2008 : the year in which life started to regain some semblance of normality, may it continue long into 2009!

A very Happy New Year to you all!

The twenty four hours between Midnight Mass and Christmas Day evening were quite eventful, even by our standards -

Approximately 1 hour into Christmas, Mum took a tumble inside the Church, and headbutted the chancel steps. Not a great move, especially for someone on warfarin…luckily we have a doctor in the congregation, who gave her the once over, and, in the knowledge of 24 hour care at the Home, pronounced her OK to go back there, and not via A&E.

On our way back from Church, we were driving up the road parallel to ours (we’re in a one way street), and see a man lying prone, splayed out from the pavement into the road. Chris braked sharply and I shot out fo the car. Matey was alive, grateful for our attentions, and very, very drunk. Wouldn’t accept any further assistance other than getting him into a sitting position on the pavement. We left him to it (If it had been colder I would have called for help).

Christmas morning proper arrives after far too little sleep. I phone to check on Mum, and am advised she had a hefty nosebleed in the night, and they’ve had the District Nurse out to dress the cut over her eye, which had opened up again. Never in the past year have I been more thankful that she now lives in the Home. Chris goes to collect her and her friend who are joining us for Christmas Day. Mum has THE most impressive black eye you’ve ever seen. She’s either gone 6 rounds with Tyson, or has been applying kohl eyeliner with a trowell. A nice lunch is enjoyed by all, and we settle down for some good old Christmas telly.

Until we become aware of some shouting outside. Chris and I go upstairs to peek unobtrusively out of the bedroom window. Some major domestic is unfolding, involving our beloved chav family of a few doors down, and half of it is right by my car. There’s yelling, swearing, and not a little threatened and actual violence. We call the police. By the time they get here, the main offender, one of the sons, has already buggered off, so things are a lot quieter, and the police don’t stay very long. Luckily it doesn;t kick off again, and all is serene when Chris takes Mum & pal back to the home.

Today, thankfully, has being quiet, almost boring. The quiet after the storm!

…so you’re getting an executive summary of the last couple of days :

Christmas shopping largely done. Phew!

Got my 4 week free trial tens machine from the hospital - first impressions are pretty good.

Went to work Christmas Do - and thoroughly enjoyed it, despite driving and therefore staying sober!

Went to Mum’s Christmas party, a very nice, free event put on by the Home staff. Everyone seemed to have a good time, even Chris joined in with the evening’s sing-a-long entertainment.

Made good inroads on pre Christmas housework.

Got, put up, and decorated the Christmas tree. We look festive at last!

At this rate, I might even be ready for Thursday…

I’ve been bringing a fair amount of work home recently, and have been listening to Absolute Radio, formerly Virgin while I beavered away. Tonight I decided I’d ring in to have a go at their Music Minute competition. After all, I’m an active member of two fairly successful pub music quiz teams, it should be just my thing. Right?

Wrong!!

Ah well, I suppose 2 right answers isn’t a total disgrace - and I did win a CD!!

For the last few years, every time I’ve flown, I’ve had to put up with really bad motion sickness for weeks afterwards - a bit like being on a boat in that in my head I’m pitching and rolling all the time. At worst it’s completely disabling, at best it’s largely controlled by tablets, but it’s always a royal pain in the proverbial.

So flying two consecutive days to and from Scotland probably wasn’t the wisest thing I’ve ever done, but as it had been booked for a while, and Doc had given me some new tablets to try, I figured I’d be OK.

Well, I was until Thursday! Glasgow was great fun, and the dizziness seemed to be fairly well under control. Then on Thursday it got worse and worse until I only just managed to drive home safely. Suffice to say the new tablets have been given the old heave ho, and I’m back on the old ones. They may not be 100% effective, but at least I can live with it til it finally decides to abate!

Just means I might not be able to drink at the works Christmas Do next week…

Sat typing this one handed with Button zonked out and snoring softly in the crook of my arm. My back is killing me, but I’m loathe to disturb her!

I’ve made significant progress on catching up with things this weekend, you may even get that holiday blog before long!

Off to bonny Scotland for a couple of days tomorrow, to meet some friends, and maybe undertake a wee bit of Christmas shopping.

Yay!!

Our cupboard project is back on the back burner, as Chris’ joiner mate (who was to do the bulk of the work) had a heart attack this morning. As did a member of our congregation. Neither man had experienced any warning signs. Both are expected to make a full recovery.

Scary. Spare them a prayer or positive vibe if you have a moment.

No, not Chris - I’m not that nasty, and anyway, I don’t call him darling. No, I’m referring to our idiot Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair “they’d run out of matching eyebrows” Darling.

There are hundreds, probably thousands of small businesses up and down the country, who are now in turmoil thanks to this pillock’s belief that slashing a mightly 2.5% off so called luxury goods (don’t even get me started on why there’s VAT on Tampax) will kickstart our ailing economy and make things all rosy again. Companies like the one I work for. Companies who don’t have the resources or flashy barcode systems to make the temporary switch easy. And all to save a measley 2.5%, or 25p for every £10 spent.

Does anyone apart from ol’ contrasting facial hair man really believe that people will spend any more than they were going to as a result of this? The “real” savers are those who may, say, spend 10k on a new car, and consequently save £250. Frankly, anyone who feels comfortable enough in these times to do such a thing, probably isn’t that worried about 250 quid. The rest of us would rather have had some actual extra money in our pockets, to spend as we choose.

Idiot