays to actions being undertaken. Next year I need to have strict deadlines to ensure projects are delivered on time.

Eve - As this is a Zach weekend we will be staying at home, perhaps watch a film from Love Film, either Bel Ami or One Day (David Nicholls book - read it this year and loved it)

Happy Holidays xx

Day 340 - 20th December

Thursday -

Blimey I am up to date on blogging, crikey.

Found out that Body Combat is no longer on a Thursday eve!! OMG. I wonder if I can attend another session or get onto the Kettle bells.

I have been thinking about some resolutions for 2013, most of my previous resolutions continue year on year, Exercise, healthy eating etc. Now I have a little ready made family of my own the below would be good

2013

* Cook and Bake more
* Enter races

Eve - spent time wrapping presents, which took awhile. Still require more wrapping paper to wrap Slippers' present up. Poured myself a nice Baileys on ice. Well deserved I think you will agree.

X

Day 339 - 19th December

Wednesday -

Well it is now becoming hard work to concentrate on fulfilling the PM role in the last few days before Xmas.
Some people are already on holiday, some people are working less hours, spirits are high and the Christmas songs are belting out across the office.

2 more days - now CBA and struggling to focus.

Eve - Zach duty whilst David popped out to gather supplies for New Years Eve.
Watched Spiderman 3 again, then Zach helped me post the neighbours cards, which he loved.
I bought him a new toy to play in the bath with, Thomas the Tank Engine sticky numbers and train track, so we can now help him recognise numbers, although he can already count to 10.

Watched the the penultimate episode of Homeland

Looking forward to the Christmas festivities and events are picking up

Christmas Eve - Nativity @ 3pm, followed by Christingle Service in Kettering @ 6pm.
Christmas Day - Zach then travelling down to parents for a family affair!!
Boxing Day - Parents then travel back to spend a time with DW's Dad and Louise (Pick up Zach)

More to follow....

:-0

Day 338 - 18th December

Tuesday -

Best dressed desk competition in the office today, everyone has made such an effort it has really lifted the spirits in the office.

They say we have a big mouse problem in the office but I don't know what they are talking about

Unfortunately it looks as if we will not have snow for Christmas this year, shame maybe Jan/Feb as long as the snow falls around the time we are going skiing this year, I do not want a repeat performance of this years calamity. Would be nice to take Zach sledging and play snowball fights and build his own Snowman in the garden.

Eve - The Hobbit
Now there has been mixed reviews on this film, some saying far too long, some saying egotistical Peter Jackson, however I must say, although I was cynical pre-film I was delighted with it. If you have not read this book, it is some 300 pages long (give or take) so you would think 3 films of equal 3hr length is stretching it a little but no. The Cinematography is amazing the digitisation is superb, just the scenes of New Zealand in it's raw form was just breath taking. I would definitely recommend this to anyone. 9/10.

I have just decided, in this split 2nd to, in addition to my weekly blogs next year, write film reviews either DVD's or films. I think I have a good interpretation of film and it would be good to track how many films I do in fact watch in a year!!

Over and out x

Day 337 - 17th December

Monday -

I have lost the mojo again with running, the horrible weather and the fact that I feel jaded at the moment is not helping me. Help me.

Work is still as chaotic as ever however projects are moving with aplomb, some being implemented this week, which is exciting.

Eve - chilled

X

Day 336 - 16th December

Sunday -

Auntie Joan's 80th Birthday bash, the first time I was to meet the extended family.
This is David's mum's side of the family, so Auntie's, Uncles, cousins and a large number of friends, know since university days in the 60's. How cool is that? That Joan has kept her friendships up with these people, quite remarkable.

Spoke to a few people and established that they are all very intellectual people, who come from a well to do background. Very nice conversations and very interesting too. I really enjoyed myself, food was lovely.

Eve - Ate finger food, so crisps, peanuts and pretzels for dinner, followed by the remainder of the profiteroles and watched Sports Personality of The year.

Great weekend yet again, just love doing things to DW.

1 week to go and then off until 2nd Jan

X

Day 335 - 15th December

)
Saturday -

Cleaned most of the house that I had not finished on Monday, whilst DW lovingly washed both cars to an inch of their lives and how sparkly and shiny they look.

Popped into town to purchase wrapping paper, cards and the last little present

Took a walk via the Canal and for the first time used my head torch, which was great. Amazing light illumination of canal path and surrounding environment (Thank you DW). This gives me great confidence to use it elsewhere and travel down darkened routes in town.

Of course on our walk the 'Shoulder Of Mutton' stopped us in our tracks, tackled us to the ground and dragged our sorry carcases into the bar. Where of course we had to place an order for Rudolph beer & Cider with nibbles. Shocking how a quaint little pub can do that to two innocent walkers and get away with it. What is the world coming too? Disgusting.

Arrived home after been let loose and ate our lovely M&S dine in for two dinner - Honey glazed Ham, roast potatoes and peas, followed by Profiteroles (OMG how lovely). Did you know that profiteroles are only 80 calories per piece? Not bad.

Watched Strictly and Twilight - Breaking Dawn Part 1. I must confess not as good as the previous 3, very slow and quite laborious with the whole wedding thing going on. Picked up speed towards the end and ended OK, so we may finish off the saga by watching Part 2 in the cinema over Xmas.

Marvellous day overall

X

Day 334 - 14th December

Friday -

Yip, yip another week nearly over and low and behold we have a party to attend at the weekend. Me? A party? The last time I attended a celebration was the wedding reception in April, how poor is that? Clearly do not have enough friends.

It is Xmas jumper day today and I should have purchased one but did not want to spend £30 on a jumper of poor quality. I have seen one in Jack Wills however this is £65 so not cheap. Too late now anyway.

Eve - A Friday night without Zach means we replace hims with the Oat Hill Pub (Not a fair swap clearly, Zach is far more important than any pub, with real fire, nice food and beverages). Enjoyed some food by the fire, I had a scotch egg, which sounds awful, however this is no plastic processed one but a home made one with salad and caramelised onions - O Hello!! Yum Yum.

Yet again the local pub has not let us down, we love it there and it was full of Christmas joy and spirit with (mostly) nice people. Bless enjoy my lovelies.

Flaked in front of the TV when we finally got in.

Tomorrow is another day

Ha ha x

Day 333 - 13th December

Thursday -

By the Way I forgot to mention that last weekend we finally booked our Ski Holiday for 2013!!! Bansko - Bulgaria (5 star hotel right by the Gondola station).  Take a sneaky peak at the current weather conditions.

Check out the link for more exiciting pictures.... www.banskoski.com & www.kempinski.com/en/bansko/hotel-grand-arena/

Looking forward to it so much, decided against EU country this as far too expensive, at least when we get out and about Levs = 2.5 per £. Euro is far to costly, especially if  DW needs to save for my expensive trip for my 40th  (only joking, I can wait for the Kenya Safari and Australia/New Zealand trip the year after!!!)

Tata x

Day 332 - 12th December

Wednesday -

Was planning on leaving work to go to Body Pump however the God's conspired against me. Due to a fuel spillage from a tanker on the M6, the traffic was a nightmare all around Hinckley, so had to stay at work until there was movement. Left at 6.20pm so missed class.

Eve - Luckily DW is always on hand to make the dinner (Thank you Chef), a nice Chilli made by his own fair hands. As it is a Wednesday it is my turn to bath & read a bedtime story to Zach, Trying to get home to agree to me reading the new Christmas stories in his new book, but he wants the same stories over and over again, night after night.

Eve - TV bonanza of course

Tired x

Day 331 - 11th December

Tuesday -

I should really be winding down but alas no, people have other ideas, this week is full of meetings and work to plan for projects. When will it end?

Ran after work, which is sually very hard for me as I find my energy levels are pants after a days slaving.

Eve - Guess what? Caught up on recorded TV.

8 days and counting


Happy Days x

Day 329 - 9th December

Sunday -

Off to DW's Dad's and Louis's this AM, we have bee invited to pop and see them with Zach. Stopped for a chat and Zach helped Louise make Parmesan shortbread, very nice. I decided to arrive in my running gear as made an executive decision to run back from their house, so run done for the day. Quite cold and a head wind via the country lanes was not the best but yet it was a refreshing change to running on the pavements in town. Arrived home in 40min, only 4.25miles (would have been 4.75 if I have gone behind the gym to get home but energy zapped due to head wind).

DW - dropped Zach off early to his Mum's, going to Pantomime, so DW and I had the luxury of an afternoon together, so we went for a walk and Christmas Beer in the nice country pub near us.

Arrived home and caught up on Strictly, WOW what a show, loving it

G x

Day 330 - 10th December

Monday -  Christmas Shopping Day

Decided to go to Northampton to shop as M&S is there and a Toys R Us.
Home by 1.30pm, so ate some lunch, watched a little bit of recorded TV and then started cleaning.

I would just like to state that Northampton has become a sad state of British Town decline. Having lived there from 1995 - 2000, I can safely say the Town centre is amass of charity, derelict, phone shops and the old haunts have gone to make way for 'Cash for Gold' places. I loved living here in my 20's, the bars were good, the town full of life, the shops selling quality merchandise, now an emaciated skeleton of township. Tis a shame is it not? I know this is one of many towns that have declined over the years will it ever rise from the flames again?

Popped for a run at 5.30ish after the boys had arrived home

Eve - Mellowed out as only we can

:-)

Day 328 - 8th December

Saturday -

Today is Christmas Tree day. Decided that we would buy a real Christmas tree, haven't had one of these for years and love the smell of pine. Will have to use the old decorations as I do not have enough of the new colours to decorate.

My friend recommended a wonderful garden centre near MH, which does not only have a great array of gardening equipment, floral displays but has many little side shops (Quaint) with trinkets, decorations, pet stuff etc. This place also have a maze (closed until June as designing a new one apparently) and model village. Didn't go this time but will take Zach next time we go. We even had a marvellous lunch in the coffee shop/Restaurant, just beautiful. I am definitely taking my Mum there when the parents visit next.

I think we have gone slightly overboard with the measurement of the tree, 6.6 -7ft tree, so quite large. Luckily we used the roof rack to transport it and DW managed got it up the stairs. The boys left me to decorate whilst they did, well boy things. Zach added the star and managed to hang most of the tree chocolates and it looks great. I think next year we will need to come down a size.  I plan to go back to the garden centre and purchase more decorations after Christmas.

Eve - DW went out with a few friends and so I was left holding the baby (well babysitting Zach) and before you all cry into your beer and play the miniature violin, I was actually very happy with that arrangement. Saved Strictly to watch tomorrow, so finally got round to watching 'Robin Hood' with Russell Crowe.
To be fair I was not that into this version, becoming quite bored half way through. Normally this would be unheard of.

Loving the look people
x

Day 327 - 7th December

Friday -

OK so here is the last day of the week and I have Monday off to finish the Christmas shop.

Eve -

Off to the annual MH Christmas Fayre, with stalls, entertainment & late night shopping.
Popped into Wildwood for tea, Zach enjoyed the spaghetti and DW and I certainly enjoyed the wine.
Loved the festive burger with fig relish very tasty.

DW set up a Christmas message for Zach from Father Christmas via Portable North Pole. Very magical and very convincing. I recommend this for any small children, you make it really personal. He loved it.

X

Day 326 - 6th December

Thursday-

Now I know what you are going to say, 'you have not mentioned Body Pump or Body Combat recently and this is because I have decided to lay off these sessions and run, which I am doing. Will return to these great conditioning classes in 2013, need to keep my body in check to cope with the impending 40th birthday!!

Eve - Thursday night is my night in on my own (Enjoy this time)

Apart from catching up recorded TV, I watched Eclipse, great film once again, really am into this Twilight series. Never did read the books but enjoy the Werewolves v Vampires, shame Kristen Stewart is a crap actress. Couldn't tell which were the trees and which was her at times.

Weekend is coming up fast ;-)

X

Day 325 - 5th December

Wednesday -

Nice to WFH today, took it quite easy did what I needed to do but flaked out after 3.30pm.
Decided to watch the 2nd Twilight film - New Moon, have the trilogy but have never seen the other two films. Really enjoyed the film, now I want to watch Eclipse but will savour for tomorrow night.

Popped to see the neighbour and Holly, bless she is getting big. Maternity mummy clearly very organised as passed me my first Christmas card!! Ah, I haven't even written mine or bought my family members cards.

3 weeks today and Christmas will be over and the horrible month of January will nearly be upon us. I need to think of some New Years Resolutions...

2 weeks and 2 days left until the big break...

:-)

Day 324 - 4th December

Tuesday -

Leaving work early today, travelling down to Londinium to see Ben Fold's Five play at Brixton 02 Academy. It is nice going to London on a weekday night, although it will be a late one me thinks.

Ben Folds - great Acid, Jazz, piano based group of 3, who have been around since the 90's. DW booked it, I have listened to their songs and found I like their music. The evening was very entertaining, Ben Folds himself was very amusing and he really does bang away on his piano keys. Loved it.

Caught the 12.15am train home from St Pancras although that was a debacle, as we arrived @ 11.30pm, could have sat in a Cafe as places still open but didn't (my fault) sat on a very cold, steel, seat on the train station and it was a very cold night. When we finally boarded the train, the engines would not work, so we had to move to another one, arrived home at 2.30am!!!!!! Now that is late for me, I don't even stay up that late at a weekend these days.

Wonder how I will cope tomorrow, oh no not to worry I am working from home!!! yip, yip.

Snoozing G x

Day 323 - 3rd December

Monday - 3 weeks left until we break for Christmas!!

Casual dress all week due to new carpet being fitted in the office, how exciting. Well this is a milestone for the place where I work as they are tight as arseholes when it comes to providing a good working environment for their staff. There have only been 20 reported accidents due to the peeling of previous carpet, trips, falls, spills but no thrills alas. What does it take for a company to take notice that the office environment is in a really shocking state? Last year we painted the office ourselves, with left over paint from stores, how bad is that? A family run business that doesn't seem to care or spend their money (greedy) to motivate and keep their staff safe.

Work Christmas tree also arrived today, didn't know the carpets were being laid until last week, so too late to change delivery date or tree. Will have to postpone decoration :-(

Slowly building pace towards the big day and my year of writing my blog will be up...crikey can you believe it nearly 12 months of comments.

x

Day 322 - 2nd December

Sunday -

Invited over to DW brothers to see the new baby for the first time, Alex.
Cute little fella, took him down the park with his elder sister and parents, all very nice.

Went for a run.

DW had a cracking idea re dinner, so we ended up at the Red Lion for some scran. Apart from the wonderful steaks, they make a mean vegetarian wellington with cranberries, mushrooms and Brie. To die for.

Eve - Watched a film called 'Hot Tub Time Machine' 80's based with John Cusack. Surprisingly good considering the name of the film and it's theme.

Another weekend is over ;-(

Day 321 - 1st December

Saturday - Advent Calender begins. (Lindt and Maltesters shared between DW and I)

Heating engineer arrived today to say that the valve for the CH was stuck solid and this was linked to the water system and not CH system!! Could not fix. Luckily I thought I would look at the problem and low and behold I managed to pull the valve with great ease and guess what the CH worked!! My my what a surprise. To be honest the valve needs to be fixed, so we will need to get someone out.

Off to Bicester today, DW wants to do some Xmas shopping and I like to tag along for shits and giggles.
As usual we ended up at the lovely Thai/Vietnamese place for lunch and had some lovely dishes of noodles.
Very busy due to many people just being paid and Christmas shopping. It is amazing how many people were queueing to get into places, unreal. The only time I have queued to get into a shop was in New York for Abercrombie and Fitch!!

Managed to arrive home in plenty of time for the England v New Zealand Rugby, which to be honest I thought would be a whitewash to the New Zealanders but no... what a result and with a Guinness all was well.

Eve - Strictly of course, need you ask at this time of year.

Buy x

Day 320 - 30th November

Friday and the last day of the month as we merrily skip into December.

After a hard week at work and feeling like Uncle Travelling Matt (Fraggle), I am happy to be taking a walk
down to the pub for some nice drinky poo's.

Drank a nice glass of red, followed by a cocktail no less (Not a chav one with an umbrella, not in this establishment) French Martini and then off for dinner at the local Tapas place. This time we were Seated upstairs and we ate a lovely array of food, nice wine and great company. Bliss!

Squiffy by the time we returned home but why not, it is Friday

G

Day 319 - 29th November

Thursday -

Busy bee at work as projects are all trundling along at some pace now. Trying to co-ordinate people and get them to get off their arses to provide information and do their bit is becoming quite annoying.

Eve - Blanket as freezing my butt off due to heating engineer not coming until tomorrow.

Help me

Brrrrrrrrrr

Day 318 - 28th November

Wednesday - Another holiday today

Haircut, so thought it best to take a holiday rather than WFH.

The trees around our house have a lot to answer for, their leaves are so annoying. I have thus taken some
time to rake the majority of the leaves up from the grass. If I leave them for too long they will disintegrate
and mess the grass up something terribly.

To my delight the local cats, including my own, decided to use the garden as a big litter tray. Clearly the leaves are fun to scrap back so they can do their business and push the leaves back over with. Clever but not very pleasant for me. Sorry to anyone who had to duck from the shit that was flying through air into the
non man's land at the bottom of my garden.

Eve - went back to Body pump this evening. It is so much nicer to be at home and then go out to exercise, there is no car travel to make me sleepy so going out to do exercise is OK. I am also finding I can run at 4pmish with no issues too.

X

Day 317 - 27th November

Tuesday -

Knackered and central heating has topped working yet again. I don't know, these new builds with their cheap boilers and central heating systems. This is the 4th time in as many years I have had them out.

Eve - chilled as too tired to do anything else.

G

Day 316 - 26th November

Monday -

Early start today as drove down to Wales for a meeting. Luckily after all the wet weather we have just had the route I took was not under water, couldn't say the same for mt Chairman who arrived 45mins late due to following the M5 route!!!

2 hour meeting and then 3 hours back home, worth it? No not really.
Could have arranged a conference call to discuss.

Knackered - that would be a yes.

Tired, poor worn out G (aaaahhhh, bless)

X

Day 315 - 25th November

Only 1 month until Father Christmas arrives, wow how fast has this year gone. Not getting any younger either, darn it!

Sunday - Looked after Zach whilst DW went for a cycle, so DVD's and making a den for him to climb into and hide. He always likes it if I sit in it with him, I try to explain that I am not as small as him but this does not allow me the 'Get Out Of Jail' card to not climb in!!

Mini Mischiefs opened in MH yesterday so we took the little man to play, 2 hrs stint. Gets him running around and burning energy and us some time to actually read the Sunday paper for once.

Eve - DW wanted to see some old Rock band from the 80's!! I agreed to go with him to embrace a new experience. To be fair they were OK, not my cup of tea but quite interesting to see all the Greebo's there and some interesting clothing for people who have quite clearly forgotten they are now in their 30'2/40's and not 18.

Late night but all good

x

Day 314 - 24th November

Saturday -

Festive Fair in Birmingham today - disappointed with the stalls there actually.
I thought there would be more Christmas stalls with decorations and gift wrap etc but more presents
for people. Not to be funny but I could have done this shopping in shops on the high street or on line.
Another show also on, Movie and Sports memorabilia. Bump into a couple of people outside.

Popped into Coventry Decathlon on way home and dragged a rather disgruntled Zach around the place.
Bought a couple of items but not too much as I have a wish lust from Santa.

Ate a nice lunch and then went to NEXT to buy Zach some new trousers and DW a pair of nice lounge pants (in my day there were called Pyjama bottoms!). DW wears these in the winter months in the evenings for slobbing around the house, look comfy cosy.

Eve - Watched another DVD (2 at any one time from Love Film)

G x

Day 313 - 23rd November

Friday -

Holiday....

Dentist followed by Hygienist, all good no teeth extraction or nasty root canal required. I only have to see my dentist once a year, which is nice but they still charged me £93 for the privilege!
Popped to the tip to discard items that have found a home in the garage.

Undertook some exercise, so lovely to be able to run when I want to rather than worrying about getting up early in the morning or concerning myself with going after work. I find running in the evening a bind, when I get into my car the motion of the car sends me all sleepy and by the time I get home (40 mins later) I want to flake out and become a couch potato. It takes some motivation to then get changed and get out onto the streets.

Evening - Watched Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol - Loved the film and Tom did all his own stunts even the heart pounding, no thank you, walk around the hotel in Dubai..Jesus Christ!

I wish every Friday could be like this..I wonder whether a 4 day week could be a plan for 2013??

G