Friday Five!

You look stunning ksand!

FRIDAY!  FRIDAY!  FRIDAY!

1.  It has felt like Friday every day this week.  As loads of people finish up for the holidays and walk out of the office, they are all, "Happy Christmas, see you in January."  And I keep thinking it's Friday.  BUT IT'S FINALLY ACTUALLY FRIDAY!

2.  Going to see Craig Revel Horwood in a panto tonight.  hee hee hee

3.  I'm getting more and more bitter about Christmas as the years go on.  I've never once been "home" for Christmas since moving here.  And the inlaw drama is RIFE this year.  While I was looking forward to the day, I'm really not anymore.  Oh well, just suffer through it and then we are off to Madrid for a few days.  Hopefully we will see the sun!

4.  We go to Peppa Pig World on Sunday.  I fully admit that I find Peppa Pig World great fun.  Crazy, eh?  Granted it is the ONLY day in the forecast with rain.  <sigh>  We got SOAKED to the bone at Kew Gardens last Saturday.  But, Britain.   

5.  Next Friday Five I'll be in Spain, hopefully drinking Sangria like it's water.   

  I've never once been "home" for Christmas since moving here.  And the inlaw drama is RIFE this year.  While I was looking forward to the day, I'm really not anymore. 

That's so sad. Make next year your year, heck get something last minute and go this year!

3.  I'm getting more and more bitter about Christmas as the years go on.  I've never once been "home" for Christmas since moving here.  And the inlaw drama is RIFE this year.  While I was looking forward to the day, I'm really not anymore.  Oh well, just suffer through it and then we are off to Madrid for a few days.  Hopefully we will see the sun!

That's so sad. Make next year your year, heck get something last minute and go this year!

I agree with larrabee.  Why isn't this being alternated between your families?  I don't understand, especially after all the things you've said about how "familial" your inlaws are.  Why do they get the honour every year?

I'm really sorry KFDancer.  I hope you can make Christmas yours. (((hugs)))

Friday!!!

1.) Uggh. I hope 2019 brings me some real joy in work.  I am networking. I am scouring.  I have my CV to the ready.   

2.) Great, needing to do the big grocery shop this weekend.   

3.) Looking up goose recipes as I have never made one before.  Also looking forward to eating crispy goose pancakes. Apparently making Chinese style pancakes is super easy, so I will give that a go.   

4.) Last bit of Christmas Carolling tomorrow with the brass band.  My Sainsburys is SO NICE. The staff last year fed us mince pies and tea and were dancing around and were thrilled to have a live brass band and no longer having to hear canned Christmas music.  I imagine it will be heaving, so that will be fun!! 

5.) Happy Christmas UKY!   

I agree with larrabee.  Why isn't this being alternated between your families?  I don't understand, especially after all the things you've said about how "familial" your inlaws are.  Why do they get the honour every year?

Being that I work in finance, this time of year is usually the WORST time of year for me to take off.  But the company I joined this year is privately held so we don't have strict reporting timeframes.  Yippee!!!

The only year it was really an issue for me was the year I had my daughter, as I was on maternity leave.  And I was MAD that we didn't go home for Christmas.  I've moved past that now. 

But yeah, it's 100% not fair.  Part of it is that I'm cheap and I don't want to pay the airfares that are charged as Christmas.  But I do think we will try to go next year. 

This year is too late.  I shudder to think of the costs.  We'd have flights, car hire, hotel (as my brother and his family are at my parents - which is why I'm feeling more homesick than normal).  Plus, who would bring the turkey this Christmas.   

I’m sorry KFDANCER we’re going to attempt to make it home next Christmas because I’m feeling the same.

1. I have the day off, and I planned to bake and clean house, but I’m so tired because hubby came home pissed from his Christmas party at two am, making loads of noise, being sick, then passing out snoring.  Needless to say I got no sleep and I’m reminded how much I love my husband

2. I’m going to my first panto tonight. Really excited

3. I’ve gotten (mostly) over this chesty cough I’ve had

4.  Day one of half term, and my kid is already telling me she’s bored. She’s also taking guitar lessons and school thought it was grand to send her home with one. Lol she’s just randomly strumming notes because that’s all they’ve learned so far

5. I’m washing sheets today. I love clean sheets and bedding


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5. I’m washing sheets today. I love clean sheets and bedding

FUN FACT:  This is my "win the lotto" dream.  CLEAN SHEETS ON THE BED EVERY NIGHT.  How amazing would that be?

This is also the question if I met someone stupidly rich (think Ellen Degeneres or Oprah) - DO YOU HAVE CLEAN SHEETS ON THE BED EVERY NIGHT? 

BONUS for the day!  It's winter solstice.  It's all uphill from here!  Bring back the LIGHT!

Eh:  https://www.justinguitar.com/  This guy is a bit cheesy, but he's a proper musician (theory and practice) and really engaging.  If your daughter has genuine interest and follows the lessons, she'll progress rapidly and learn how to play "correctly".  Also, it's free (there's optional paid stuff, too).


My five!

Okay, this is annoying.  It was only Monday or Tuesday when I was really excited about something and decided to save it for Friday Five.  Now I can't remember what it was.  Gawddammit!

1.  KF sent me a really nice Union Jack passport wallet to celebrate my naturalization.  I initially laughed when I opened it, because she got one for her gift from her local authority when she naturalized, and she was not so impressed with it.  But then I noticed how well made the one she sent me is and I remarked on it to my husband.  He looked at it and said, "That's not made well at all... look how the diagonal red cross lines don't line up.  None of them line up!"  I just stared at him, then said, "Um.... That's how it is..."  "No it isn't!"  "Yes, I'm telling you, that's what your flag looks like.  You've really never noticed?"  I had to Google the Union Jack to show him his own flag!  Well, my flag, too, now!  Anyway, huge gratitude to KF for the thoughtful gift and the unintended bonus gift of giving me that moment of seeing my husband look dumb for once.   

2.  I also have not been home for Christmas since I moved here.  I'm perfectly okay with that.

3.  What was the thing I was so eager to share?  Maybe it was my undiagnosed early onset dementia... hmm...   

4.  With apologies to Rick and KF (and anybody else who isn't free, yet), but my husband finishes work at 5pm this evening and is off through Boxing Day.  Then he has two days (one and a half, maybe), before a four-day NYE weekend... all this using just one day of leave.

5.  My husband ordered some nickel-free guitar strings to see if my fingers are reacting to the metal.  I do have a nickel allergy, and I have had more issues with my fingers than my husband has had, but he played guitar previously, and he doesn't complain as much as I do about minor discomfort, so we're not sure if I'm just being whiny, or if I'm allergic to the strings.  We'll find out!

Still don't know what the exciting thing was.  But yay!  Whatever it was, go me!

BONUS for the day!  It's winter solstice.  It's all uphill from here!  Bring back the LIGHT!

That could very well be the thing I was eager to share!  I realized it early in the week!  Yay!  Happy Solstice!  Bring on the sun!

https://dribbble.com/shots/3233476-Union-Jack-Mandela-Effected

BONUS for the day!  It's winter solstice.  It's all uphill from here!  Bring back the LIGHT!

Yessssss!!!!

My 5

1 I finish work today until the 2nd

2 for the first time ever, I'm done with my shopping and all wrapping done...and has been for weeks.

3 tiny human has now decided she doesn't want anything on her list, she just wants a train toy. Her sadness on Christmas day. But like I said, I'm done, gifts are wrapped, nothing more coming into the house except food and wine

4 I'm nearly over this million day cold

5 Merry Christmas everyone!!!

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Yay for Friday! Is everyone nearly ready for Christmas? I’m getting there. Ooh, Spain, KF? I’m jealous! Have a Sangria for me please!

Here’s my 5!

1) If I’m gonna catch a cold, it’s gonna be somewhere around Christmastime. This year is no different. Been fighting a cold for almost 2 weeks now (I feel your pain, Eh). Been alternating between head, throat, and chest. It’s back in my head today. I’ve got way too much to do and gonna have to power through anyway. Ugh.

2) I would say I’m finished with my most current term at Berklee Online except that I can’t do my last assignment for my Voice Technique class because with this cold, I also lost my darn voice. The term technically ended last weekend. But thankfully my instructor is being super understanding and giving me time to get the work turned in.

3) Hubby and I taking his dad (whom I adore) to Newcastle tonight to see André Rieu. Last Christmas, his dad forced us to watch this André Rieu holiday DVD. It was pure torture but also pretty entertaining. Anyway, it should make for some good inside jokes for my husband and I for years to come all while making my father-in-law very happy!

4) We tried a new place for Indian food a few days ago. We were convinced that nothing could be better than our usual place but we were proven wrong. It’s a good thing too because we just found out our usual place has gone out of business! D’oh!

5) I know it’s a polarizing beverage but... I’m making my Grandma’s egg nog this weekend. Hers is the best there is. It’s the only one I’ll really drink. And I put lots of rum in it, too!! That’ll take this cold out of me!

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Christmas!


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4 I'm nearly over this million day cold

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Oh no! You too! Well I hate to hear you’ve got it but I’m kind of relieved to hear it’s a long lasting bug. I was starting to think something was wrong with me. I usually fight off colds pretty quickly but this sucker has been just lingering. The worst!!

Feel better!!


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1. I've been off work all week, and it's been so good!!
2. Been to hairdresser and to big boozy Italian lunch with the girls,  plus a couple of nights in the pub.
3. Watched loads of Food Network on our brand new big and fancy telly, which was delivered on Wednesday.
4. Still doesn't feel like Christmas, though, probably because we're not doing presents this year.
5. Was intending to go to the Christmas market at Loch Lomond today, but not sure i can be arsed. Been so lazy and relaxed all week, it's hard to get motivated Now!