Time to say my goodbyes

I have but a few days left here, and today is the start of the long farewell. I might not see some of these poeple again as visits will be intermittent in the future. Some will be harder than others, but there are many methods of communication, and I am certain to keep in contact via facebook with some, with phone calls and emails for others and some by letter.

I am savouring the memories, and at the same time I am looking forward to the new start. Leaving the problems I have encountered over the past 6 months here though not forgotten nor fully dealt with and I will be talking over these with people to see whether it is worth pursuing further action.

On a happier note, Kalem Murphy entered the world yesterday weighing in at over 9lbs (ouch) congratulations to Kathryn; hope you recover quickly and enjoy your new son.

S'no fun

Having seen the weather forecast for tonight into tomorrow, and having just got in from outside in the bitterly cold weather I foretell a dusting of the fairy dust that is the winter fairytale of a white christmas.

I hope so as it is so fun for kids to see snow on christmas day and it doesn't happen very often in this country or even in the back of beyondshire. Even at the Edge of the World it doesn't happen very often, the winds blowing off the atlantic are wamer so it can be wet but very rarely cold. This year is different the winds are blowing in off the Scandinavian Eastlands and bringing bitterly cold winds which mixed with the moist air will lead to snow showers, how much remains to be seen but it is certainly a christmas wish for me.

A Christmas Meme

I got this from Kathy over at The Second Half of my Life - thanks hon xx

Since there are now only 10 days until Christmas is here, I have answered 25 questions to let you know more than you could possibly want to know about me. If you're reading this post, then you can either :

(a) leave a comment and answer the 25 questions below,
or
(b) write the answers to the questions below in your own blog post (if you have a blog, that is) or
or
(c) call yourself a scrooge in the comments below and refuse to answer them.

I hope you choose (a) or (b) but if you choose (c) then I'll just let the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future deal with you. If you do decide to write your own blog post about it, please mention Mandy since she is the author of these important questions. (Writers credit and all that jazz - thanks!)

1) What is your favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. That man is gorgeous lol

(2) What is your LEAST favorite Christmas movie? anything cartoony, except disney cartoons

(3) What is your favorite Christmas song? White Christmas by Bing Crosby et al

(4) What Christmas song(s) drives you crazy? I wish it could be Christmas every day

(5) What is your favorite Christmas drink? (i.e. egg nog, hot chocolate) Strong coffee with a slug of Jameson's in it.. lovely on a cold winters morning or after midnight carol service

(6) What is your favorite Christmas memory? Watching my Mum and Dad open their presents and just being with them, just wished I had known how much I would miss that.

(7) What is the best toy/gift you've received on Christmas? All of them, all given with love

(8) What is the worst toy/gift you've received on Christmas? None of them, they were all give with love and affection and have come in useful, though I will admit to a preference to being given things which are more personal that just functional/

(9) What do you LOVE about the holidays? The time to recharge the batteries and being able to go out for long walks without having to watch the time.

(10) What annoys you about the holidays? The greediness of the shops, starting way too early and TV adverts pushing the holiday too much too soon.

(11) Do you prefer star or angel on top of a Christmas tree? Or something else? Star

(12) What is your family favorite recipe at Christmas? Home made mince-pies with home-made mincemeat.. and I am not a huge fan but I love these

(13) Are you a Grinch or a Who at Christmastime? Bit of both

(14) Christmas light displays? Love them, but hate them... prefer less ostentacious displays and not very carbon friendly

(15) Santas at the mall? No, dont like them

(16) Christmas cards? Yes I send them, but no longer handmade ones as I am not very artistic

(17) What is the best thing about Christmas, in your opinion? Time with friends and family

(18) What is the worst thing about Christmas? The pressures and stresses

(19) When do you put the tree up and take it down? Up on Christmas Eve and down on 12th night

(20) Out of the 12 days of Christmas, which day and item would you want your true love to give to you? Two Colly Birds, only because I have no idea of what they are

(21) Why do you think that Grandma got run over by a reindeer? No carrots to give to Rudolf and the gang

(22) Who is your favorite reindeer? Donner and Blitzen, who could separate them

(23) Do you believe in Santa Claus? No

(24) What is your favorite smell at Christmastime? Mince Pies baking

(25) What would make you happy at Christmas this year? Good food, good company and a toast to happier times

Visiting Sunday

I visited friends in Derby yesterday, to take up christmas presents, and to say farewell to them. Not goodbye as we will be meeting up in the future when the house is settled and I am finally down in Cornwall. It was fun to meet up with them and catch up with the news.

Even better was being able to go out in her car, she is competent enough to drive with L-Plates on and other than a few nervous moments she did extremely well and I don't think it will be too long before she will need to tear up those L-Plates for good.

The drive back was full of muppets on the motorway, why is it that everyone (well mostly everyone) drives in the overtaking lanes, leaving the normal driving lane practically empty in places other than the occasional lorry. When I needed to venture out into the overtaking lanes, to overtake a slower moving lorry, I was then promptly flashed by a car speeding up behind me, wanting me out of her way. My answer, was to move out again into the outside lane and put a bit of distance between us; it was a needless, agressive move on her part and I don't do it to others as it is a form of bullying. Suggest to the lady in the Ford Ka if you ever read this, please read your highway code!!

Tonight I defrosted the chest freezer in the shed, it will then be left empty and save on electricity as well which is a bonus.

A Victorian Christmas

The Victorian Farm made a re-appearance on the television screen in the UK last night with a special three part christmas edition and this time they have a number of additional activities on the associated website including making a victorian style christmas card, a paper mache box and the old mince pies.

So much better to be able to make presents rather than by them if you have the time. This will be the first year that I haven't managed to make mince pies, as I kept thinking I would make them in Cornwall when I had moved, thinking I would be there by October and now it is less than two weeks away it will be a bit late to make them now. But some of the other ideas I might look at including decorations.

I have already listened to a Christmas Carol, one of my favourite books at this time of year, I have it on CD and love the transition of Scrooge from grumpy old character to loving employer, friend and Uncle. I read it first when I was about 13 and usually have listened, or read it before christmas to enjoy the story and to make the season.

What do you do to make Christmas real to you?

Saturday Satire - At the Barbers

A guy stuck his head into a barbershop and asked, 'How long before I can get a haircut?'

The barber looked around the shop full of customers and said, 'About 2 hours.'

The guy left.

A few days later, the same guy stuck his head in the door and asked,

'How long before I can get a haircut?'

The barber looked around at the shop and said, 'About 3 hours.'

The guy left.

A week later, the same guy stuck his head in the shop and asked, 'How long before I can get a haircut?

The barber looked around the shop and said, 'About an hour and a half .'

The guy left.

The barber turned to his friend and said,

'Hey, Bob, do me a favour. Follow that guy and see where he goes.

He keeps asking how long he has to wait for a haircut,

but then he doesn't ever come back.'

A little while later, Bob returned to the shop, laughing hysterically.

The barber asked, 'So, where does that guy go when he leaves?'

Bob looked up, wiped the tears from his eyes and said,........




'Your house!

New Shoes

I decided that a new pair of shoes for my venture into the job market was in order, normally I shop at M&S who produce Footglove shoes which are amazingly comfortable but the cost of a pair was nearly £40.00, and while they fitted I didn't think they looked particularly nice. Instead I walked along a little way to the Clarks outlet, and lo and behold they had a sale on, I am now the proud posessor of two pairs of shoes for the price of one at M&S and they will be more comfortable than the pair I use for interviews.

Just need to sort out the rest of the packing and get the rats accustomed to their temporary home while they go into foster care, they are going to be missed but Bodmin isn't too far away and I will be able to visit them.

I am hoping to spend a lot of next year by the coast as I will be living in a caravan only 6 miles from Portreath and it is going to be a splendidly hot bbq summer next year according to the met men so I will be investing in a souwester lol

The raggle taggle gypsy oh

I am about to up sticks and remove myself to Cornwall, and therefore have now handed in my notice to the University at the back of beyond and will be in Cornwall from 2010. A brand new year and a brand new start.

Thanks to all of you who offered words of encouragement and support, it hasn't been an easy decision and not everything is yet in place but it is where I want to be and even though it is going to be tough financially it will be beneficial in the longer term.

Somehow today seems a little lighter, I feel less weighed down by the situation and even have a big smile on my face.. what could be more beneficial.

Busy having some down time

Sorry to be absent without leave, having a few days downtime to consider my options will update the blog when I have made a decision (or two)

Hmmm

Never mind about global warming, I think carpentry skills to build an ark might come in useful any day now. I can only commiserate with those people affected by flooding as the rain is practically non-stop for the past few days and shows no signs of letting up.

Christmas shopping is a wet bedraggled experience, and shows none of the joys of the season and my bah humbug persona is taking over. With less than 19 days to go, no wonder more people than ever are shopping on-line this year.

Saturday Satire - Retraining

A Gynaecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and Medicare paperwork, and as burned out. Hoping to try another career where skilful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He went to the local technical college, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could.

When the time of the practical exam approached, the Gynaecologist prepared carefully for weeks, and completed the exam with tremendous skill. When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%.

Fearing an error, he called the Instructor, saying, '' I don''t want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in my grade. ''

The instructor said, '' During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark. '' After a pause, the instructor added, ''I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the muffler ''

There is no hope :-)

I was listening to the radio this morning and found myself in agreement with John Prescott over the RBS issue of the directors wanting to pay bonuses. He says that if they can't accept that they shouldn't give out bonuses given that 75% of the company is now owned by us the taxpayer, they should all resign to a man.

Never thought I would say this, but well said John..