It's my last shift at the hospital tonight until New Year's Eve!
I'm taking my secret santa gift in, and there is a story about it.
Historically I always tend to get shit gifts! Not always but generally it's true, and a couple of years ago I got a bit of a naff gift in the shape of some plastic antlers.
Now even the patient who I opened the gift up in front of said it was a shite gift, so I was not adverse in blogging of my disappointment!
That was a big mistake!
The nurse that bought me the aforementioned antlers must of read my somewhat caustic blog entry and although nothing was said, she obviously was not happy with my ingratitude and I was subjected to a rather frosty reception for several months!
This year, it being my last Christmas on ITU I thought I would set things straight and managed to obtain the " antler" nurse from the secret santa stocking.
I'm not saying what I bought, but it is tasteful and expensive and classy.
An apology for bad mouthing some plastic antlers which I subsequently tied to the front of a farmer's landrover!
Hey ho
I'm laughing at the image of antlers tied to anything...I hope your gift is appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI think she was a bit of a spoilsport myself, anyway I want to wish you and the Prof and all the menagerie and Princess Winnie in particular a relaxing and Happy Christmas, all the very best for the New Year and thanks for this blog, I always enjoy it XX
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. And if a person thinks it is funny, considering the fact that it was not joke gift day .. she should have given you something worthy in addition to the antlers.
DeleteDoes she work in pediatrics ?
A deserved reception. She probably thought you would be amused by the plastic antlers. You done wrong and such is the nature of blogging where people know you.
ReplyDeleteWhen you received something silly, you found something amusing to do with it, brightening the season for others. Last Christmas in ITU, are you leaving?
ReplyDeleteVhopefully retiring next year !
Deletegood for you, john! the word "retire" is not in my vocabulary.
DeleteI retire end of august 2017...yippee skippee
DeleteYes, being such a popular blogger (and human being), you really do have to sometimes be careful what you say. Everyone reads you! (I would have liked those antlers. I could tell you about some really shit Secret Santa gifts!)
ReplyDeleteI hate all this present-giving as a matter of duty. It has recently caused bad feeling in my family too - and this was to do with last year's presents. Sometimes I look back on the years spent on my own ignoring Christmas with wistfulness. Last year, we vowed not to spend more than £5 on each other, but of course everyone spent more than they could afford as usual, and some of the gifts were received with ungracious scorn. I hate it.
ReplyDeleteTom .. my husband owned a couple of businesses and instead of everyone buying gifts , he threw a big party for all the employees and told them this was their gift and there should be no more gifts given.
DeleteIn my opinion, if people like you, or are more friendly, then it is fine but when it feels obligatory to give a present, it is rarely a great gift.
We regifted so much in those days lol
Christmas can stir up some deep feelings...not all positive.
ReplyDeleteEven though I retired at the end of March, I have been invited to the Holiday (in NYC it's always Holiday, rather than Christmas) celebration of my former work colleagues. I will be taking along some of the cookies that I'll be baking later on today. This particular group of work mates are a terrific group of people.
Why is it always "holidays rather than Christmas ?"
DeleteIt is Christmas or Hanukah or whatever else you want to call it ... someone is messing with you :)
This blog post has now gone totally up the wrong fucking alley.
ReplyDeleteAnd you, Rachel, have gone all deep.
DeleteU
That is the great thing about blogs and comments, both can be so interesting to read and follow. There are no strict rules as to how people comment..
DeleteMy daughter chose thoughtfully for a work's Secret Santa. In return she received a damaged package of cheap - still priced Xmas themed nickers. She was not amused.
ReplyDeleteIf it is "secret" Santa, then she has no idea who it was?
DeleteI wonder if they were just being silly/thought it would be amusing, not taking the office gift giving such importance ? or the person was just a putz :)
I hope your colleague gives you a warm reception for many months to come.
ReplyDeletehaving been self employed all my life I've never had to participate in a secret santa gift exchange though I have participated a few times in the garden club gift exchange but it's always the kind where you can choose an unopened gift or take something someone else has already opened and then they get to pick again.
ReplyDeleteWe call that game Dirty Santa. I got a sombrero dip and chip dish one year.
DeleteOur daughter and her husband call that game Dirty Santa too, but Mrs. RWP and I learned it as Yankee Swap way back in the late 1960s. From Canadians. In Florida. I never knew who the Yankees were supposed to be.
DeleteI can't wait to find out what you receive this year. It is a present in itself to find out!!!
ReplyDeleteMy dear John, think wheat and chaff. Being self employed/freelance I'd love a "Secret Santa". Anything. Give me a louse. Will invoice you for the comb later.
ReplyDeleteU
ReplyDeleteWow its a lovely time of the year. Hope you are having A good time. Have a lovely Sunday.
New post
http://www.melodyjacob.com/
We went to a doll auction last month. Wendy learned to bid and got what she wanted. For christmas we will have a fine southern meal. Glaxed ham, greens, potatoes and red eye gravy and pecan or key lime pie. We made cookie baskets for our neighbors.
ReplyDeletee get for the neighbors
May the gift fill the rift.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what you get this year ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt can't possibly be any worse than the antlers!!
Did you read the post?
DeleteYes!!
DeleteI can't imagine you buying anything that wasn't classy.
ReplyDeletecrocs
DeleteHow nice - two weeks off!
ReplyDeleteI have cupboard full of unwanted gifts. I know I'm ungrateful but they are not what I want or need. I recycle them-hopefully not to the givers!
ReplyDeleteI have cupboard full of unwanted gifts. I know I'm ungrateful but they are not what I want or need. I recycle them-hopefully not to the givers!
ReplyDeleteThen go get everything out of the closet and donate it to someone who isn't picky ... There are sadly way too many people in the world who would be grateful for anything.
DeleteSome people are good at the shopping, some not so much. Probably we've all given one thing we wished we hadn't!
ReplyDeleteEvery year , my husband and I would buy a few things , while shopping for the children/family/friends ... that were going to be wrapped and put into a "charity" bin .. I always bought warm nightgowns, for women and children and a few stuffed toys and matchbox cars. My husband picked out the mens things, socks, sweaters etc.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how you can think that you don't have the money to buy for strangers then you look at how much "crap" you actually bought that year .. at least we knew someone would appreciate our gifts ... with no fussing about not liking that shade of blue etc :)
And you post it here, knowing full well she will read it.
ReplyDeleteShame! Shame! Shame!
(No I am not imagining your knaked walk......oh bugger it, now I am)
I hope she accepts your apology. And that this years gift to you is a good one.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you are an enigma Joh.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thinks a pair of plastic antlers is a suitable Christmas gift is not thinking straight. I'm intrigued as to what your tasteful, expensive and classy gift could possibly be. Do tell in due course.
ReplyDeleteif that had happened to me I would have squirmed in embarrassment for a bit and then forgotten about it. I'm impressed that you are working to set things straight after so long
ReplyDeleteAnd you had to work with her?! Must have been tricky.
ReplyDeleteWaiting with baited breath to read what you got this silly woman--plastic antlers, good grief, she should receive them right back--Oh, did I guess right??
ReplyDeleteJohn, you are a class act (no matter what anybody else says)! Please let us know how the gift is received.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt's always the thought that counts and the distraught nurse who gave you the plastic antlers had obviously put a lot of thought into the gift... as you have the look of a rutting moose.
ReplyDeleteI've learned that it's always wise to assume EVERYONE reads your blog. Never say anything about anyone that you wouldn't say to their face, right?! :)
ReplyDelete