A Crepey Advent-ure

[MontserratCaballe]

Over here, my darlings....

Ooh OI have been asked to apply for a job that is right up my street!

Yay! Yesss! Get in!!!!!!!

Cocoa, also glad you got that hug. MrsS - fab news for you at last! We'll all be willing you to get it.

Herbs, I haven't had the arrangements for this evening confirmed, but am inclined to just go. You don't need me to pay, or count parts or anything?!?

She replied, but only to me! 7.30 is fine. We are go.

I'm going to pay her via bank transfer.

Can't imagine you need to count parts... This is the item in question - fairly sizeable!

Her addy is wrong Herbs! Don't pay!

Probably not a drama, but...did she type her address wrong?

Gah! It's number 6! She's just emailed.

I hope the pressie is satisfactorily sorted out by now, Herbs? And I agree with everyone that it's probably not a good idea to take DS to see his grandmother under the circumstances. Congratulations about the job.

I have received my SS, by the way. I have not opened it, of course; keeping it until the Day.

MI, I like the sandals. Have you thought about base layers for DH's cycling? DH takes ages to get ready atm, because of all the clothes he puts on.

Good that you have had a reasonable day, Cocoa. I am sorry that DH only thinks about your grief when you cry.

BTM, I can only imagine how tired you must be after a training day in addition to your other problems. Strength to you, BD and Rudy, with your lovely sons.
And Rudy, I can only imagine how hurtful it must be with your in laws. I hesitate to say this, but do they occasionally see DH without you? I know I love my SiL and DiL, and whilst I would never suggest that my DC see me without them, I must admit that I love it on the rare occasion when I see the DC by themselves. Not excusing your in laws at all (and the holiday thing was just staggering), just wanted to put a different slant on things.

All my cards have been written and posted, presents now bought but not wrapped, and my SS not yet posted. House decorated; DGS and I stuffed dates with marzipan this afternoon, most of them have now been eaten. Cake has marzipan, icing next week.

I want to run away from Christmas. I have lost my address book so have written no cards. I have job applications to do by Monday. I have too much work. Have found the remains of Christmas Cake 2013 in the tin. Am not making another one this year.

Told boss that I had too much work and had some constructive ideas for moving some of it to other teams (he has been half heartedly saying he will look at this for months). He told me that it was his job to organise the teams and to "keep my beak out" of his job and "concentrate on how my own team was performing." I said I didn't think this was terribly helpful. He told me to fuck off and I told him to grow up and tapped off on my heels. His little face crumpled, but we have had no contact since this. He needs to sign off my job applications. I hope he is not going to be an arse about it.

Rudy - I can't get my head around a family where your DH is invited to things, and not you....but there are no singletons at all in our families - everyone is in pairs.

Herbs - your mistake with your eBay dressing gown was listing it at (presumably) 99p. I shalln't tell you about the hideous handbag I just sold for £37....

Just marking time before I collect DS from his 6th Form Social at a nearby hotel. Apparently the food was rubbish, so he's told me to hang on while he gets a kebab from down the road. DH has just rolled home from a work dinner and disappeared straight off to bed. He's knackered and unbelieveably busy. Earlier I had a lovely late night shopping trip with DD2. She is really struggling to find her comfort zone clothes-wise at the moment; she's at that awkward stage, just starting to sprout and grow, still has a little puppy-fat, feeling firmly in the shadow of her more confident and poised sister. So I gave her the free run of New Look and H&M; she tried on lots of clothes and came home with a nice bagful of stuff and a smile on her face. At least she has something to wear at Christmas that isn't leggings and a hoody.

Christmas cards are piled on the table waiting to be written - I imagine I've already missed the last posting date for Australia. I miss it every year, so why would 2016 be any different? NU, you sound so organised!

Only seven more days in the office before Christmas. It will go like a shot.

MrsS I see you and raise you the unwritten cards...... I might get there this weekend. I am feeling very down at the moment. Everything is too much effort. Very weepy too and not coping with Flash the Irrepressible.

No excuse then, Rudy.

CV, I have to be organised as I go into hospital a week tomorrow, so I have known for the last four weeks that my Christmas starts a week before everyone else's.

MrsS, your boss sounds unbelievable. I do hope that he doesn't scupper your job application. I am a bit neurotic about address books; although I have a new one, I still have the previous one: you know, just in case...

on the Not Thriving Bench.
Finding work unspeakable and really struggling to hold it together. In menopausal news, still sleepless, sad and hot.

To be honest if it wasn't for ds and Dad I'd cancel and not bother - or fly off somewhere (anywhere).... I hate the has to be perfect message we are all fed.... as the 'round robin' look how amazing my child is that will plonk through the door - this is from an old school 'friend' and gives me the rage because in hindsight I realise how unbelievably vile she was to me. Sheesh
Sorry - rant over

CREPEY ALERT: abandon cards if they are causing you grief. Please. I did this some years ago.

Must run and then try to seem coherent for job 'chat' which may or may not be interview.

I am in coping mode at the moment, so am free to hand out and and later .... . You can pay me back when my world implodes sometime in the New Year.

Im only sending out cards to those who have written to me about my DF. Saves writing reams of paper in January. So, that's about 10 cards.

Listen. The world will not stop revolving because cards have not been sent. I have friends who never ever send cards. Their lives continue as normal.

Nobody has actually complained about an Amazon gift voucher. At least not to my face. I've told some that I'll make it up to them on their birthdays. Anyway, have you seen what you can get on that website...??

We will all still be here (God willing) after 25th December. We are all swept up into this farcical idealistic frenzy... And it doesn't have to be so.

Right. Now breathe. Slowly.

I would bing down my gavel, but that would ruin all the calm deep breathing you're now all doing.

Good luck with the job chat, MI

Fingers crossed, Mrs S

I haven't really started to think about Christmas. DH insists on having a bday just two weeks before the event and is a bugger to buy for anyway so I can't clear my mind until that's all over. This year though we're going away for a couple of days by the sea end of next week which will be lovely.

I'm not keeping up with the thread properly but am thinking of everyone.

Have had awful stomach cramps for the last 2/3 days - fear it may be that glamorous condition trapped wind. Anyone have suggestions?

On a much much happier note, sorry everything's so grotty Crem but really looking forward to seeing you tonight.

Cremo and Addle, glad you had a lovely miniMU

I haven't done any cards yet. But I am only doing them for the oldies and friends who are not on FB.
I am dreading Christmas, but am trying to look positive

Cocoa, noone in our house would complain about an Amazon voucher, quite the opposite, actually!

I gave up doing cards about three years ago & am still alive & have friends

I enjoy Christmas and things associated with it but only up to a certain point after which it becomes an expensive irritating disappointing chore. Locating that point can be difficult as it isn't constant but varies depending on what's going on.

Dd3 is a real Christmas fan - starts creating playlists in September for example and enjoys the sense of We Always Do ........ I had a conversation with her about this and we have agreed that the important things (for this year at least) are having the whole family together at our house, a Christmas tree, quality street, pigs in blankets and family trip (with grandparents) to the ballet. Dd1 has added stockings to the list but otherwise everything else is agreed as optional and will be done if it's no trouble and someone wants to.

So I have a house full for a couple of days but they're my family and are easy house guests with low expectations and easily pleased. They are happy to peel potatoes and wash up too.

Having worked out that I should only do what gives me pleasure (and making my family happy is the greatest part) I have pared down plans sufficiently that I'm now looking forward to it.

Great attitude, MrsW. If it's all a total chore and making you stressed, you're doing it wrong! Forget about lofty expectations (and irritating relatives) and enjoy those closest to you, in a way that makes you happy.

My BF has always hosted Christmas (because she has the largest house) for her huge, lazy and largely ungrateful family. This year she's been ill and has put her foot down - she Will Not Be Hosting This Year. Huge consternation and confusion in the family ranks at the breakdown of natural order, but she's stood firm, and is looking forward to sitting in an armchair at her DB's house on Christmas Day and not lifting a finger. Then enjoying the rest of the break with her family alone. Good on her!

I have never gone for the ideal Christmas scenario. Like most of you, I had one or two corkers in the past, those memories won't shift and I usually feel churned up. And we don't go to town on birthdays either, and don't have many relations. And my childhood ones were spent with my dgm who moaned Welsh hymns most of the day, which set the bar low for festive cheer . This year we are going away, properly away, for the first time ever. Gulp.

and much sympathy and attempts at cheer to the Not Thriving bench. And I'm with Cocoa and MI. Send five important cards, vouchers and laugh at or bin the round robins full of glittering prizes. Cocoa, that's a really good idea about cards.

I thought I definitely couldn't come tomorrow, but the jelly has unnailed itself so I may be loose in London...

MrsS, your bosses take the biscuit - what selection criteria can they be using?. Is this THAT one? And good luck MI!