Its nearly Christmas...

I've been getting ready for Christmas since June.... Don't ask! Its part of the business I suppose. But even so, I can't believe that its already looming up in 3 weeks.

No matter how much I watch the calendar, it always seems to sneak up on me and before you know it, BAMM.. its already too late to post your cards to the US. Next thing you know, that social snowball starts to get out of control with people calling and saying, 'we really must meet for a drink before Christmas'.

The guilty realisation that you may not in fact have seen them since last Christmas suddenly has you accepting every possible invitation that comes your way and,before you now it, you're already relishing the thought of going into post-Christmas detox. Well, actually, its just a thought - I've never tried the real thing. I don't think detox is my cuppa tea to be honest. I think my body might go into seizure or shock if I suddenly withdrew one of its staples.

Anyway, what was I ranting about....? Damn it... its gone - probably the first symptom of it then...

Finally, its here...

Hi all,

I can't believe its finally Christmas! Finished up today for the rest of the year :-) Not back to work till the 2nd January so plenty of time for some Christmas cheer and enjoying the buzz in town...

Tomorrow and Sunday are the final shopping panic days - I always love them. They invariably have to start by me buying myself things so that I can get in the mood.... and then if there's time, I'll get some gifts for others...

Talk to you all soon!

Have they moved Christmas?

I just need a quick rant...

I went down to the shops just now to get a pack of smokes (yes, I'm still smoking, but definitely giving up soon...). Anyway, I'm in the shop and they had the radio turned on in the background.

"Book your Christmas extravaganza now at the Burlington Hotel to avoid disappointment...!" Christmas Extravaganza.... Its the 9th of July for God's sake! As if it wasn't bad enough that the weather so far has been shit and its rained almost everyday since May, they add insult to injury by starting the Christmas season in mid-Summer!

Maybe its just me... Maybe I am turning into Victor Meldrew....

Merry Christmas!!

I think I must be regressing and entering second-childhood!! I was up at 06.30 this morning - apparently my neighbours also seemed to have been awoken at this time by their excited kids! I have no such excuse... Given that yesterday was somewhat...liquid, to say the least.

But it was a lovely afternoon and evening. We booked our normal table at the Clarendon and then all met there for food, chat, drink and intermittent panic shopping. Having been kicked finally at 6pm, we strolled down to Sheehan's where we joined the crowd on the street. Stayed there till we could no longer bear the cold (that still took a while...) and then walked home via Abrakababra (I'm not proud!).

So here it is, Christmas morning! I've just fired up my new wood-burning stove, put the coffee on and fed Nanuk... Its all quiet outside.

So before the day gets moving, let me wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Now its starting to feel like Christmas!!

Its finally starting to feel like Christmas! F and I did the gifts thing a bit differently this year and asked each other what each wanted. The results were surprising and practical to say the least. F asked me for a pump for the shower - don't laugh - the one we had till now was just crap! Every morning we'd battle with the feckin thing. The problem was that the temperature control thing wasn't working. If you tried to adjust the water temperature to slightly below scalding, it would cut out completely! So every morning you did what you could by having enough contact with the water to wash, while trying to dodge the rest to avoid burn damage...

I opted for a wood burning stove for the kitchen.... It looks really cool and now this morning I have to leg it to B&Q to get the flue and other bits and pieces to try and fit it so that I can actually light it. Its like getting the toy without the batteries...

So, gift exchanges done - except for some stocking fillers yet to be done - we hit the city to finish our shopping.

That started 3 days ago and has been largely unsuccessful.... well unsuccessful in terms of actual purchases. Ireland being Ireland, we invariably hit the pub to say hi to someone and stay there for the rest of the day! Today is the last chance to get the last purchases done and we're due to meet up with friends at 1pm in the Clarendon for drinks.

I shall bid you bye bye until I have finished today's tasks and I will be back tomorrow with the results!

Happy Christmas Eve!