Christmas Past and Present

ee HAPPY

CHRISTMAS QQ

I did my thinking on the bus or tram when I was in Sheffield, or walking with the dogs at Redmires. Today I still have big thinks when out with the dogs, but this time it is at the Beach or on the roads around the village. I also love to think when I am in bed looking at the view towards Rhuallt hill, and today's thought was of Christmas past and present.

I have always loved Christmas, it is a throwback from my Mother who spent the month run up , making awful home made sweets, copious lists of Christmas card replies, and planning for a huge dinner table, complete with 1970's prawn cocktail and a solid sherry trifle. She adored making the day special, and tradition meant that she and my father "held court" on the day itself as all the family called around. Strange to think that Chris and I had very similar Christmas upbringings as it were, even down to the same daily routine.






Recent Christmas' have always been a mixture a real family and "urban" family times, Friends Mike and Bev have always figured high in our Yuletide tradition and I am glad that we will be seeing them on the 28th. I hope we can catch up sometime with Nu and Jim, but as her mum has been admitted to a Liverpool hospice, things are pretty busy for them. We had a lovely card and pic from Nia and George (pic) with little George proudly on show, and Christmas day we are joining the Queen with a technology overdose, by setting up a webcam greeting with Chris' Brother and mother in Broadstairs.
Funny how things evolve, isn't it?

Britain at its best!!!!!!...hummmm? and a lovely Hollywood Moment

Well the staff of central trains are full of the Christmas spirit!...... Not!!!!! Just heard that 230£ for one days work is not enough for most of the Rail staff on duty for Christmas Eve, they are striking for more money> Can you believe that? As a bloody hard working nurse on ITU I would love to get 230 quid for my twelve hour shift on Sunday!! What are they doing? clipping a few tickets? This happened last year and the striking rail staff held their managers ( and more importantly the poor passengers) to ransom, and won!. Poor Nige is travelling from Sheffield to Blackpool on Christmas Eve, and his whole plans have been kiboshed!. Coupled with this extreme selfishness of the rail staff, misery from fog bound airports and packed roads, will upset and ruin Christmas for so many people this year. Britain better get its finger out, or else we will be the laughing stock of all Olympic citys, when the world focuses its gaze on London and its transport in 2012.

On a happier note it's the final of Strictly Come dancing tomorrow! Will it be Mark Ramprakash and the lovely Karen Hardy (she has become an articulate and very watchable personality in her own right) or underdog Matt Dawson and Lilia Kopilova. Who knows...how the British public will vote but watching the Argentine tango last Saturday the winner should be Mark. It makes a change watching people doing something that requires great skill on tv

Took the dogs out at four, and noticed that Mrs Dunnington ( she of the big swept up hair and bad tempered labrador) was standing next to the village hall. She was listening to a few of the choir members practicing. The men were singing "Over the rainbow" of all things, and for a few magical minutes we both listened in the dark and the cold. All very Hollywood! it was lovely.

Just read Nige's blog, I like his comments and writing ! my blog resembles a teenage diary in comparason<>Here is a summary of dog life at the cottage

The dogs are now functioning more fully as members of the six-mammal team that occupies their cottage. I usually prefer Male dogs to bitches, but here I actually prefer Meg, the female Welsh terrier, to the male (Finlay), although she is still animated with adolescent, mischievous behaviour. Scots terrier Maddie, in contrast, astutely observes everything and, like a career diplomatic, seems to calculate with precision both when to hide and when to emerge in order to obtain a quiet advantage over her more hedonistic peers.

Llandudno, and Trelawnyd's Christmas Lights

Nigel is over, so we went to Llandudno today for a bit of Christmas Shopping and for an icey walk on the Great Orme. The view as you can see is quite breathtaking.







Walked the dogs in Trelawnyd and enjoyed the village Christmas lights outside the village hall. (Ok it IS only one Tree, but I think in this case less is definately more)
We all had an exciting night doing the foodshop at Sainsburys (Nigel Loves supermarkets!) and stocked up on luxury nibbles and drinks. I am so glad that Nigel feels at home here, infact he actually made dinner for us today and last night!!!

At last the cold..............

This picture of outside the cottage was taken exactly a year ago and although we have no snow at the moment, it actually feels like winter! and bloody cold it is too. Just got home after a f*"king awful 12 hour shift. I can still hear those ITU monitor alarms ringing in my head. In tomorrow too which fills me with yultide joy!

Nu just rang with further details of the wedding . From ther original 30 odd guests, I think the guest list is over 100!! can't wait, as I know she wanted all her mates there. The hotel is a mega posh, which will be a lovely change! messgae to self: must buy a new suit.

Nigel is a cunt.........read his blog and only just realised that he is taking the piss out of my "banality"

http://en-cee.blogspot.com/2006/12/encona-hps.html

"are you alone this Christmas?"

Worked last night, and ITU was dreadfully busy. The shift was made worse by a petty fall out between one staff member and a medic , which was all a bit silly. I could have banged their heads together. Had two hours sleep this morning then caught up with sorting out the house etc for Nigel's visit on Wednesday evening. I am working an all day shift tomorrow and Wednesday so won't have the time to do anything then.

In Prestatyn High street after posting last minute cards and packets, I noticed a sign in the greengrocers. It read "Are you alone this Christmas?" , and detailed a venue where lonely people can meet up in the area and have something to eat and some company on Christmas Day. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, but the prospect of someone reading this notice and having to act upon it for some human contact, struck me as immensely sad.

Too old for hoodies?

Chris looking rather dapper with Meg and Maddie on a very wintery Prestatyn beach.

Looking less so eating Mince pies!!!

smile...Happy Christmas

Just read this on Sheffield forum, made me smile


www.sheffieldforum.co.uk

The perfect man is gentle - never cruel and never mean

He has a warm and kindly smile, and keeps his face so clean

The perfect man likes children, and will raise them by your side.

He'll be a loving father, a companion for his bride.

The perfect man loves cooking, cleaning and vacuuming too,

He'll do anything in his power to express his love for you.

The perfect man is sweet, writing poetry from your name,

He's a best friend to your mother, and kisses away your pain.

He'll never ever make you cry, or hurt you in any way

-There's just this little catch my dears:

The perfect man is gay.

also


Did anyone see the news clip from Sheffield BBc studios the other night? As the reporter was stating her stuff in camera, a cleaner walked to the back of the studion in the background with a tray of tea cups balanced on her head....priceless!!! couldn't find the clip on u tube.... this link may get to it!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi?redirect=st.stm&news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&nol_storyid=5302796



Also Finlay is offically famous

for those that dont know


go to www.bbc.co.uk/news


click on wales, then click on your pictures, then....(if you can be bothered) click on number 3!! enjoy....

A good read, & friends...

Yesterday caught the train to Sheffield to swap Christmas gifts with Mike and Bev and Maisie, and to catch up with Micky, (I cannot believe I last saw her a year or so ago!). I have started to enjoy train journeys now, and not only for the fact that I am still able to use my student rail card. This journey I finished Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris.

http://www.hannibalrising.co.uk/?gclid=CNvKsafnlIkCFQGBGgodNy2E5g



Though not as good as Silence of the lambs , the prequel which Chronicles Hannibal Lecter's childhood, is beautifully written, and the interplay between Lady Murasaki (Hannibal's Japanese stepmother) and the teenage serial killer-to-be , is electric and reminds me of the clever banter between Lecter and Clarice Starling. I was not surprised to see that the film of the novel comes out next year. Gong Li (pic) plays the graceful Lady Murasaki.

Sheffield looked lovely and I did like the new neon blue Christmas lights everywhere. The fountains surrounding Midland Station were quite stunning.

I was grateful to see Mike as he has had a few problems recently then raced across town (no taxis down Ecclesall road AT all!!!) to meet Micky. Micky is one of those people that never change in all aspects of the word. I have a photo of her aged 6 and believe it or not she looks exactly the same now!! Anyhow, I had a lovely night, and enjoyed seeing her pictures of her civil ceremony with partner Pam. sadness of the night was the fact that her brother refused to attend their marriage as he has recently become religious and has denounced their relationship after years of apparantly supporting it. Their close relationship has been affected badly by it all and I was upset for both Micky and Pam, who have been a couple for many years now.

Sorting out Christmas this afternoon. Christmas day Janet and Ned are comming to dinner, before that I think we all are trouping to Nephew Pete's house for drinks and games. Going to Andrew and Jayne's (Brother and sister-in-law) on Boxing day after the watching the Flint and Denbigh Hunt. Chris and I have to fit in Nu and Jim if we can too!!! ding dong!!!