Christmas and All That

Well that's another Christmas done and dusted. I must admit I did enjoy this year a lot more than the last two years... probably because I didn't have to work. The run up was pretty normal. We had our Port Control Christmas do over two nights on the 16th and 18th December, to enable everyone to go. I went on the 16th and had a very nice night... the food was ok (typical Christmas dinner but very edible) and the company was fine. The alcohol was free and this is always a help. I ventured out on Black Friday but that wasn't very successful at all. Having worked all day I didn't get out until 7pmish and by that time the group I was meeting had been on the beer since 12pm so after just two drinks in two pubs they all went home. I ended up in Charlies where I had a drink with Erin and one of the boys from work then got a taxi home. I was all tucked up in front of the telly by 9.30pm... hardly something to be proud of on Black Friday.

The following night we went out for dinner with Phil, Karen, Richad, Jackie, Rose and Adrian for a pre-xmas get together. That was a great night, the food was excellent and the company brilliant and it was lovely to catch up with everyone. On Tuesday the 22nd I went into work for Secret Santa, I shall not bother again, I am so out of touch with everyone in the General Office now it really wasn't worth it. All I got was a bottle of red wine, not the most imaginative gift (especially as I drink white). I then went out to lunch with Cory Brothers Shipping Agents which was very nice of them to ask me. We had a nice meal in Charlies then I went home and got on with the Christmas preparations (i.e. housework).

Wednesday I got up at stupid o clock and went to Tescos in Haverfordwest to do the main food shop, I was home in the house by 7.30am. Christmas Eve was most spent preparing food, making pate, turkey stock, tirimisu etc and watching lots of Christmasy things on the telly.

Then dawned the big day. Not too early a start for a change. Erin managed to stay in bed until 7.30 so it was about 8am before we all gathered in the lounge in front of the open fire and opened the pressies. I was a lucky girl again this year with more Clogau Gold from Noel. This time a necklace, earrings and bracelet.

Ffion and Erin got me a lovely thick fluffy dressing gown, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and Series 1 of CSI NY which for some stange reason I never saw. I also had silly things from Noel such as a packed of Haribos and some Jaffa Cakes, he really pushed to boat out this year and got me a double pack from Lidel.

My Mum and Wayne came over about 9.30 and we did more presents then about 10.30 Dawn and Julian from next door came up and we all jumped in the hot tub with some Bucks Fizz and Smoked Salmon nibbles (they were on a plate on the side cos they might have got soggy otherwise.) It was a beautiful morning and it was really nice sat out there, quite a different way to spend Christmas Morning.

After that my grandparents came round and I had another large book from them, this time Stephen King's new one Under the Dome , which I think should keep me going for quite a while. The afternoon was spent preparing the dinner which we finally sat down to about 4.30pm. I was delicious and I was very pleased. There were 7 of us for dinner. Noel's Mum and Dad, us and Martin, it was a really nice family meal. After all the clearing away had been done I settled down to watch Doctor Who and promptly fell asleep so I missed it, good job I had recorded it!

I slept till about 9pm then went to bed so Christmas night didn't really happen in our house.

I was back in work on Boxing Day and am about to complete my last night after which I shall have 14 days off \0/. We shall be having a small soiree on New Year's Eve which I hope will be reasonably attended. If it is pictures will no doubt follow. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and have a great New Year.